Lesopoval
Encyclopedia
Lesopoval is a Russian band formed in 1990 by Mikhail Tanich
and Sergey Korzhukov
. Their music is in the style of Russian chanson, which is music from the perspective of the criminal underworld. The hero of many of their songs is often a criminal or ex-convict
, and their songs contain many references to the way such "marginalized" persons live. The songs in many way romanticize the life of criminals, many of them taking place in and concerning labor camps and prison.
Mikhail Tanich wrote the lyrics to every song the group performed until his death on April 17, 2008. In writing the lyrics to the songs Lesopoval performed, Mikhail Tanich drew on the six years he spent in a Soviet labor camp, during which time he came to empathize with criminals from all walks of life. In total, the group released at least 19 albums, including one after Mikhail Tanich's death. Until his death in 1994, Sergey Korzhukov wrote the musical melodies and performed most of the songs; after his death, other artists wrote and performed the melodies. Musically, most songs feature a guitar
, drums, accordions, and are often performed with strong vocals.
, Russia. After being accused of "anti-Soviet agitation" due to his praise of the German radio Telefunken
while at the Rostov Civil Engineering Institute, he served six years in the Soviet labor camps from 1947 to 1953 in the Siberian city of Solikamsk
. This was the same labor camp where his father served and was executed. When Joseph Stalin died, Tanich was granted amnesty, and he would leave to become a Russian poet.
He wrote many poems that would, after he met Sergey Korzhukov
in 1990, become the music of Lesopoval. The two met while Tanich was searching for a soloist to sing his songs; Tanich's wife had recommended Korzhukov. Sergey Korzhukov turned the poems into music by incorporating a melody, musical notes and a guitar accompaniment. He also sang the early songs of Lesopoval. The reason they named their musical group "Lesopoval" was that this was the term that people commonly used to refer to the Soviet Siberian labor camps, and the musical group was created from Tanich's experience in these Siberian camps.
Together, Mikhail Tanich and Sergey Korzhukov wrote the early songs of Lesopoval. In 1994, Sergey Korzhukov died at the age of 35 after falling from the balcony of his house, but he was still listed as a co-author of all the songs through the 1996 album "New Composition" (Новый состав.)
After the death of Sergey Korzhukov, many other writers and singers helped write the music for the songs, including Aleksandr Fedorkov. In 2008, Tanich died in the hospital from kidney disease. Up until his death, Mikhail Tanich continued to write the lyrics for all the Lesopoval songs, including the latest album - "Our life," (Наша Жизнь) which was produced and released after his death. In his honor, the group performed in the Kremlin
to memorialize his death.
s, criminal life
, and occasionally other topics such as peace
and love. Mikhail Tanich has stated that his six years in the Russian labor camps gave him an inside perspective of all kinds of criminal life, and that his goal was to find the good in all sorts of criminals. Mikhail Tanich was a political prisoner, but he came to sympathize with many of the other prisoners who were serving in the camps, some who were falsely accused and some who were there for petty crimes. He has stated that Chanson music "blossomed wildly in Soviet times when the entire country was in camps, when these zones, barbed wire
, guard towers with guards and machine guns, were everywhere," and he has said that he feels that everyone in Russia is in some way connected to the camps and to criminal life.
In his songs, Mikhail Tanich often touches on universal themes of Soviet life
, focusing on criminal elements (the camps, the buses that took people to camp, the life of ex-convicts, etc.) Some of his songs also deal with the political themes of the Soviet era, often with a humorous take. For example, the song "Tax" focuses on the tax on childlessness
imposed during the Soviet Union, which was a 6% tax on every adult who did not have a child. The hero of the song laments that he is forced to pay this tax while doing time in jail, yet the prison guards refuse to provide him any woman with which to reproduce
.
The songs often include criminal slang, jargon and vulgarities, which the group says is necessary in order to accurately represent criminal life in Russia. However, official Governmental sources have denounced bands that sing in the style of Russian Chanson, with Vladimir Ustinov
, the former prosecutor general, calling it "propaganda of the criminal subculture."
Musically, the group builds upon the style of Russian bard music
, which features strong vocals with a guitar
accompaniment. The music mixes these more traditional instruments with an accordion
, synthesizer
, and drums.
is more popular. However, Lesopoval regularly performs concerts, and is one of the most popular current Chanson bands in Russia.
Critically, the band has received positive reviews from critics. The Russian website Pravda
positively reviewed their recent concerts, but stated that the group's first hit -- "I will buy you a house" (sung by Sergey Korzhukov) -- remains their most popular and well-sung song.
