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talkpoliticsLive online TV streaming is an awesome invention. Yesterday i partially watched a "peredacha" (broadcast) on the Russian Channel One (ORT), which was a full-day long marathon dedicated to the 73rd anniversary of the birth of Vladimir Vysotsky.
The program was diverse and full with exceptional reports, feature stories and lots and lots of music. It showed Vysotsky in theater, Vysotsky in cinema, and Vysotsky in life (which btw is probably the same like the former two). There were entire recitals of the great bard, TV interviews and shows with Vysotsky's participation, archive interviews with the genius and more recent interviews with his living relatives, friends and colleagues (and the awesome Marina Vlady of course). Some of the biggest names on the Russian music scene sang his songs and recited his lyrics. His son Nikita held a short ceremony for handing the annual "Vladimir Vysotsky" prize for exceptional contribution to the Russian society.
One of the most intriguing moments was the live broadcast from Visotsky's home (now turned a museum), where a number of his fellow artists and colleagues from theatre and cinema held a small commemoration ceremony. Among them, Stanislav Govorukhin, the director of "Vertical" and "The Place of The Meeting Remains Unchanged" and other movies with Vysotsky's participation which were emblematic for the whole Soviet era; also dissident painters, poets, writers from that time.
Surely, its impossible to convey an entire day-long TV show. But it was truly inspiring. Most of his texts are enormously inspiring, and they draw a vivid picture of the realities in the Soviet society, the fears and hopes of its people, and the enormous pain which has plagued the famous "Russian soul" ever since "the Great Fatherland war" as they call it.
But the funniest thing is, the further we get from his time, the more prophetic he begins to sound to the listener, and the more we realise what a juggernaut of political and social thought he was. Vysotsky was a phenomenon which kept the high spirit of entire generations in an array of societies which lived under the heavy boot of communism for half a century. His songs were quietly sung on private home gatherings and under the accompaniment of jangly guitars around the bonfires - from Berlin to Vladivostok, and from Tallinn to Tirana. He was so significant not just for Russia, but he had an immense and enduring effect on the culture and mentality of a number of societies across all of Eastern Europe and Central Asia. He had become so BIG, despite the initial attempts of the authorities to silence him, that the Soviet regime finally gave up and threw their hands in the air and just let him sing. And, my goodness, did he sing! He sang the Russian soul out with his hoarse voice and prickly lyrics that made the rulers cringe at every verse.
If he lived today, i bet he would've been silenced the hard way for a long time by now. There's no way he'd survive in today's Russia.
There arent many such artists nowadays. Its a shame...
But forgive my moment of irrational emotion. I wish more people could have a look at this unique edition of his book from 1989, which contains the most significant works of Vysotsky. Because he's in there in his entirety - complete, genuine, unsophisticated, REAL. Not the way OTHERS have seen him (including his closest people) - but the way he really WAS. The eternal bard of the Russian conscience. If there's one Russian who should be beatified, its "Vova".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdi2Rhh-s_k
A song about the "Russian spirit". In the sense that its contained in gin. Or maybe vodka. A conclusion with deep implications today, which many are fully aware of, and yet almost no one dares to face and acknowledge, at least not vocally.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTQEw9fOsAc
A song satirising the materialistic consumerism. Notice that this was in Soviet Russia in the 70's. Things arent that different now, and elsewhere, are they? Here he recommends that we drink a glass of cold water - a metaphor which is often used to say that there's nothing we could change, so better get over it. The bitter sarcasm gnaws the nerves and pushes to the very limits of conscience.
And some famous quotes:
"Why should i be the soul of society, when it doesnt want to have a soul?"
"The most beautiful mountains are only those mountains that i havent visited yet".
"Everyone comes back - except for the best friends, the dearest and most devoted women. Everyone returns, except for those who you really need".
"Clairvoyants are the same like witnesses - in all ages, people have burned them at the stakes".
"Strangers put the mask of indifference on their face - its their protection against spittle".
"If i havent loved, i havent lived, and i havent breathed".
"I think the scientists are lying - let me poke a hole in their theory: development is not a spiral, its curves and bends and swaths, and hunting with hawks, and cuts".
"And though we werent shot by firing squads, we dont have the courage to lift our eyes - we're children of Russia's horror days too, but we're now possessed by timelessness infused in us through vodka".
"The morning is wiser than the evening**, but in the evening we have something to eat".
* "Vysotsky" literally means "the tall (high) one".
