March 26, 2014

Because Leningrad cowboys & Red Army Choir

In the future everyone will be Russian for fifteen minutes.

Posted by gerardvanderleun at March 26, 2014 12:56 PM
Bookmark and Share

Comments:

HOME

"It is impossible to speak in such a way that you cannot be misunderstood." -- Karl Popper N.B.: Comments are moderated and may not appear immediately. Comments that exceed the obscenity or stupidity limits will be either edited or expunged.

The drummer on the tractor with the longhorn skull definitely works for me. Unfortunately, everything else does not.

Posted by: edaddy at March 26, 2014 1:20 PM

Here the Leningrad Cowboys are singing Sweet Home Alabama:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4aecZhFsqA

(Perhaps I first saw this first on American Digest years ago...?)

The Red Army Choir accompaniment... priceless !

Posted by: Sandy Daze at March 26, 2014 2:11 PM

Is this what is called State sponsored entertainment? If so, what will Mr. Obo's performers look like?

Posted by: Terry at March 26, 2014 2:36 PM

This is visually striking. Always hilarious Russian attempt to do 'The Elvis'. Unexplained folklore sandwitched between the army full of Delilah's pathos and cool boys of Leningrad. What does it mean? God from the machine - the puff of smoke comes. Weak, but full of meaning.

Posted by: Tatana Zajic at March 26, 2014 6:06 PM

But the Red Elvises remain the best Soviet Dance Band! I wanna see you belly dance !

Posted by: Steph at March 26, 2014 6:46 PM

But the Red Elvises remain the best Soviet Dance Band! I wanna see you belly dance !

Posted by: Steph at March 26, 2014 6:46 PM

I looked at it. That red 'balalajka' is big and gay.

Posted by: Tatana Zajic at March 26, 2014 7:01 PM

Best damn improvement of a hoary old pop tune by a group of Slavs since the Ukrainians crooned "Roxanne" a few days back.

And BTW, do not defile the memory of Elvis by linking his name to this tune. "Delilah" was done by Tom Jones

Posted by: Callmelennie at March 26, 2014 8:33 PM

Call me twisted... I sortof liked it...

Posted by: Bill Henry at March 26, 2014 8:39 PM

Well!!! That explains it. No wonder we lost Crimea. Gerard this is definitely as relevant as a hundred New York Times Op-Ed pieces.

Posted by: Martyn Burke at March 26, 2014 10:11 PM

I particularly like the brass conjunto treatment -- I had no idea that Mexico had such an influence on the Red Army band. Here's hoping that its influence is far more pervasive.

Posted by: Darkwater at March 27, 2014 3:08 AM

I particularly like the brass conjunto treatment -- I had no idea that Mexico had such an influence on the Red Army band. Here's hoping that its influence is far more pervasive.

Posted by: Darkwater at March 27, 2014 3:14 AM

I particularly like the brass conjunto treatment -- I had no idea that Mexico had such an influence on the Red Army band. Here's hoping that its influence is far more pervasive.

Posted by: Darkwater at March 27, 2014 3:14 AM

You are twisted.

Posted by: Tatana Zajic at March 27, 2014 3:55 AM

Whoa! That’s just the thing I need, open my eyes at 0500. After I adjusted for the visual effects (a bit overwhelming, the scope of it) I started looking at the musicians. A hunnert voice choir and some orchestra but the “Cowboys” as ludicrous as they appeared were bang-on note perfect. Believe me when I tell you this appeared as if someone’s LSD dream was translated to the stage. We have an image of Russian soldiers (Leningrad, winter, Berlin Wall, shoot-zone) and this blew that all away. I don’t think our Armed Forces with all the new age and queers and sensitivity could ever be that uninhibited. That speaks to the self-image these soldiers have. Only very confident guys could do something like that with purportedly a world audience. I especially liked the drummer, playing on what appeared to be a tractor. Too much. Thank you.

Posted by: chasmatic at March 27, 2014 4:19 AM

They are not confident, they are Russians. Russians can always survive on pasta (elbows only) and cabbage and while eating it, day after day, they will be full of pride they own the world. Don't get me wrong I am all Dostoevsky. Nobody knew Slavs better (and people in general), than him. For a Russian man though everything must be big, from big glass of vodka to big 'Elvis's hair'. They are not strong on subtlety.

Posted by: Tatana Zajic at March 27, 2014 5:26 AM

The video: very heterosexual, very white, very clear, not subtle. I'm beginning to understand why nobody is standing up to really do anything about Russia's takeover of Crimea.

Posted by: Gloria at March 27, 2014 11:04 AM

The Red Army Choir is Russian but the rest of the band are mostly Finns.

And 100% awesome.

Posted by: b moe at March 27, 2014 5:46 PM

Da!
Da mariachi brass (as Darkwater pointed out),
da tractor,
da awesome!
(And as Tatana said, so much for subtle).

Posted by: Fausta at March 28, 2014 7:12 AM