When I was looking for things "Union of Soviet Socialist Republics" on YouTube a few nights ago, something caught my attention: Soviet-era Synth-pop band Альянс (Alliance) and their popular song, На заре ("At Dawn").
The video is from 1987. It played and I was transfixed.
The band members in 1987 ― the group changed members a few times over the years ― were Konstantin Gavrilov (keyboards), Andrey Tumanov (bass), Igor Zhuravlev (vocals, guitar), and Oleg Parastaev (keyboards).
What I find interesting about the studio audience is their pure attentiveness to the performance before them. They look as though they're watching a string quartet.
На заре was written by Parastaev, the gent with the funky eyewear.
Igor Zhuravlev's high-octane voice zooms to the sky, and he sings here with great conviction.
The video is a revealing look at the state of popular music in 1980s USSR. It was hardly staid or static. Synth-pop was in on that side of the curtain, too.
The lyrics, as translated to English....
Smooth run of my destiny
Night, sadness and lamentation of the soul
Moonlight and may rain in the sky
The long century of my star
The sleepy shine of the earth's dew
Loud laughter and paradise honey in the sky
At the dawn voices are calling me
At the dawn voices are calling me
Sun light and the sound of the heart
Timid gaze and strength of hands
The finest hour of my dream in the sky
At the dawn voices are calling me
At the dawn voices are calling me
At the dawn voices are calling me
At the dawn voices are calling me
At the dawn
1 comment:
In Soviet Russia; if you steal beat, beat steal you!
(with apologies to Broken Social Scene)
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