** An old Russian proverb.
The program was diverse and full with exceptional reports, feature stories and lots and lots of music. It showed Vysotsky in theater, Vysotsky in cinema, and Vysotsky in life (which btw is probably the same like the former two). There were entire recitals of the great bard, TV interviews and shows with Vysotsky's participation, archive interviews with the genius and more recent interviews with his living relatives, friends and colleagues (and the awesome Marina Vlady of course). Some of the biggest names on the Russian music scene sang his songs and recited his lyrics. His son Nikita held a short ceremony for handing the annual "Vladimir Vysotsky" prize for exceptional contribution to the Russian society.
One of the most intriguing moments was the live broadcast from Visotsky's home (now turned a museum), where a number of his fellow artists and colleagues from theatre and cinema held a small commemoration ceremony. Among them, Stanislav Govorukhin, the director of "Vertical" and "The Place of The Meeting Remains Unchanged" and other movies with Vysotsky's participation which were emblematic for the whole Soviet era; also dissident painters, poets, writers from that time.
Surely, its impossible to convey an entire day-long TV show. But it was truly inspiring. Most of his texts are enormously inspiring, and they draw a vivid picture of the realities in the Soviet society, the fears and hopes of its people, and the enormous pain which has plagued the famous "Russian soul" ever since "the Great Fatherland war" as they call it.
But the funniest thing is, the further we get from his time, the more prophetic he begins to sound to the listener, and the more we realise what a juggernaut of political and social thought he was. Vysotsky was a phenomenon which kept the high spirit of entire generations in an array of societies which lived under the heavy boot of communism for half a century. His songs were quietly sung on private home gatherings and under the accompaniment of jangly guitars around the bonfires - from Berlin to Vladivostok, and from Tallinn to Tirana. He was so significant not just for Russia, but he had an immense and enduring effect on the culture and mentality of a number of societies across all of Eastern Europe and Central Asia. He had become so BIG, despite the initial attempts of the authorities to silence him, that the Soviet regime finally gave up and threw their hands in the air and just let him sing. And, my goodness, did he sing! He sang the Russian soul out with his hoarse voice and prickly lyrics that made the rulers cringe at every verse.
If he lived today, i bet he would've been silenced the hard way for a long time by now. There's no way he'd survive in today's Russia.
There arent many such artists nowadays. Its a shame...
But forgive my moment of irrational emotion. I wish more people could have a look at this unique edition of his book from 1989, which contains the most significant works of Vysotsky. Because he's in there in his entirety - complete, genuine, unsophisticated, REAL. Not the way OTHERS have seen him (including his closest people) - but the way he really WAS. The eternal bard of the Russian conscience. If there's one Russian who should be beatified, its "Vova".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdi2Rhh-s_k
A song about the "Russian spirit". In the sense that its contained in gin. Or maybe vodka. A conclusion with deep implications today, which many are fully aware of, and yet almost no one dares to face and acknowledge, at least not vocally.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTQEw9fOsAc
A song satirising the materialistic consumerism. Notice that this was in Soviet Russia in the 70's. Things arent that different now, and elsewhere, are they? Here he recommends that we drink a glass of cold water - a metaphor which is often used to say that there's nothing we could change, so better get over it. The bitter sarcasm gnaws the nerves and pushes to the very limits of conscience.
And some famous quotes:
"Why should i be the soul of society, when it doesnt want to have a soul?"
"The most beautiful mountains are only those mountains that i havent visited yet".
"Everyone comes back - except for the best friends, the dearest and most devoted women. Everyone returns, except for those who you really need".
"Clairvoyants are the same like witnesses - in all ages, people have burned them at the stakes".
"Strangers put the mask of indifference on their face - its their protection against spittle".
"If i havent loved, i havent lived, and i havent breathed".
"I think the scientists are lying - let me poke a hole in their theory: development is not a spiral, its curves and bends and swaths, and hunting with hawks, and cuts".
"And though we werent shot by firing squads, we dont have the courage to lift our eyes - we're children of Russia's horror days too, but we're now possessed by timelessness infused in us through vodka".
"The morning is wiser than the evening**, but in the evening we have something to eat".
* "Vysotsky" literally means "the tall (high) one".
** An old Russian proverb.
(no subject)
Date: 31/1/11 13:32 (UTC)[Error: unknown template video]
Morning workout
Inhale deeply, arms--out more,
Do not hurry--three and four!
Grace and pliability are emphasized!
