Tag Archives: russia

“Rasputin” by Boney M.: A folk tale song

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As soon as the interview began, the informant was in smiles. “It’s basically just a song,” they started. “It’s like a… It’s a song from the 1990s/early 2000s. And it’s like, about…” The smile grew wider. “It’s about Rasputin. He’s kinda known as like ‘the Mad Monk.'”

At this, the informant’s eyes squinted and their hands came up to form air-quotes around the phrase. Immediately after saying this, they chuckled at their own words. “So.. Yeah- have you heard of it? The song?”

I ensured them that I did. Still, we went through the lyrics together:

There lived a certain man in Russia long ago
He was big and strong, in his eyes a flaming glow
Most people looked at him with terror and with fear
But to Moscow chicks he was such a lovely dear
He could preach the Bible like a preacher
Full of ecstasy and fire
But he also was the kind of teacher
Women would desire

Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey

There lived a certain man in Russia long ago
He was big and strong, in his eyes a flaming glow
Most people looked at him with terror and with fear
But to Moscow chicks he was such a lovely dear
He could preach the Bible like a preacher
Full of ecstasy and fire
But he also was the kind of teacher
Women would desire

Ra ra Rasputin
Lover of the Russian queen
There was a cat that really was gone
Ra ra Rasputin
Russia’s greatest love machine
It was a shame how he carried on

He ruled the Russian land and never mind the Czar
But the kazachok he danced really wunderbar
In all affairs of state he was the man to please
But he was real great when he had a girl to squeeze
For the queen he was no wheeler dealer
Though she’d heard the things he’d done
She believed he was a holy healer
Who would heal her son

Ra ra Rasputin
Lover of the Russian queen
There was a cat that really was gone
Ra ra Rasputin
Russia’s greatest love machine
It was a shame how he carried on

But when his drinking and lusting
And his hunger for power
Became known to more and more people
The demands to do something
About this outrageous man
Became louder and louder

Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey

“This man’s just got to go”, declared his enemies
But the ladies begged, “don’t you try to do it, please”
No doubt this Rasputin had lots of hidden charms
Though he was a brute, they just fell into his arms
Then one night some men of higher standing
Set a trap, they’re not to blame
“Come to visit us”, they kept demanding
And he really came

Ra ra Rasputin
Lover of the Russian queen
They put some poison into his wine
Ra ra Rasputin
Russia’s greatest love machine
He drank it all and said, “I feel fine”

Ra ra Rasputin
Lover of the Russian queen
They didn’t quit, they wanted his head
Ra ra Rasputin
Russia’s greatest love machine
And so they shot him ’til he was dead

Oh, those Russians

Context

RELATIONSHIP –
“It’s sort of weird– It’s a childhood favorite of mine.” The informant put a hand to their head and looked up in thought. “My mom is Polish. I think it’s the only song she listens to which could be kinda connected to Polish roots due to the content. Not really culturally relevant to her, but just ‘Here’s this song! You like this song?'” They smiled at the memory.

WHERE THEY HEARD IT –
“My mom introduced me to it. And then it became the song which we played whenever she would drop me off at school at stuff.”
They told me that listening to the song was almost a daily occurrence. It would be on a recurring playlist of songs they would play.

INTERPRETATION –
“It’s one of those songs where you never really think of the lyrics, and then you heard it and it’s like ‘Oh, it’s about the revolution in Russia and the weird mystical powers of this guy named Rasputin- and then people trying to murder him.'”
“I think the song is kinda of what you would think of as classic Russian dance music. In terms of oral storytelling, it’s not a historical event, but the weird tale of this guy. I think it’s supposed to not be comical in its presentation, but comical in how they present Rasputin since he tried to convince everyone that he was mystic. And they talk about the consequences of all of his actions and the people he ended up annoying. I think it’s more about putting him down than about finding a lesson. I think it’s also teasing Russians in general. I think it’s laughing with than laughing at, though. The main thing that this song capitalizes on is the womanizing.”

