Viktor Tsoi : How a post-Soviet rocker provided the soundtrack to the downfall of the USSR.
Viktor Tsoi, born Viktor Robertovich Tsoi.
Russian: Ви́ктор Ро́бертович Цой.
Was born the on the 21st of June 1962, and lived until 15 August 1990, when he was killed in a motor vehicle accident in the vicinity of Riga, Latvia.
Crash investigation revealed that even though he was travelling at roughly 140 km/h when he crashed, there was no alcohol or any other illicit substance in his system. The accident was put down to fatigue at the wheel, though this has sparked many conspiracies about government involvement throughout Tsoi’s fandom.
Viktor Tsoi was the lead singer of the punk band “Кино”.
(Anglicized: Kino - English: Cinema)
Kino was an emergent post-soviet rock band that gained huge fame in the last two decades of the Soviet Union, with Tsoi himself often being hailed as the “Soviet Elvis Presley”. Despite the fact that rock music was oppressed in the USSR until the mid 80’s, (Traditionally only being allowed to be performed — not recorded) Tsoi was monumental in getting his own brand of Soviet punk onto the radio.
Through Kino, Tsoi sang thinly veiled ballads referencing many contemporary cultural issues including drug addiction, homesickness, conflict, and perhaps most famously - about the failures of the USSR itself.
Перемен! — Tsoi’s Effect on the Soviet Union.
(Anglicized: PEREMEN!— English: CHANGES!)
Released in 1986 and set to an iconic opening riff, this was Tsoi’s biggest hit. This only became more influential after Tsoi performed the song on the Soviet cult-hit film “Assa”. It wasn’t long until it became known as the “Perestroika Anthem” — The song had such an effect on the people of the Soviet Union that even Mikhail Gorbachev said that the song “reflected the nation's desire for change.” when asked about what sparked his actions leading to a Soviet reform in 1991.
“The Red Sun Burns to Ashes, The day now gone burns with it.”
With lyrical snippets such as these, it’s very easy to deduce just what Tsoi was singing about, even without context. Was it this song that defined a generation of post-soviet revolutionism? Most likely not. But was the fall of the USSR set to this tune? Absolutely.
In our laughter, in our tears, and the pulse in our veins.
We want changes!
The fact that these powerfully performed lines had such a raw impact that they once influenced one of the world's nuclear superpowers at the height of the cold war is something that takes a hot minute to fully understand.
Personally, the lyrics appeal to me as they come to me at a time in my life where I’m largely undecided where I’m going — and I’m okay with that.
We cannot brag about the wisdom in our eyes,
And our gestures are not very skilled,
But even without all of that — understanding remains.
Cigarettes in our hands, tea on the table,
That’s how the circle is filled,
And suddenly we’ve become too scared to change anything.
Группа крови — A protest against conflict.
(Anglicised: Gruppa Krovi — English: Blood Type)
With the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan in 1979, the USSR was instantly unfavourable on the world stage and would remain so for the next 9 years.
The Soviet occupation of several key Afghan cities sparked a sense of nationalistic resentment across the Afghani people — the Afghan rebellion got larger, and the modern Mujahideen were born.
However, It wasn’t until 1988 when Kino released their sixth album, “ Группа крови — Blood Type” that Tsoi voiced his opinions on the ongoing conflict. Although it was never explicitly stated that this song is about the Soviet-Afghan War, It is now widely accepted that this is a protest song about the bitter clash in Afghanistan, from a conscript’s perspective.
My blood type, pinned on my sleeve
And my number and rank, there on my sleeve
Wish me luck in the battles to come
Wish me , now, please
All you have to do is google “Blood Type — Kino”, and you will be greeted by swathes upon swathes of contemporary Afghanistan conflict videos, articles, and recollections by Soviet veterans who fought in the graveyard of empires. The song itself is a solemn reminder of this conflict which is all too commonly forgotten in the western world.
The powerful lyrics of the ballad almost read like a dirge, and Tsoi seems to relay the feeling of desolation, sorrow, and loneliness in a foreign land. It’s a song of which many can relate to, especially within the military community.
