VIA music
Encyclopedia
VIA music or Vokalno-instrumentalny ansambl (Вокально-инструментальный ансамбль, "vocal – instrumental ensemble"), was the official name applied to pop
and rock
bands in the Soviet Union
. Although originally the term VIA was simply synonymous with "band", in recent years it has became retrospectively used exclusively for Soviet bands.
Soviet VIAs played a specific style of pop music. They performed youth-oriented (but officially approved) radio-friendly music, which was a mix of contemporary Western and Soviet trends. Folk instruments were often used, and occasionally a keytar
(a keyboard held like a guitar). Songs varied from pop ballads, dance-beat disco and new wave to mainstream rock (although bands avoided the "rock music" label until the late 1970s, because rock was considered "bourgeois" and formally banned). Many VIAs had up to ten members (including a number of vocalists and multi-instrumentalists), who were in frequent rotation.
Due to state censorship, the lyrics of VIAs were family-friendly; the usual topics were emotions like love, joy and sadness. Many bands also encouraged national culture and patriotism, (especially those of national minorities from the smaller Soviet republics) such as Yalla
from Uzbekistan
, Labyrinth from Georgia
and Chervona Ruta
from Ukraine
. Folk-based VIAs such as Pesniary
, Siabry and Verasy
were especially popular in Belarus. Russian bands from Moscow and Leningrad (such as Zemlyane and Tsvety) were more oriented towards Western pop and rock music.
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
and rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
bands in the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. Although originally the term VIA was simply synonymous with "band", in recent years it has became retrospectively used exclusively for Soviet bands.
History
To break through to mainstream state-owned Soviet media, a band needed to become an officially-recognized VIA. Each VIA had an artistic director (художественный руководитель) - a combined manager, producer and state supervisor. In some bands (such as Pesniary) the artistic director was the band's leading member and songwriter, while in others he played the roles of impresario and censor.Soviet VIAs played a specific style of pop music. They performed youth-oriented (but officially approved) radio-friendly music, which was a mix of contemporary Western and Soviet trends. Folk instruments were often used, and occasionally a keytar
Keytar
A keytar is a relatively lightweight keyboard that is supported by a strap around the neck and shoulders, similar to the way a guitar is supported by a strap. Keytars allow players a greater range of movement compared to conventional keyboards, which are placed on stands...
(a keyboard held like a guitar). Songs varied from pop ballads, dance-beat disco and new wave to mainstream rock (although bands avoided the "rock music" label until the late 1970s, because rock was considered "bourgeois" and formally banned). Many VIAs had up to ten members (including a number of vocalists and multi-instrumentalists), who were in frequent rotation.
Due to state censorship, the lyrics of VIAs were family-friendly; the usual topics were emotions like love, joy and sadness. Many bands also encouraged national culture and patriotism, (especially those of national minorities from the smaller Soviet republics) such as Yalla
Yalla
Yalla is a folk rock band from Uzbekistan. They appeared in 1970 and in the 1970s-1980s, were popular all over the Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact countries. The most prominent song of Yalla was Uchquduq - tri kolodtsa, and it was once the most popular hit in USSR in 1980s...
from Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan , officially the Republic of Uzbekistan is a doubly landlocked country in Central Asia and one of the six independent Turkic states. It shares borders with Kazakhstan to the west and to the north, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to the east, and Afghanistan and Turkmenistan to the south....
, Labyrinth from Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
and Chervona Ruta
Chervona Ruta (ensemble)
Chervona Ruta was a Ukrainian music group that performed between 1971 and 1990. Chervona Ruta group was created in 1971 by Anatoliy Evdokimenko with the Chernivtsi Philharmonic specially for the accompaniment of Sofia Rotaru...
from Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
. Folk-based VIAs such as Pesniary
Pesniary
Pesniary was a popular Soviet Belarusian folk rock band. It was founded in 1969 by guitarist Vladimir Mulyavin. Before 1970 the band was known under the name Liavony .-Style:...
, Siabry and Verasy
Verasy
Verasy was a musical band created in Belarus in 1971. It was created under the Belarusian State Philarmony, Minsk, director and composer Vasily Rainchik...
were especially popular in Belarus. Russian bands from Moscow and Leningrad (such as Zemlyane and Tsvety) were more oriented towards Western pop and rock music.
Bands
Groups exemplifying VIA music included:- IveriaVIA IveriaIveria was a Georgian music ensemble founded in 1968. It became very popular over the whole Soviet Union in 70's. It's art director was Alexander Basilaia. They were singing both Georgian folk and contemporary songs, wrote and performed Argo and Jays Wedding musicals, released 6 vinyl albums on...
- PesniaryPesniaryPesniary was a popular Soviet Belarusian folk rock band. It was founded in 1969 by guitarist Vladimir Mulyavin. Before 1970 the band was known under the name Liavony .-Style:...
- Poyushchiye GitaryPoyushchiye GitaryPojuschie Gitary were the Soviet Union's first rock band to reach a phenomenal rate of success and popularity in the Soviet Union, Eastern Europe and in other countries. For that reason, they are often nicknamed "the Soviet Beatles" in a manner not that different from Hungary's Illés and Poland's...
- TsvetyTsvetyTsvety, were a Soviet Russian VIA band, one of the first to feature certain elements of rock music. They were founded in the early 70's in the USSR by pianist and composer Sergey Dyachkov, bass guitarist and vocalist Alexander Losev, guitarist Stas Namin, guitarist and composer Vladimir...
- Vesyolye RebyataVesyolye RebyataVesyolye Rebyata is a Soviet pop rock band formed in 1966, in Moscow, by pianist and composer Pavel Slobodkin.Debut EP was sold to 15,795,000 copies....
- YallaYallaYalla is a folk rock band from Uzbekistan. They appeared in 1970 and in the 1970s-1980s, were popular all over the Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact countries. The most prominent song of Yalla was Uchquduq - tri kolodtsa, and it was once the most popular hit in USSR in 1980s...
- ZemlyaneZemlyaneZemlyane, is a Soviet, and later Russian rock band which enjoyed great popularity in the early 1980s. The band was formed in Leningrad, Soviet Union in 1979 and remains active to this day....