Analysis

The song Rasputin takes the life of the real man and retells the story in a way that makes it how like he is a mythical figure or a character of folklore. Aside from the phrase “long ago” which is frequently used in tales to begin the story, the song describes Rasputin as having mystical features such as flaming eyes, healing powers, and irresistible charm. Something else the song does is highlight Rasputin’s flaws and the reasons behind why some people wished for his demise and saying that they weren’t wrong for plotting it. This depicts him as being an unsympathetic character as emphasis is placed on his drinking, womanizing, and hunger for power. In this song, Rasputin’s life is spun to sound like a cautionary tale, warning people of the dangers of prideful thinking.

Russian Joke 1 – Strings

1) “What’s the definition of a Russian string quartet? A Soviet orchestra back from a US tour.”

2) My Russian friend from high school told me this joke when I was at his house a couple weeks ago. He told me he chose this joke because as an international student he feels more critical of Russia than many of his peers and he wanted to express that through humor. 

3) This joke was told to me in a set of four while my Russian friend and I were playing video games at his house. 

4) This joke has satirical elements that highlight Cold War tensions between the US and USSR during the late 20th century. Both the USSR and US used musical artists as a form of propaganda and chose to facilitate performances which they believed to fit their countries ideological agendas. The idea of a “tour” fits this concept perfectly – the dissemination of thought. 

Russian Joke 2 – Tie

1) “Two Russians meet in Moscow at night… one says, ‘Hey look at this tie I bought last week for $200!’ The other man responded, ‘You’re an idiot. You could have bought that tie yesterday for $500’”

2) My Russian friend told me this joke because he explained to me that he is very passionate about Russia’s economy, and that the reference to inflation in this ties into some of the issues that he wants to contribute to solving through Russian politics.

3) This joke was told to me in a set of four while my Russian friend and I were playing video games. 

4) This joke is essentially implying that at a point, inflation in Russia was so severe that $500 became worth less than $200 within the span of a few days. This ties into Russia’s economic conditions. After the days of collectivization and transition through the Cold War era now to the regime of Putin, Russia has struggled with economic identity. The link between communism, desires for small market openings, massive bribes and corruption have created an economic condition where trust between individuals is diminished, and when trust is diminished, so is currency. 

Russian Joke 3 – List

1) “Do you know Putin’s plan for Russia’s new economy? It’s to make people rich and happy. The list of people is attached!” 

2) My Russian friend told me this joke because he said he really wants Putin out of office, although he doesn’t see that happening until he dies. He used this joke as an opportunity to critique Russia’s president. 

3) This joke was told to me in a set of four while my Russian friend and I were playing video games. 

4) This joke seems to be getting at the idea that Putin, and Russian big government as a whole, largely tends to the interests of those within an elite network, as opposed to the Russian people as a whole. Wealth is highly centralized amongst government officials, and the prevalence of bribery allows for blackmarkets to facilitate without crackdown (bribery likely circles back to the Russian government). 

Russian Joke 4 – rabbits and camels

1) “So there are two rabbits on a road during Stalin’s 1937 Purge… the first rabbit asks the second, ‘why are you in such a hurry?’ The second responds, ‘you haven’t heard? There’s a rumor circulating… apparently all camels are to be castrated.’ The first replies, ‘But you’re not a camel.’ So the second explains, ‘After they catch you and castrate you, try proving you’re not a camel.’

2) My Russian friend told me this joke because he wanted to make a point. He believes that socialism or communism have potential under the right leaders and environment, but he believes Stalin’s method was utterly immoral and a failure. He told me that he shared this joke because he believes critique is prior to proper reformation in society. 

3) This joke was told to me in a set of four while my Russian friend and I were playing video games. 

4) This joke is referencing Stalin’s Great Purge in 1937. This event was the culmination of Stalin’s reign in which he had various political and military figures executed or removed from the USSR, as well as Russia’s intelligentsia, and ultimately conducted a witch hunt in which people who displayed any marginal signs of anti-soviet sentiments would be imprisoned or executed without fair due process. The Great Purge is estimated to have led to nearly 700,000 deaths.