My boots are on somebody’s throat but,
I want to stay here with you,
Simply stay here with you.
On the personal level, Группа крови (Gruppa Krovi) evokes an emotional response of remorse and sympathy. It’s a reflection on the pointlessness of international hostilities, and how the individual soldier suffers at the hands of those whose orders he carries out.
Gruppa Krovi was released in early 1988, and by December the following year the Soviets were pulling out of Afghanistan, and the USSR was failing.
During the 10 year war, the Soviet Union lost over 14,500 members of their military, and a further 53,000 were wounded.
Tsoi’s words on the conflict reverberated around the globe and became synonymous with the scrutiny from the western world, who viewed the war as unjust and inhumane.
31 years later, Gruppa Krovi still sits in the heart of the Soviet Soldier, and the message it conveys is still relevant today, being played and/or sung on contemporary battlefields in Crimea/Ukraine.
Wish me luck in the fight,
So I don’t stay here in the grass
Wish me luck...
“Закрой за мной дверь, я ухожу”
(Anglicised: “Zakroy za mnoy dver’, ya ukhozhu” )
( English: Close the door behind me, I’m leaving)
The Legacy of Viktor Tsoi
“Close the door behind me, I’m leaving” was the second title on the monumental 1988 album “Gruppa Krovi”. It’s extremely simple, has only two verses, and a chorus which is repeated. Despite its brevity, The impact of the song is extreme.
This was one of the last songs Tsoi ever performed live, and it’s lyrics are relatable to those who are not content with the boredom of everyday life.
They say that they can’t afford any risk
Because they have a home
And in it there is light,
I don’t know exactly which one of us to trust
They wait for their dinner at home,
The rain’s waiting for me outside.Close the door behind me, I’m leaving.
If you’ll one day be bored with your beautiful life
You can find a place close to us
Everyone can have some rain
Look at the clock, at the picture on the wall
Look out the window at the street
You’ll hear us laugh once again…Close the door behind me, I’m leaving.
Tsoi’s words are laced with uncertainty, but also criticise those people who were not willing to take a risk from the safety of their lifestyle. This verse sums up the cultural identity of young Soviets in the late 1980s. They knew their way of life was stable ; but they lusted for change, despite not knowing what the future might bring. It was this massive cultural shift that was embraced and harnessed by the final Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, which eventually led to the dissolution if the USSR on the 26th of December 1991.
The death of Tsoi shook the former youth of the USSR, with as many as 37 reported suicides relating to the death of the singer. Viktor Tsoi has been made immortal across the former USSR, memorised in many places such as Kazakhstan, Belarus, and in particular, Moscow’s Arbat Street, as shown below.
Terms such as “Tsoi Lives!’ and “Viktor did not die. He just went for a cigarette!” can be found inscribed here, and plastered in the comments sections of Kino’s YouTube videos.
Komsomolskaya Pravda , one of the premier Soviet Newspapers, published ;
“Tsoi means more to the young people of our nation than any politician, celebrity or writer. This is because Tsoi never lied and never sold out. He was and remains himself. ”
Without a doubt, Viktor Tsoi and “Кино” provided the soundtrack to the fall of the Soviet Union, with tracks like Перемен!, Группа крови, and “Закрой за мной дверь, я ухожу”. These powerful ballads captivated the emotions of a nation and influenced the fall of one of the world nuclear superpowers. Arguably, no other musician has ever had such a profound effect on the course of history.
I swear I’m not about to start posting song lyrics like a basic 23-year-old SoCal chick on Facebook. I Promise.
If you wish to talk about or want to know more about Viktor Tsoi, or even just discuss anything about contemporary history, feel free please E-mail me at masperjay@gmail.com
Follow me on Facebook! — you can find me at
https://www.facebook.com/ProfessionallyLost/
Where I’ll be posting all my new articles and providing a detached opinion on life and other subjects.
Stay Lost — It’s a good place to be.
