Pussy Riot and Protest Music in Post-Soviet Russia 02/28/17

MUR 121: World Music and Its Contexts Guest Lecturer: Gabrielle Cornish

Kino, A Change (1986-7) 5Nizza, Soldier (2002)

A bottle's green glass instead of the warmth I'm a soldier

Smoke instead of fire I haven't slept in five years
A day taken out of the calendar And I have dark circles under my eyes.
Red sun's burnt to ashes, I haven't seen them myself,
and the day fades away with it. But so I've been told.
City on fire's covered with shadow. I'm a soldier
And I have no head
Our hearts are longing for a change, They have beaten it off with their boots
Our eyes are longing for a change. Yo, the commander shouts
It's in our laughter and in our tears And his mouths torn open
And running through our veins Because of a grenade...
Change, we long for change. Neither white cotton,
Nor red cotton will heal a soldier.
Electric light prolongues our day
And a matchbox is totally empty I'm a soldier
But the flame of kitchen gas is like a flower Unborn child of war
in blossom I'm a soldier
A cigarette's in a hand, tea cup's on the table Mom, take care of my wounds
The scheme is simple I'm a soldier
There's nothing more, everything's inside us. Soldier of a country forgotten by God
I'm a hero
Our hearts are longing for a change, Tell me of which novel
Our eyes are longing for a change.
It's in our laughter and in our tears I'm a soldier
And running through our veins Which means when I have only one bullet
Change, we long for change. left
It's either me or him.
Our eyes are not full of wisdom On the last wagon out.
And our hands are not always skilled The moon shines.
But to understand one another we don't need There are millions of us
it all. In the UN.
A cigarette's in a hand, tea cup's on the table
That's how a circle completes I'm a soldier
And suddenly we are too terrified to change And I know my job
anything. My job is to shoot
So that the bullet doesn't miss
Our hearts are longing for a change, The enemy's body
Our eyes are longing for a change. This reggae is for you Mother-War
It's in our laughter and in our tears Are you happy now?
And running through our veins
Change, we long for change. Im a soul-jah,
Im a soul-jah...

1
Pussy Riot, Punk Prayer (2012) The spark of the riots
Thats the way hes blessed
Virgin birth-giver of God, drive away Putin! To stay alive
Drive away Putin, drive away Putin! It never leads to an end
It's never getting quiet
Black frock, golden epaulettes If it's unfair, my friend
Parishioners crawl bowing [toward the priest, Make up your mind
during the Eucharist]
Freedom's ghost [has gone to] heaven It's getting dark in New York City
A gay-pride parade [has been] sent to Siberia in It's getting dark in New York City
shackles It's getting dark in New York City
I need to catch my breath
Their chief saint is the head of the KGB
He leads a convoy of protestors to jail You know this world of hate
So as not to insult the Holiest One You know this stubborn light
Woman should bear children and love They're in the prayers you pray late at night
Shit, shit, the Lord's shit! We're only halfway down
Shit, shit, the Lord's shit! Who dares to take a breath?
Some fairness might be found
Virgin birth-giver of God, become a feminist! From ashes of his death
Become a feminist, become a feminist!
The Church praises rotten leaders [Chorus]
The march of the cross consists of black
limousines Get away. For what?
A preacher is on his way to your school Every time you see me, you want to mess with
Go to class and give him money! me
I'm tired of it. It stops today. Why would you...?
Patriarch Gundyay believes in Putin Everyone standing here will tell you I didn't do
Would be better, the bastard, if he believed in nothing
God! I did not sell anything
The Virgin's belt won't replace political Because every time you see me, you want to
gatherings harass me
The eternal Virgin Mary is with us in our You want to stop me selling cigarettes
protests! I'm minding my business, officer
I'm minding my business
Virgin birth-Giver of God, drive away Putin! Please just leave me alone
Drive away Putin, drive away Putin! I told you the last time, please just leave me
alone
Please. Please. Don't touch me. Do not touch
me
I can't breathe...

Pussy Riot, Chaika (2016)

Pussy Riot, I Cant Breathe (2015) Be humble, learn to obey, dont worry about
material stuff
Hes become his death
2
Be loyal to those in power, cause power is a gift
from God, son
I love Russia
Im a patriot
Live like a saint with holy simplicity
Dont eat too much, be humble when you shop
And soon youll be all set,
First a deputy, then a district attorney,
Joined the communist party,
Made friends with the oligarchs
Im a patriot
Straight out of Khabarovsk
And I choose to do business here, not in
Europe, where they got gay people,
But in mother Russia, where I live.
Be loyal to those in power, cause power is a gift
from God, son
I love Russia
Im a patriot
Sure its nice to vacation in Greece or in Nice
Wont go to Crimea, though, too many power
cuts and problems
But if you ask me what I want
To do business here or over the border?
Ill tell you that Im devoted to our old Russian
business traditions:
First, the cops will pull you in for questioning
Then itll look like an accident, youll be fed to
the fish,
Well bury alive anyone you wish,
Well find nice jobs in prison for anyone whos
too smart
We look out for our own homies, you know
Friendship, brother, is sacred here
No problem, brother, well get those criminal
charges off your butt
Anyone who talks too much will be buried alive
Anyone who fucks around will enjoy time in
jail.
I dont think Navalny or Pavlensky will bother
you any more, Vladimir.
Be loyal to those in power, cause power is a gift
from God, son
I love Russia
Im a patriot
Take for instance the boss of the Irkutsk
shipyards
He wasnt in line with our interests
That boss didnt want to sell or pay
But the Good Lord always finds a way
A garage, a stool, a rope, late at night
We can gently show the director the light
Our boys get official congratulations
While the poor fellow gets a cut from
strangulation
My son wanted a salt mine for Christmas, not a
tree
The priest said family values are sacred, oh
Lord
Dont worry, son
Well shut up all our competitors, son
Youll have your bricks, your ships, and your
salt mine
Im a man of my word.
I told you Id take care of everything.
Be loyal to those in power, cause power is a gift
from God, son
I love Russia
Im a patriot.