The Meltdown of Russia’s Music Scene

Since the war with Ukraine, dissenting Russian bands have been “canceled” en masse, including many of the scene’s original founders. Bands who faced censorship, harassment and intimidation during the Soviet days are now experiencing the same thing some 40 years later.
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Yuri Shevchuk’s full interview with English subtitles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3Ncs0anYCI
A huge thank you to Nikita & Alexander for helping make this video possible:
Check out MelodyBuffet here: https://www.youtube.com/@melodybuffet1184
And Moskva-Kassiopeya here: https://moskva-kassiopeya.bandcamp.com/
List of songs featured:
0:00 Kino – Gruppa Krovi
0:48 Aquarium – Каменный уголь
3:24 Aquarium – The Art of Being Humble (Искусство быть смирным)
3:42 Time Machine – Marionettes (Марионетки)
4:28 Kino – In Our Eyes (В наших глазах)
4:39 Alisa – New Method (Новый метод)
4:44 DDT – Hippany (Хиппаны)
6:04 Hugo-Ugo – I’m So Scared (Мне так страшно)
6:25 Kombinaciya – American Boy
6:43 Tequilajazzz – Cocaine (Кокаин)
6:51 Splean – Sugarfree Orbit (Орбит без сахара)
6:57 Postcolor – Ambient Maze
7:14 Time Machine – Our House (Наш дом)
8:00 Aquarium – Train on Fire (Поезд в огне)
8:24 Aquarium – Railway Water (Железнодорожная Вода)
8:34 Paul McCartney Live at Red Square – Two Of Us
15:26 Aquarium – Rastamany iz glubinki (Растаманы из глубинки)
18:06 Bi-2 – Colonel (Полковнику)
22:47 Kino – Change (Перемен)
23:08 Polina Gagarina – Cuckoo (кукушка)
23:20 Kino – I Declare My Home a Nuclear-Free Zone
25:13 DDT – Don’t Shoot (Не стреляй)
27:33 Moskva-Kassiopeya – Express ‘69 (https://moskva-kassiopeya.bandcamp.com/)
28:06 Boris Grebenshikov – Rusty Jug of Fate (Ржавый жбан судьбы)
Cover art by https://www.partykaleta.com/
@mane771000
October 17, 2024 at 11:57 pm
I wouldn't call it Meltdown, they dig their own grave, the majority of the audience don't like them anymore, they are the one who dig themselves into this big pile of shit, and how my people saying "свято место пусто не бывает" or "there is always somebody who is ready took ur place', they are gone today forever, but the new seeds of success will grow eventually.
To be hones, I don't understand why they are doing this, I don't believe that those people have principals, just like all famous and rich people across the world, the only faith they have is money. Most of them are ethnic-liberals, who's ancestors killed millions of Russian peasants during the civil war and red terror, and now they are preaching us how we supposed to live, what we should believe and what country we should build, while living their comfy life in Israel or Europe.
Most of my favorite musicians, artist, movie directors and writes have degenerate political beliefs, so instead of preaching they should entertain us, this is what jesters supposed to do.
@sanuku535
October 17, 2024 at 11:57 pm
So has come time.
For new classics from underground to emerge.
@loriwooten5249
October 17, 2024 at 11:57 pm
Thank you for posting: I just found Joanna Stingray's book, album RED WAVE, so I am finding this quite interesting, though late finding it. You have given me new (to me) music to listen to!
@izavbe
October 17, 2024 at 11:57 pm
я заплакал
@NicolinaDanielle
October 17, 2024 at 11:57 pm
Wish you would have talked about Viktor Tsoi.
@nestortomaselli6372
October 17, 2024 at 11:57 pm
25:30 THIS right here is why politicians fear artists so much that they’re willing to use the whole apparatus of the state (like a bunch of cowards) to cancel them. Because they know we can reach deep inside the hearts and minds of anyone and effectively flip them around to make them see the reality of things.
