It's Friday night during a quarantine! Who's ready to join me on a journey through Russian pop hits of the 90s? We're going all over the place! It's gonna be terrible, cute, and occasionally great. Let's go, comrades! 🇷🇺
Preface:
90s Russia was a weird time. Following the disappointing Perestroika, and the subsequent collapse of the USSR, the overall mood wasn't the greatest. With an alleged democracy Russian Federation imported fast food, videogames, foreign tech goodies, drugs, and crime
90s Russia was a weird time. Following the disappointing Perestroika, and the subsequent collapse of the USSR, the overall mood wasn't the greatest. With an alleged democracy Russian Federation imported fast food, videogames, foreign tech goodies, drugs, and crime
But everything felt new. Despite low wages and standards of living every market was full of products and content unseen and unheard until those days. Anyone with a decent amount of money and a few cheap synthesizers started churning out dance songs that were instantly consumed.
Let's begin with no so great. This was a MAJOR hit by Kai Metov called "Position #2". For reasons completely unknown to me he became every housewife's dream. It's objectively terrible, but I absolutely can not hate this *amazing* official music video.
Another hero of the early 90s Bogdan Titomir. Having separated from the successful duo "Car Man" he positioned himself as a "rapper" from the streets with this cheap Marky Mark knockoff video (see bicycle tired on a bike) "Делай Как Я" (Do as I do). It was mega popular.
Titomir notoriously once answered an interview question "Why are you singing this kind of garbage?" with "People eat it up." thus giving quite a slogan for all modern Russian show business.
Clones? We got em! It was the 90s, and what was popular? That's right, Ace of Base! Well, meet Vostok with their only hit "Миражи" (Mirages) from 1996. Pupper alert!
And now a legend! DJ band Ruki Vverh (Hands Up) with their super hit "Крошка Моя" (My Baby). They were extremely cheese and super prolific and became hated by just about everyone. The style was instantly recognizable. But cheesy didn't mean you couldn't dance to it!
Ruki Vverh's input in music outside of Russia was selling their song "Песенка" (Little Song) to a German eurodance band ATC who covered it as "Around the World (La La La La La)" in 1999, and became an international success
And now the good stuff. Чугунный Скороход (Cast Iron Speed Walker?) with their hit "Милиция" and a music video shot in a local high school. Having children dance with lyrics like "Hide the drugs, it's the cops!" was sure something. It was a different time.
Here's Diskoteka Avariya with their hit "Давай Авария!". Always liked them. These guys from a rural town had lots of talent & energy. They sampled & were influenced by every popular piece of dance music. They mostly played 2 their local audiences until discovered in the late 90s
Something a bit more somber. Russky Razmer and their minor hit "Вот Так". This is it. A great tune.
Here's the band "Hi-Fi" and their hit "Не Дано". At the time I used to despise just about everything this band's producer was involved in (and it was a lot), but today I really enjoy this particular tune. There's something delightfully simple about it.
In my opinion the pinnacle of generic Russian pop that is meant to appeal to multiple generations, but still has a beat. Alyona Apina and her mega hit "Электричка" (Train).
Ivan Kupala eventually became known as a band, but it was just a lone DJ who worked with USSR-era recordings of Russian folk songs. The mix of competent music and rural village singers worked incredibly well. This was the breakout hit "Kostroma":
Tatyana Bulanova was a folksy singer who scored a danceable hit with "Ясный Мой Свет" (My Bright Light) and then spent the rest of her career chasing that same high with little success.
Let's get back to crap for a second. Here's Irina Saltykova with her non-hit "Bye Bye". Irina had a couple of hits early on, but the rest of her output was mediocre at best. She's also known for playing herself as a shallow pop star in the hit film "Brother 2".
In my opinion one of the best Russian pop hits of the 90s, here's Лицей (Lyceum) with their super hit "Осень" (Autumn). Unlike most things from 1996 this still holds up incredibly well with its folksy vibe, and audible longing. A great track all around.
One of my favorites Кобинация (Combination) with the song "Бухгалтер" (Accountant) from 1993. A great music video about an accountant who wonders into a cabaret where all wishes are granted, and orders a song about "life, love, and myself". Great use of nonexistent budget.
It's probably late enough to post something really kooky. Here are Дюна (Dune) with their song Октябрятская-Партизанская. Please don't ask me what any of it means. 🤣
Want something creepy instead? Here's Linda with her 1996 hit "Ворона" (Crow). I remember being incredibly impressed with this music video at the time. Now it feels a bit quaint.
It doesn't get any more early 90s Russia than Lada Dance and her 1992 hit "Baby Tonight". I freaking adore the goofy choreography.
It's almost midnight here, so I'm gonna sign off with Alyona Sviridova's 1995 hit "Pink Flamingo".
I think that was more than enough for tonight. Hopefully you found this thread entertaining. Pray that I don't do one like that for Russian rock of the 90s. Good night. 🥂
