Good luck

Alexei Yurchak

I actually read a book recently about the life of Dean Reed, the American who was co-opted by the Soviet authorities to reach the youth and seem “hip”. The book itself wasn’t very good unfortunately, but the story was intruiging. You got the sense though that the Soviet’s putting forth Dean Reed was analogous to them thinking Donna Summer was cool in 1985, “erotizm” aside. i.e fairly out of touch. Politicians are getting more savvy in this department and it seems like its time has come, although I don’t know whether that speaks well of the idea or ill of the times.

Governments using rock to attract youths is an interesting and recent development. I was surprised to learn how many Christian groups are using punk and hip-hop.

How Putin is using rock is worthy of further investigation.

This list wouldn’t surprise me coming out in ‘85. The authorities are always the last to catch on to what the kids think is all right. I never really thought Tipper Gore was up with the music scene in her hey-day of condemnation.

What’s interesting is how Putin’s government has made an effort to reach out to Russian rock and roll bands as an effort to woo the youth towards their government.

Cyrill – You mean you dont know it was all the CIA selecting the music to smuggle across the Iron Curtain to corrupt innocent Soviet youths? I’m shocked … shocked I tell you! CCR sings about smoking the devil-weed marijuana! What did you think they were “rolling” on the river anyway? Big fat doobies, that’s what!

(obviously joking, although I am sure both the CIA and KGB explored such things)

Gee, I thought all that Soviets listened to in the 70s was Alla Pugacheva. Actually that Miroslav Nemirov’s LJ sounds promising