Western music in the FSU

[mendeleyev]

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev loves Deep Purple, having made bootleg copies of their records on reel to reel tapes when he was younger. It was a cool evening when the band came to the Presidential Residence in Gorky, well it is the Prime Minister's residence these days and Mr. Medvedev greeted them with those reels turning out their music. Photos and more here:  http://russianreport.wordpress.com/2011/03/23/deep-purple-to-rock-moscow-at-medvedevs-house/

A few years back I came across the most gawd awful imitation of the Beatles "Let It Be" in Sevastopol, Ukraine. Had you been in the audience, the experience of a Russian sailor singing it in concert with a full orchestra so formally, and while horribly, it would have taken every kilo of willpower not to fall out of your chair while simultaneously laughing and weeping. There was no way you could simply sit there and "Let It Be."

Sometimes however the imitation is quite good and I'm hear to tell you that the Beatles are together, none are dead, and they're living in Kazakhstan, not far from the border with Kyrgyzstan. BBC reporter Simon Reeve discovered the group by accident and you can see them at about the 29 mark on the video below. They do two songs, so don't leave the video too quickly. You'll want to watch the end of the video to see the Beatles return to Liverpool for a one night gig. Quite extraordinary.

This is an excellent four part BBC series which begins in Kazakhstan and then into Kyrgyzstan in video one. There are two videos.
 
 


In my experience Western music had a profound influence on youth during the Soviet period and spawned movies about Russian counterculture such as the fantastic and lively Stilyagi.




(With English subtitles) At 3:38 you can see those carbonated water vending machines we've been talking about in another thread--the scene is brief but you see a gal drink from a glass and return it so that the next person in line can use the same glass.

What about Russian music? Have you allowed yourself to learn about Russian songs and singers?

[PaulK]

In my experience Western music had a profound influence on youth during the Soviet period and spawned movies about Russian counterculture such as the fantastic and lively Stilyagi.

Someone once gave me a list of music groups that were banned during Soviet times (that I unfortunately no longer have). I'm sure the list only made people want to hear the groups even more, which is usually what happens with such things. Anyway, with a quick Google search this is what I found:

“Group Name and Type of Propaganda”
1. Sex Pistols - punk, violence
2. B-52s - punk, violence
3. Madness - punk, violence
4. Clash - punk, violence
5. Stranglers - punk, violence
6. Kiss - neofascism, punk, violence
7. Krokus - violence, cult of strong personality
8. Styx - violence, vandalism
9. Iron Maiden - violence, religious obscurantism
10. Judas Priest - anticommunism, racism
11. AC/DC - neofascism, violence
12. Sparks - neofascism, racism
13. Black Sabbath - violence, religious obscurantism
14. Alice Cooper - violence, vandalism
15. Nazareth - violence, religious mysticism
16. Scorpions - violence
17. Genghis Khan - anticommunism, nationalism
18. UFO - violence
19. Pink Floyd - distortion of Soviet foreign policy ("Soviet aggression in Afghanistan")
20. Talking Heads - myth of the Soviet military threat
21. Perron - eroticism
22. Bohannon - eroticism
23. Originals - sex
24. Donna Summer - eroticism
25. Tina Turner - sex
26. Junior English - sex
27. Canned Heat - homosexuality
28. Munich Machine - eroticism
29. Ramones - punk
30. Van Halen - anti-Soviet propaganda
31. Julio Iglesias - neofascism
32. Yazoo - punk, violence
33. Depeche Mode - punk, violence
34. Village People - violence
35. 10cc - neofascism
36. Stooges - violence
37. Boys - punk, violence
38. Blondie - punk, violence

[PaulK]

I hope that I didn't kill this thread 

[BobFeltham]

Hey! Thanks for sharing the videos!

[mendeleyev]

Glad you enjoyed them, Bob.

We should also acknowledge the popularity of Latin music and dance too:

[mendeleyev]

This couple, likely children of Oligarchs, celebrated their trip home from ZAGS with one large dance party at the scenic overlook just across from the entrance of Moscow State University. Cool dancers!

[SANDRO43]

This couple, likely children of Oligarchs, celebrated their trip home from ZAGS with one large dance party at the scenic overlook just across from the entrance of Moscow State University. Cool dancers!

Already posted by Gator on 31-03-2012 in Russians Have Talent (or Sheer Unadulterated Fun) (http://www.russianwomendiscussion.com/index.php?topic=14538.msg292421#msg292421) .

The consensus was that this group dance of Irving Berlin's Putting On The Ritz was a non-spontaneous, carefully staged performance.

[mendeleyev]

Sorry, Gator.

Yes it was pre planned, apparently paid for by the parents of the wedding party.

[mendeleyev]

For members who will be in Saint Petersburg this week, give yourself a lot of extra time for moving about the city as security will be high for the G20 Summit for which President Putin will be the presiding host. Anytime you take 20 of the world's top leaders, plus their invited guests from developing countries, and put them into a compact city there will be delays in traffic, some pedestrian areas restricted and certain sites of tourist interest may be closed or operating at reduced hours.

Mr. Putin arrived today (Monday) along with the Finance Ministers from each G20 nation for agenda meetings and the official sessions with World Leaders beginning on Thursday, 5 September.

On Wednesday, this 4 September, there will be a special dance lesson at a popular night club, sponsored by the group Master Class. The dance taught will be Latin Hustle.

Cost: 150 rubles ($4.55 per person)

Time: 19:00 to 20:00 (7-8pm) The dancing will continue into the evening after the lesson.

Skype for information: 8 921 881 65 14

Venue: Club Insight , at Kazanskaya Street , #7 near Metro Gostiny Dvor.

For your lady:
Дата: 4 сентября (среда) Для кого: для начинающих
Время: 19:00 
Стоимость: 150 руб. (оплата перед мастер-классом) 
Место: Клуб Инсайт, м. Гостиный Двор, ул. Казанская, д. 7, зал 417 
тел.  8 921 881 65 14