Jan

25

Vladimir Vysotsky Turns 70

January 25, 2008 |

Today would have been the famed Soviet bard, actor, and conscious of a generation Vladimir Vysotsky’s 70th birthday. Vysotsky, who died in 1980 at the age of 42 from heart failure, perhaps proves once again that “its better to burn out, than to fade away.” True enough. Vysotsky’s great cultural impact in life and sudden death is the stuff icons are made of. Brilliant and moving, his passionate raspy voice made him a man fit for his time. It was also a time fit for the man.

Vysotsky’s 70th birthday is not going unnoticed in Russia. Monuments to the legendary actor, poet, and vocalist are being unveiled today in Samara, Voronezh and Dubna. The one in Samara is a 5 meter tall piece sculpted by Vysotsky’s close friend and well known artist Mikhail Shemyakin.

My love of Vysotsky’s music is only a few years old. My most memorable moment was last year in Israel. I was shopping at this flea market in Jaffa and stumbled upon a Russian immigrant selling records. Among his collection was a seven vinyl series of Vysotsky’s music called Na kontsertakh Vladimira Vysotskovo. He sold them to me for a dollar a record. The wax is in perfect condition. The sleeves are a bit worn, some have a few stains of god knows what, but not too bad. The records were published between 1987-1988 by Melodiia, the official Soviet record press, and are based on recordings Vysotsky did in the 1960s and 1970s. I figured that today is a good day to bust them out of my crate of records, blow the dust off of them, and give ‘em a spin.

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Comments

14 Comments so far

  1. Chrisius Maximus on January 25, 2008 11:59 am

    “who died in 1980 at the age of 42 from heart failure”

    I believe Vysotsky died from “heart failure” about as much as Hank Williams died from old age. :(

  2. Sean on January 25, 2008 12:18 pm

    True enough!

  3. Kolya on January 25, 2008 3:06 pm

    Vysotsky was one of kind and the music scene now is drastically differen from when he was aroundt. Are there, though, any well regarded “bards” in contemporary Russia? Are there any well known performers (not pop stars) who sing their own lyrics without relying on heavy instrumentation? Any names that I should check out? I’m asking because I have no idea.

  4. Kyle & Svet on January 25, 2008 3:45 pm

    Yes, people loves Vladimir Vysotsky all over the world. They listen and sing his songs and even translate his songs on languages that countries where they happened to live now.

    Last night we put an article about Vysotsky too:”Israel likes Vladimir Vysotsky” and was wondering who else remember his birthday.

    Thank you very much for the article!

    Svet and Kyle

  5. Kyle & Svet on January 25, 2008 4:07 pm

    To Kolya:

    Bards are very popular among Russian intelligent/intellectuals. Bard’s songs are songs what you can sing sitting by the fire and you don’t need any musical instrument but a guitar. Bard’s songs is not too difficult tune but very deep words.

    Here are some names of my favorite bards: Okudzhava, Visbor, Klyachkin, Egorov, Nikitin, Dolsky, Scherbakov and of course Vysotsky and Galich.

    Really, there are much more of them but these are first whom I remember. Bard’s songs that is like movies “not for all” - There is some people in Russia who like just this kind of songs and I am this way ;).

    Svet

  6. Seesaw on January 25, 2008 4:26 pm

    He was simply great!

  7. Kolya on January 25, 2008 4:56 pm

    Thanks, Svet. I was unclear in my comment. I was wondering about younger bards. Well, not necessarily young, but vocalists that came into the scene fairly recently–during the last ten years or so.

  8. Russophile on January 25, 2008 6:52 pm

    This is the only modern bard I can think of right now… ;)

  9. Tim Newman on January 26, 2008 1:43 am

    Funny, first I heard of Vyotsky was this last week when I was reading Martin Cruz Smith’s Polar Star for the second time. He cites a few of his songs in the book. I’m not sure if I’ve heard his songs, I’ll have to dig a few up and have a listen.

    One bard who a Russian friend of mine enjoys listening to is Mikhail Kruk. I’ve heard a few people singing his stuff on karaoke.

  10. Xin on January 26, 2008 8:12 am

    Тимур Шаов may be one “new” bard.

    http://www.shaov.ru/

  11. Russophile on January 26, 2008 7:07 pm

    Tim, When you listen to some of his songs I am certain that you will recognize them. If not the songs, you will recognize the voice. Here are a few at You Tube: One, Two, Three.

  12. Kolya on January 29, 2008 5:30 am

    Hey, Russophile! I forgot to mention that Nalitch’s “Gitar” is quite a hoot as well a catchy tune. In this case I don’t even mind that the song is in English. And I love his Yaguar.

    http://youtube.com/watch?v=AOzkN8dHnjk

  13. Chrisius Maximus on February 21, 2008 1:13 am

    I’m so depressed: :(

    умер Егор Летов
    19 февраля 2008 года умер Егор Летов.

    Умер дома, в Омске. Когда никто не ждал и не мог о таком помыслить. В последний раз в жизни сломав все стереотипы.

    Умер во сне от остановки сердца. И название последнего альбома “Зачем снятся сны” приобрело пророческий оттенок.

    Умер тот, кто своими песнями был с нами и в радости и в горе. Чье творчество сопровождало нас по жизни. Стало родным и близким. Стало частью каждого из нас.

    Умер, оставив нам свое творчество. Которое не умрет никогда.

    Вечная память, Егор, вечная память.

  14. Matthias on August 31, 2008 8:27 am

    Great article and some luck you had.
    I`m searching for the Vysotsky-LP which contains “White Waltz” (in english here, in Russian on the record). Is there anybody who knows it? Thanks.

    Greatings from Germany.

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