Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Mr. Answer Knows it All (But Sometimes You Have to Ask Better Questions)
This evening, someone reached ResurrectionSong with the search “what is the name of that depressing soviet song?” Which, hey, that’s kind of vague, isn’t it? I mean, that’s like asking the name of that “depressing Russian novel.” Really, the field is pretty open from there.
Narrow it down a bit and I’ll be happy to give it a shot.
Jeez.
Comments & Trackbacks
I believe it’s called The Russian National Anthem.
Otherwise called “The Hymn of the Soviet Union.” I always thought it sounded like a dirge, though that may have been because I heard it most often during the ‘80s on the occasion of the latest Soviet president’s funeral.
Eight or nine times a week, seemed like.
I usually heard it sung by Russian professional wrestlers.
USA! USA! USA!
Whatever it is, I’m sure the lyrics mention snow.
Bang! Say Da Da Da Da!
Tell me yes and let’s feed the fire!
Bang! Bang! Say Da Da Da!
Nothing less; I wanna hear a yes.
Bang!
(Not depressing, just bad, but I never turn down a chance to e-sing Gorky Park songs).
My favorite depressing Russian song:
‘Comrade, the Vodka Bottle Is Empty.’
Ok, it might not exist, but it should.
Whatever it is, I’m sure the lyrics mention snow.
That and, as Walter mentions, vodka.
And the lack of food, and of running hot water.
If you were to give me the right odds*, I’d be willing to bet that it was “The Volga Boatmen’s song”, which is less depressing than it sounds when you sing it.
FWIW, I prefer the lyrics of the “Birthday Dirge” (31 of the approximately 8 billion known verses are shown here: http://www.faqs.org/faqs/music/birthday-dirge-faq/), which is about as depressing as the tune.
* Of course, if you were willing to give me the right odds, I’d be willing to bet that the searcher was looking for “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”. But the odds would be a bit different.
I’m guessing it was your recent Cold War refrence to the Sting anthem about the Russians loving their children too--I guess it’s depressing in a schmaltzy way. Good lock cracking the code.