Growing up in New York in the 60s we had a record of the Red Army Ensemble that I listened to over and over. Aged 6 or 7 I loved the romanticism and sadness of the songs, and the feeling of power of those massed men's voices.
The video makes me laugh, it's so packed full of Russian cliches: the choir stands in a sun drenched clearing surrounded by silver birch trees. Ukeleles and an accordion player start quietly. As the choir builds in volume, a wonderful tenor voice emerges suddenly, the massed ranks part and the handsome soloist walks forward into the centre of the circle. He walks up and down admired by all his comrades who pat him on the back, slap hands, smile, and chat in the background. It's set up to look like an informal picnic full of spontaneous fun. At the end six dancers surround him twirl around as the song comes to it climax.
It's all from another age of - if not innocence then at least unselfconsciousness. And it is a lovely song. Nearly 500,000 viewers can't be wrong.
No comments:
Post a Comment