Mikhail Tanich
Mikhail Isaievich Tanich was a popular Russian song lyrics writer of Jewish descent, a laureate of the Interior Ministry Award , a laureate of the jubilee contest The Song of the Year devoted to the 25th anniversary of that television program, a laureate of nearly all the annual festivals The...
and Sergey Korzhukov
Sergey Korzhukov
Sergey Korzhukov was a Russian musician and soloist, best known for being the only singer of all Lesopoval songs for the first few years of the band's existence.-References:...
. Their music is in the style of Russian chanson, which is music from the perspective of the criminal underworld. The hero of many of their songs is often a criminal or ex-convict
Convict
A convict is "a person found guilty of a crime and sentenced by a court" or "a person serving a sentence in prison", sometimes referred to in slang as simply a "con". Convicts are often called prisoners or inmates. Persons convicted and sentenced to non-custodial sentences often are not termed...
, and their songs contain many references to the way such "marginalized" persons live. The songs in many way romanticize the life of criminals, many of them taking place in and concerning labor camps and prison.
Mikhail Tanich wrote the lyrics to every song the group performed until his death on April 17, 2008. In writing the lyrics to the songs Lesopoval performed, Mikhail Tanich drew on the six years he spent in a Soviet labor camp, during which time he came to empathize with criminals from all walks of life. In total, the group released at least 19 albums, including one after Mikhail Tanich's death. Until his death in 1994, Sergey Korzhukov wrote the musical melodies and performed most of the songs; after his death, other artists wrote and performed the melodies. Musically, most songs feature a guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, drums, accordions, and are often performed with strong vocals.
History
Mikhail Tanich, the co-founder and lead songwriter of Lesopoval, was born on September 15, 1923 in TaganrogTaganrog
Taganrog is a seaport city in Rostov Oblast, Russia, located on the north shore of Taganrog Bay , several kilometers west of the mouth of the Don River. Population: -History of Taganrog:...
, Russia. After being accused of "anti-Soviet agitation" due to his praise of the German radio Telefunken
Telefunken
Telefunken is a German radio and television apparatus company, founded in Berlin in 1903, as a joint venture of Siemens & Halske and the Allgemeine Elektricitäts-Gesellschaft...
while at the Rostov Civil Engineering Institute, he served six years in the Soviet labor camps from 1947 to 1953 in the Siberian city of Solikamsk
Solikamsk
Solikamsk is a town in Perm Krai, Russia. It is the third-largest town in Perm Krai, with a population of It was founded in 1430. The name of the town is derived from the Russian words "" and "" .It is famous for its production of salt, in particular, potassium chloride, which is used as a...
. This was the same labor camp where his father served and was executed. When Joseph Stalin died, Tanich was granted amnesty, and he would leave to become a Russian poet.
He wrote many poems that would, after he met Sergey Korzhukov
Sergey Korzhukov
Sergey Korzhukov was a Russian musician and soloist, best known for being the only singer of all Lesopoval songs for the first few years of the band's existence.-References:...
in 1990, become the music of Lesopoval. The two met while Tanich was searching for a soloist to sing his songs; Tanich's wife had recommended Korzhukov. Sergey Korzhukov turned the poems into music by incorporating a melody, musical notes and a guitar accompaniment. He also sang the early songs of Lesopoval. The reason they named their musical group "Lesopoval" was that this was the term that people commonly used to refer to the Soviet Siberian labor camps, and the musical group was created from Tanich's experience in these Siberian camps.
Together, Mikhail Tanich and Sergey Korzhukov wrote the early songs of Lesopoval. In 1994, Sergey Korzhukov died at the age of 35 after falling from the balcony of his house, but he was still listed as a co-author of all the songs through the 1996 album "New Composition" (Новый состав.)
After the death of Sergey Korzhukov, many other writers and singers helped write the music for the songs, including Aleksandr Fedorkov. In 2008, Tanich died in the hospital from kidney disease. Up until his death, Mikhail Tanich continued to write the lyrics for all the Lesopoval songs, including the latest album - "Our life," (Наша Жизнь) which was produced and released after his death. In his honor, the group performed in the Kremlin
Kremlin
A kremlin , same root as in kremen is a major fortified central complex found in historic Russian cities. This word is often used to refer to the best-known one, the Moscow Kremlin, or metonymically to the government that is based there...
to memorialize his death.
Musical style
The music of Lesopoval places great importance on lyrical content, which tends to focus on freedom, labor campLabor camp
A labor camp is a simplified detention facility where inmates are forced to engage in penal labor. Labor camps have many common aspects with slavery and with prisons...
s, criminal life
Crime
Crime is the breach of rules or laws for which some governing authority can ultimately prescribe a conviction...
