Viktor Tsoi

Today, 19 years ago, Viktor Tsoi died in a car accident. He was one of the leading USSR rockers of 80ies.

I was a teenager at that time and he was my idol. I used to come back from the school, lie down to the bed and start hearing his songs. Most of the days in the week. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that his lyrics has conciderably influenced my beliefs and philisophy of life.

I also suppose that he and his band named Kino has played a visible role in that what happened to USSR and Russia afterwards. His most popular song “Changes!” was seen by many as a demand of political changes, while reviewing its lyrics today I must accept it is definitely about personal, spiritual changes. You’ll find it below; but first I want to show you my favorite song of Tsoi, and this is The Legend (lyrics below)

The outcry is stuck in my throat
But the time has come, and either you cry out or you don't
But then, someone won't be able to forget
How the warriors were cleaning their swords on the grass...

And how the raven's black tribe were clapping their wings
How the sky was laughing, then bit its tongue
And how the hands of the one who survived were trembling
And how the moment suddenly became an eternity...

The sunset burned like a funeral pyre,
And the stars were gazing like wolves from the clouds
At those who passed into the Night, lying with their arms abreast
And at those who survived, and were sleeping dreamlessly...

And "life" is just a word,
There is only Love and Death.
Who will be singing, if everyone will fall asleep?
Death is worth Living,
And Love is worth waiting for...

Ah, the last two lines I’m ready to hear again and again. Now back to “Changes!”, which is still very popular, and enjoyed several remixes and remakes.

Here’s the original:

Instead of fire - there's only smoke.
Instead of warmth - cold.
Another day is crossed out on the calendar grid.
The red shining sun has completely burned out,
And this day goes out with it,
And over a glowing city, the shadow will fall

We want changes!
It's the demand of our hearts.
We want changes!
It's the demand of our eyes.
In our laughter, in our tears, and the pulse in our veins.
We want changes!
And changes will begin...

Bright electric light continues our day,
And the box of matches is empty,
But in the kitchen, like a blue flower, gas burns.
Cigarettes in our hands, tea on the table,
So this scheme is easy,
And there's nothing more left, it's all up to us.

We want changes!
It's the demand of our hearts.
We want changes!
It's the demand of our eyes.
In our laughter, in our tears, and the pulse in our veins.
We want changes!
And changes will begin...

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 scared to change something.

And this is probably the most impressive interpretation, using language of hearing impaired:

Also, a heavy metal (Death? I’m not an expert in different kinds of metal) version is available:

PS. And no, I’m not ashamed by the bootleg quality of the videos. I think, real rock and HD video are similarly incompatible like a policeman and lollypop.