Old Russian romance: Those were the days!

Hello,

Today we will watch a video and listen to a good old Russian romance: By Long Road (Dorogoy Dlinnoyu/Дорогой длинною) [composed before 1917]! We think many of our readers know and love an English version of this song, known as "Those Were the Days" and written in 1968.



For our readers who wants to know more:

This Romance was written by Boris Fomin (1900-1948) with words by the poet Konstantin Podrevskii the official year of birth is 1924 but specialists still argue about it: Because there are two versions of this romance and first version of it was sung by incredible Alexander Vertinsy even before Russian Revolution [25 October 1917]. All who has heard this romance by Vertinsky admit that it was genial!

For our Russian speaker readers here is a very good article about this romance in Russian.

And for all our readers we publish the original Russian text and its English interpretation:

Слова К.Подревского Ехали на тройке с бубенцами, А вдали мелькали огоньки... Эх, когда бы мне теперь за вами, Душу бы развеять от тоски! Припев: Дорогой длинною, Погодой лунною, Да с песней той, Что вдаль летит звеня, И с той старинною, Да с семиструнною, Что по ночам Так мучила меня. Да, выходит, пели мы задаром, Понапрасну ночь за ночью жгли. Если мы покончили со старым, Так и ночи эти отошли! Припев: В даль родную новыми путями Нам отныне ехать суждено! Ехали на тройке с бубенцами, Да теперь проехали давно! Припев:

English text by Gene Raskin Once upon a time there was a tavern, Where we used to raise a glass or two. Remember how we laughed away the hours, And dreamed of all the great things we would do. Refrain: Those were the days my friend, We'd thought they'd never end, We'd sing and dance for-ever and a day, We'd live the life we choose, We'd fight and never lose, For we were young and sure to have our way. Lalala lah lala, lalala lah lala Those were the days, oh yes, those were the days. Then the busy years when rushing by us. We lost our starry notions on the way. If by chance I'd see you in the tavern, We'd smile at one another and we'd say: Refrain: Just tonight I stood before the tavern, Nothing seemed the way it used to be. In the glass I saw a strange reflection, Was that lonely person really me. Refrain: Through the door there came familiar laughter. I saw your face and heard you call my name. Oh, my friend, we're older but no wiser, For in our hearts the dreams are still the same. Refrain:

Best wishes
and we think it is great that both Russian and English speakers can enjoy such a wonderful song!

Svet and Kyle
comments always welcome.

Russian Video: Worker and Farm Girl will rise again!

Hello,

Today we watch a little bit of News Video from Russia... What is this video about? That is about rising one of the most famous statues of Soviet Uninon "Worker and Farm Girl"(1930) again. That's very good news: after years of selfdestoying, forgetting and putting aside history of great country, Russia starts to restore not just monuments but people's pride what was broken after faling Soviet Uninon. When I wathc this video about rising the sculpture I think about rising of Russia and we can see more and more signs of this and we write about it in our blogs.



Russia Today writes:

It was a Soviet icon from the 1930s, the celebrated ‘Worker and Farm Girl’ statue, which became the unmistakable logo of Russia’s major film studio Mosfilm. Moscow authorities promise the huge sculpture, dismantled in 2003, will be restored to its full glory.

The 24-metre-high work or art in stainless steel by Vera Mukhina triumphed when put on show for the first time at the 1937 World Fair in Paris. It became a symbol of the socialist dream for millions in the Soviet Union.

Best wishes and
just think if Russia can rise again maybe you can too? ;)

Svet and Kyle

comments always welcome.

Russian Video: Bird of Happiness!

Hello,

Today we are watching an old Soviet video: Nikolay Gnatuk (Николай Гнатюк) sings a song "Bird of Happiness" (Птица Счастья), 1981. We think that's nice song :).



For our readers who wants to know more about this song:

The song was written by very famous Soviet composer Aleksandra Pakhmutova and a famous poet (her husband) Nikolai Dobronravov in 1981.

And for our readers who wants just to know what this song is about we found a translation:

Tomorrow's bird of happiness
Flew over, its wings tinkling
Choose me, choose me
Tomorrow's bird of happiness!
How much silver in the starry sky
Tomorrow will be better than yesterday
Better than yesterday, better than yesterday
Tomorrow will be better than yesterday

Somewhere a guitar is playing
Trustworthy heart will keep the love safe
The heart loves and cherishes
And the bird of luck will fly over again
Tomorrow's morning will come
Someone will become first, but not me
Someone but not me, someone but not me
Will put together tomorrow's song

There is no dance without fire in this world
In my heart there is hope
Choose me, choose me
Tomorrow's bird of happiness
Somewhere a guitar is playing
Trustworthy heart will keep the love safe
The heart loves and cherishes
And the bird of luck will fly over again


Best wishes,
hope the song made you smile, just believe
"Tomorrow will be better than yesterday"!

Svet and Kyle

comments always welcome.

Russian Video: Peterhof!

Hello,

Today we will watch a very beautiful video about a very beautiful place! This video about Peterhof(Petergof) has been recently made by our Internet-friend Nikolai Ganenkov. That is his first video and we hope to see other videos from him!



For our readers who wants to know more about Peterhof:
The world-famous "capital of fountains" or "Russian Versailles" was founded by Peter I. In 1918 the main summer residence of the Russian emperors became state property and by 1941 ten museums of art and history had been opened on its premises. During the war of 1941-45, Peterhof was razed to the ground by the Nazis. Restoration work began in as early as 1944, after the Nazis were expelled from the town, and, for the most part, the ensemble was returned to its former splendour. The first fountain began to operate once more in 1946. The Hermitage pavilion reopened in 1952 and the Great Palace in 1964. In 1966 the Great Cascade was fully reconstructed. Restoration work is, however, still in progress.

Building of the palace and park ensemble and a landing-stage for boats bound for Kotlin Island began in the early 1700s. The first palaces and pavilions were erected, parks were laid out and a network of fountains constructed. These were later repeatedly expanded and modified.... You can continue reading here.

Best wishes and
think maybe it's time for you to make your own video... ;)

Svet and Kyle

comments always welcome.