, and occasionally other topics such as peace
Peace
Peace is a state of harmony characterized by the lack of violent conflict. Commonly understood as the absence of hostility, peace also suggests the existence of healthy or newly healed interpersonal or international relationships, prosperity in matters of social or economic welfare, the...
and love. Mikhail Tanich has stated that his six years in the Russian labor camps gave him an inside perspective of all kinds of criminal life, and that his goal was to find the good in all sorts of criminals. Mikhail Tanich was a political prisoner, but he came to sympathize with many of the other prisoners who were serving in the camps, some who were falsely accused and some who were there for petty crimes. He has stated that Chanson music "blossomed wildly in Soviet times when the entire country was in camps, when these zones, barbed wire
Barbed wire
Barbed wire, also known as barb wire , is a type of fencing wire constructed with sharp edges or points arranged at intervals along the strand. It is used to construct inexpensive fences and is used atop walls surrounding secured property...
, guard towers with guards and machine guns, were everywhere," and he has said that he feels that everyone in Russia is in some way connected to the camps and to criminal life.
In his songs, Mikhail Tanich often touches on universal themes of Soviet life
Culture of the Soviet Union
The Culture of the Soviet Union passed through several stages during the 69 year existence of the Soviet Union. It was contributed by people of various nationalities from every of 15 union republics, although the majority of them were Russians...
, focusing on criminal elements (the camps, the buses that took people to camp, the life of ex-convicts, etc.) Some of his songs also deal with the political themes of the Soviet era, often with a humorous take. For example, the song "Tax" focuses on the tax on childlessness
Tax on childlessness
The tax on childlessness was imposed in the Soviet Union starting in 1941. Joseph Stalin's regime created the tax in order to encourage adult Russians to reproduce, thus increasing the number of Russians and the population of the Soviet Union...
imposed during the Soviet Union, which was a 6% tax on every adult who did not have a child. The hero of the song laments that he is forced to pay this tax while doing time in jail, yet the prison guards refuse to provide him any woman with which to reproduce
Human reproduction
Human reproduction is any form of sexual reproduction resulting in the conception of a child, typically involving sexual intercourse between a man and a woman. During intercourse, the interaction between the male and female reproductive systems results in fertilization of the woman's ovum by the...
.
The songs often include criminal slang, jargon and vulgarities, which the group says is necessary in order to accurately represent criminal life in Russia. However, official Governmental sources have denounced bands that sing in the style of Russian Chanson, with Vladimir Ustinov
Vladimir Ustinov
Vladimir Vasilyevich Ustinov is a Russian politician.He currently is the Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Southern Federal District. Until 2008, he was Russia's Minister of Justice....
, the former prosecutor general, calling it "propaganda of the criminal subculture."
Musically, the group builds upon the style of Russian bard music
Bard (Soviet Union)
The term bard came to be used in the Soviet Union in the early 1960s, and continues to be used in Russia today, to refer to singer-songwriters who wrote songs outside the Soviet establishment, similarly to beatnik folk singers of the United States...
, which features strong vocals with a guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
accompaniment. The music mixes these more traditional instruments with an accordion
Accordion
The accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
, synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
, and drums.
Reception
Due to the propensity of Russian piracy, it is difficult to measure how many Lesopoval records have been sold. Furthermore, the genre is typically relegated to late-night broadcasts due to governmental pressure, and is not typically played on the radio, where Russian popRussian pop
Russian pop music is Russian-language pop music produced either in Russia or other countries. This is the successor to popular "variety" Soviet music with its pop idols such as Alla Pugachova or Valery Leontiev....
is more popular. However, Lesopoval regularly performs concerts, and is one of the most popular current Chanson bands in Russia.
Critically, the band has received positive reviews from critics. The Russian website Pravda
Pravda
Pravda was a leading newspaper of the Soviet Union and an official organ of the Central Committee of the Communist Party between 1912 and 1991....
positively reviewed their recent concerts, but stated that the group's first hit -- "I will buy you a house" (sung by Sergey Korzhukov) -- remains their most popular and well-sung song.
Discography
- Ya kuplyu tebe dom / I will buy you a house (1993)
- Kogda ya pridu / When I come (1993)
- Vorovskoj zakon / Law of thieves (1993)
- Poslednij kontsert s Sergeem Korzhukovym / The final concert with Sergey Korzhukov (1994)
- Amnistiya / Amnesty (1995)
- Novyj sostav / New composition (1996)
- Koroleva Margo / Queen Margo (1996)
- 101-j kilometr / 101st kilometer (1998)
- Legendy Russkogo Shansona tom / Legends of Russian Shanson Volume (2000)
- Kormilets (2000)
- Lichnoe svidanie / Conjugal visit (2001)
- Ya - ottuda / I am from there (2002)
- Bazara net / No bazaar (2003)
- Svobodna, blin! / Freedom, darn it! (2005)
- Vintorez (2006)
- Ulybnis, Rossiya! / Smile, Russia! (2006)
- Mama - ulitsa / Mom is the street (2007)
- Nasha Zhizn / Our life (2008)