All around conditioning,
And hangover quickening,
If you're still alive and fidgeting-
Exercise!
If you're working out at home,
Do lie down!--three and four!
Correctly go through every single motion!
Lose the tension that you feel,
Get accustomed to the drill!
Inhale deeply right until...
Exhaustion!
Quickly growing 'round the world--
Flu and illness--three and four!
The disease is gradually flourishing!
If you're weak--straight to the grave!
If you want your wellness saved,
With a towel rub yourself,
It's nourishing!
If already you feel spent,
Sit and stand, sit and stand--
Do not fear the Arctic and Antarctic!
Our main scholar Dr. Joffe
Proved to us that booze and coffee
Will be replaced by athletic prophy--
--lactic
All the talking should be stopped
Keep on squatting 'till you drop
Do not be such gloomy creatures!
If you cannot hold your ardor
Rub yourself with something harder
In the water, you can start the
Drilled procedures
We're not scared of doltish talk--
In response we run and walk,--
Amateurs--triumphant from the start!
Beautiful!--right from beginning
No one's losing, no one's winning
Stationary running is bringing
Peace to hearts!
Every time I listen to it, it makes me laugh... and remember (http://pgmet.com/history/sptupraznici/22.jpg)...
Thank you for this retrospect!
Brb, gonna listen to some Vova songs again. :-)
(no subject)
Date: 31/1/11 19:08 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 31/1/11 19:25 (UTC)Did you go to those morning workouts too?
(no subject)
Date: 31/1/11 19:51 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 31/1/11 13:50 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 31/1/11 19:29 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 31/1/11 15:16 (UTC)The funny thing is, that in those days, during the USSR era, it was people in the left parties in other countries that translated his songs and made him a known name outside of Soviet, other groups didn't care two tosses. (I was in a project in my first year in college, checking translations and distribution of some protest singer culture in dictatorships).
oh! I just went looking for English translations of his songs, to find the one about the wolves, and here is an excellent list of many of his songs!
First, The Wolf Hunt (http://www.kulichki.com/vv/eng/songs/hamilton.html#wolf_hunt) and here is the whole list.
(http://www.kulichki.com/vv/eng/songs/)
(no subject)
Date: 31/1/11 17:28 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 31/1/11 19:53 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 31/1/11 19:37 (UTC)The symbolism radiates from every strophe.
Идет охота на волков, идет охота.
На серых хищников - матерых и щенков.
Кричат загонщики, и лают псы до рвоты,
Кровь на снегу и пятна красные флажков. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJ2E4cf46nw)
(no subject)
Date: 31/1/11 19:51 (UTC)For example why did he choose "pes" instead of "sobaka" to say [dog]? Pes bears connotations of a cur, it's not just any dog. And that's just one of the words.
(no subject)
Date: 31/1/11 20:56 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 31/1/11 22:13 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 31/1/11 22:28 (UTC)I think, why Fria Proteatern made such a success with these songs in Swedish, in spite of that being such a different language, was because of two things, they stuck to the basic heart blood of the songs, and didn't try to penetrate the complex Russian language too much, and, they were actors as much as singers, which made the emotion so vivid in their interpretations.
Here is the song in Swedish, on youtube, all the way back form 1977!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCby7C8Aea8
(no subject)
Date: 1/2/11 07:27 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 31/1/11 17:27 (UTC)I do agree that in Putin's Russia he'd be dead by now. :-(. And ain't that a son of a bitch?
(no subject)
Date: 31/1/11 17:54 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 31/1/11 18:04 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 31/1/11 18:12 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 31/1/11 18:14 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 31/1/11 21:51 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 31/1/11 20:46 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 31/1/11 19:13 (UTC)My personal fave (http://www.kulichki.com/vv/eng/songs/kneller.html#leaving_the_mountains):
[Error: unknown template video]
(no subject)
Date: 31/1/11 19:47 (UTC)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXl5ixBtjpY
Save our souls. What can I say.
(no subject)
Date: 31/1/11 21:16 (UTC)[Error: unknown template video]
Now... how is he not prophetic??? :)))
(no subject)
Date: 31/1/11 21:19 (UTC)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7uUYgiDT6Y
(no subject)
Date: 31/1/11 19:44 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 31/1/11 19:58 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 31/1/11 20:48 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 31/1/11 20:56 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 31/1/11 21:54 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 1/2/11 00:11 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 1/2/11 07:28 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 1/2/11 13:40 (UTC)