@lostline01
October 17, 2024 at 11:57 pm
it is all interesting, but you know reason they got cancelled? They all supported Ukraine or even donated to them. And after terrorists were caught at M-3 "Ukraina" i see that is as a reason for deportation
@asharun4642
October 17, 2024 at 11:57 pm
2:06 Нацболы как всегда на стороне правды, правильно сделали что закидали помидорами перестроечного мудака. Жаль только столько активных людей из партии полегло за свободу Донбасса в те времена. И тех двоих смельчаков жаль, которые осенью в Одессе решили показать своë отношение к Киевской хунте.
@Sarke2
October 17, 2024 at 11:57 pm
This is really good documentary
@bernardliu8526
October 17, 2024 at 11:57 pm
‘Make music under circumstances we take for granted ?’ Are you sure ? They were making music under circumstances unimaginable by us !
@lmao.3661
October 17, 2024 at 11:57 pm
if only you knew how bad things really are.
@NuevaBestia
October 17, 2024 at 11:57 pm
Who else heard kingdom hearts for a second
@7321janedou
October 17, 2024 at 11:57 pm
Putin the punk
@MrTrotta2010
October 17, 2024 at 11:57 pm
Hey! I'm watching this in january 2024, does any one know what the situation is right now? Great video, by the way!
@propagafun4368
October 17, 2024 at 11:57 pm
8:49 looking putin enjoys the music is kinda funny and weird at the same time lol
@serprifa
October 17, 2024 at 11:57 pm
Kino was canceled so much that they performed in full stadiums. Scary sacay KeyGiBe
@ФедорМаслов-п5б
October 17, 2024 at 11:57 pm
So. I really appreciate for this video. Somebody finally try to understand us without blame.
Imagine you live in big prison, and there is nothing place to hide. Every police man is dangerous. Every man, who back from Ukraine with PTSD is dangerous. We live in endless nightmare now. Don't forget about it. We are people too. People like you. We NOT our government, and most of us understand how pointless this war is.
"I hope someday you will join us
And the world will live as one"
P.S
Excuse my english btw.
@anon82037
October 17, 2024 at 11:57 pm
I grew up on these bands. I love ddt and know every Kino song. Last year the lead singer of Ddt had a full anti war speech during a concert, I feared the worst. At least he's alive.
@bilbohobbit6508
October 17, 2024 at 11:57 pm
ахаха какая же чушь это видео😆в утиль ушли лишь либералы, вся остальная сцена здравствует и процветает, как старая, так и новая. Слава России! Слава Путину! Слава БРИКС! Смерть англосаксонским лидерам!
@joesalyers
October 17, 2024 at 11:57 pm
I wonder do Russians really think the ukrainian's are nazis in the same way the germans were in the 1930s and 40s. Also lets not forget real history when the USSR was allied with Germany from 1939 to 1941 when they divided up Poland and supplied the Germans with oil, grain, steel and iron ore to blitz across western Europe and they only started fighting the "fascists" when they were attacked in 1941 by Germany? I even saw Putin blaming Poland for the 1939 invasion of Poland by the Russians and the Germans that split the country in 2 which is ludicrous. Sure the Russians were very important to defeating the Germans in the war but if the Germans didn't attack Russia the USSR would have kept its molotov ribentrop pact in place. No country is perfect or blameless but shutting down musicians or people's speech is a human rights violation of the highest order in my book!
@CaptHiltz
October 17, 2024 at 11:57 pm
Some day Putin will "disappear."
@pauldodson2018
October 17, 2024 at 11:57 pm
Dear Bandsplaining, I have ALWAYS wondered about the music/rock scene in the Soviet Union and now in Russia. This fantastic documentary really sums up the repression going on then and now. Bravo boys! Thank you.-Paul
@bluffgawd
October 17, 2024 at 11:57 pm
Very cool, I been listening to a lot of Kino lately. Awesome band.
@pavelv8468
October 17, 2024 at 11:57 pm
No. do not put Makarevich on the same level as Grebenshov and Shevchuk. He sold out to the Soviets and his music sucks.