Anti-War Playlist: Russian Music Against the War
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Loading... - blake emma
- 18 Jul 2022
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Since Russia invaded Ukraine four months ago, over 16,000 people have been detained or arrested for protesting the war, the independent police-monitoring website OVD-info reports.
Despite the political crackdown, Russians are finding a way to voice their opinion. Many Russian-speaking musicians turn to allegories and melodies to express their anti-war positions.
This playlist includes anti-war clips and songs Russian musicians made since their country invaded Ukraine.
Their concerts are now banned in Russia, St. Petersburg media outlet Fontanka reported Friday.
DDT – Little death
The legendary rock band that was especially popular during the 80s and 90s and its frontman Yuri Shevchuk have repeatedly spoken out against the war in Ukraine.
On May 18, Shevchuk told an 8,000-strong crowd at DDT’s concert in Ufa that “the motherland, my friends, is not the president’s ass that has to be slobbered over and kissed all the time.”
As a result, Shevchuk was charged with “discrediting” the Russian military, and two of DDT's concerts were postponed or canceled.
The song "Little Death," released on March 1, describes the death of a little man from the provinces. Shevchuk ends the song shouting "He wants your death more than you want to live!"
Little Big — Generation Cancellation
Popular in Russia and abroad, the group Little Big is famous for its catchy tunes and expressive music clips.
The group left Russia in March, and on June 24, it released a single titled "Generation Cancellation" which showed rich politicians spewing propaganda, regular people living in poverty and airstrikes on civilian buildings. At the end of a clip, a politician presses the red button with the word "Cancel" in an allusion to the nuclear button.
In the description of the video, the band calls for a stop to the war in Ukraine.
Zemfira – Meat
Russian rock star Zemfira left the country for France. On May 20 she released her third anti-war video clip. Featuring drawings of war made by renowned Russian actress Renata Litvinova, the song describes Russian soldiers as cannon fodder.
She ends the song with: "Where have we come to? / Why have we come here?"
Shortparis — Apple garden
An experimental band from St. Petersburg, Shortparis hasn't spoken out explicitly against the war in Ukraine. However, during their concerts and in video clips, the band channels anti-war positions.
The band's frontman, Nikolai Kamyagin, was detained at an anti-war protest a few days after Russia invaded Ukraine. He was fined 10,000 rubles ($181).
In March Shortparis released a video clip of their 2021 song "Apple Garden." Featuring a choir of World War II veterans, Kamyagin sang about young soldiers and the sadness that blankets the Kremlin's spires.
At the end of the video, a grave-like hole is dug in front of the singers. Covered with snow, they throw apples into the empty hole. Read More…
