The Russian songs and musics belong to the Folklore of the Russia. Known examples and often taken again today are the songs and musics Korobeiniki and Kalinka , which symbolizes the Russian folk music well.

20th century

Bards

The first pillars of the current Russian music were the bards, the equivalent in France of Brel.

The first large one was Alexander Vertinski. Song writer and performer, it sang accompanied with the piano. On scene, it was always shown out of smoking and made up in white, which gave him an appearance of Pierrot.

Having begun its career in the years 1910, it had fled the Soviet Union at the time of the revolution of 1917 for the France. In spite of admiration that carried to him the Russian emigrants, it did not support this exile. Finally, he asked for the authorization of turn over to Soviet Union. On its return, although tolerated by Stalin, such Mikhaïl Boulgakov, it was authorized to play only on scenes of province until its death in 1943.

Among the mythical bards according to the Second world war, such Bulat Okoudjava or Youri Vizbor, most outstanding is undoubtedly Vladimir Vissotsky. Born in 1938, it was essential like one of the actors headlight of the Théâtre of the Taganka on Moscow as of the beginning of the year 1960. At the same time, it started to compose of the songs while being accompanied with the Guitare. These songs were initially not intended for the public, but of the private recordings circulated quickly. However, of alive sound, he was never recognized as singer by the authorities, because its songs were either political, or not-in conformity with the poetic line of the Party. This always did not prevent a success growing and in many more or less clandestine concerts. Following its marriage with Marina Vlady, it succeeded in recording some discs abroad. Just like Vertinski, it did not support the life of emigrant, and remained in Soviet Union, in spite of the censure. He died of an heart attack in 1980. In spite of the silence of the press, more than 40.000 fans presented themselves to his burial.

First groups

Among the groups of musics appeared between 1950 and 1990, relatively little of them marked the memory. But they were essential in an all the more strong way, often copying the Western groups. The first group to be imposed is Aquarium (Аквариум) as of the years 1970, group considered today as one of the founders of the current Russian rock'n'roll. Among women, Alla Pougachova is established during the same time.

Quite as outstanding as Aquarium is the group Kino of Viktor Tsoi. From the exit of the first album “45” in until the death of Tsoï in 1990 in an car accident, the group developed as the group of the years 1980.

So groups of Rock'n'roll such Nol, DDT or Brigada S had been already formed with the beginning of the year 1980, they were limited in their popularity by the lack of possibilities to occur. Indeed, since they did not enter within the framework of “Soviet art” (approximately, they did not have to be political for that, it was enough that they do what THEY wanted), they could not make official concerts, nor to leave discs, at least to Russia. This led of course to a black-market of discs produced abroad (especially in the United States and in France), and to a circuit in illegal concerts. It is only with the thaw of the Perestroïka at the end of years 1980 that the groups started with an official public.

The era post-Soviet

The movement started in the middle of years 1980 accelerates. The new groups proliferate as of the beginning of the year 1990, being often directed with the style of the American groups, often in a style Rock, such DDT or Alisa , or more commercial (called “popsa”, попса, in Russian) such Zemfira, or more recently Alsou or Tatu. But the expansion is done in all the kinds, of the Rap of Legalny buisness with the Reggae of 5-Nizza , while passing by the Russian answer to the Mano Negra: Markscheider Kunst .

One of specificities of pop Russian is a not very specific kind. It is about a mixture of folk music with almost any kind. One of the predecessor, Vopli Vidopliassova, was quickly followed in this movement. That it is Leningrad, group of known Punk-rock'n'roll in Russia for its vulgarity, or Minor , group rather Klezmer, it is the feature which arises more of the chaos of the landscape (musical) Russian.

But following the massive Russian emigration towards the foreigner, a certain number of groups was formed abroad, in Germany and in the United States above all. Often, these groups continue to sing in Russian to attract their public, for example Rot Face with Berlin, or then, exploits their origin like the Red Elvises, or Gogol Bordello.

Other musical formations

• DDT
• Kino
• Leningrad
• Mumiy Troll
• Pojuschie vmeste
• Red Elvises
• T.A.T.u
• Via Gra
• Yat-Kha
• Zemfira