Sergei Mikhalkov,Writer of Soviet Anthem, dies at 96

fgalkin · Post by **fgalkin** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 2:30 pm

NYT
[quote]MOSCOW â€” Sergei V. Mikhalkov, a Russian poet and writer who rose at the height of the Stalinist era to the apex of the Soviet literary hierarchy, eventually writing the lyrics to the Soviet and Russian national anthems, died in Moscow on Thursday at the age of 96.

Denis Baglai, a spokesman for one of Mr. Mikhalkovâ€™s sons, the Russian director Nikita Mikhalkov, confirmed the death, saying that Mr. Mikhalkov had long been ill with heart problems.

A favorite of Stalinâ€™s, Mr. Mikhalkov spent most of his life using his words to undergird the authority of Soviet rule. He was also an expert in the vagaries of the fickle Soviet system.

â€œHe compelled the Soviet regime to work for him,â€

General Havoc · Post by **General Havoc** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 5:10 pm

Well I don't know the man or his works, save for the anthem, which I still maintain is the second greatest of all of the National Anthems of the world.

Mayabird · Post by **Mayabird** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 9:29 pm

Second greatest?

And yeah, I don't even understand the words to the song and I think it's great. Had no idea he was still alive.

General Havoc · Post by **General Havoc** » Sat Aug 29, 2009 1:42 am

This will no doubt sound like simpering patriotism, but I have long believed that the American anthem, musically speaking, was the foremost in the world, with the Soviet/Russian anthem as a close second, followed by the German and French anthems.

Cynical Cat · Post by **Cynical Cat** » Sat Aug 29, 2009 1:06 pm

General Havoc wrote:This will no doubt sound like simpering patriotism, but I have long believed that the American anthem, musically speaking, was the foremost in the world, with the Soviet/Russian anthem as a close second, followed by the German and French anthems.

The Canadian anthem is respectable, but not great. The American one, on the other hand, is wretched. Sorry Havoc, but those lenses are one hundred percent rose quartz.

Mayabird · Post by **Mayabird** » Sat Aug 29, 2009 6:30 pm

Some arrangements of the American national anthem are less bad than others (arrangements which I somehow never got to play or be involved in despite playing the damn thing for over a decade), but yeah, a convoluted poem to the lyrics of a drinking song really isn't the stuff of epic power like the Soviet one is.

Batman · Post by **Batman** » Sat Aug 29, 2009 6:39 pm

Everbody who thinks the german anthem is even worth MENTIONING has a decidedly questionable taste in music.

General Havoc · Post by **General Havoc** » Sat Aug 29, 2009 8:36 pm

Cyncat, I'm afraid I could not disagree with you more. I think the American Anthem is superb at minimum, musically speaking. I know it's fashionable to denigrate it, and there may be good reasons to do so, but I quite stand by my view that it's among, if not the best. The theme is stirring, complex, and I have long thought just rolls properly. I've never quite understood why so many people, if not most, think it's so terrible.

And as to the German anthem, while it clearly has something of a checkered history to it (to say the least), it is an excellent little tune, I've long thought. Symphonic and slightly mournful, least that's what I've always felt. I think the Soviet/Russian anthem is its superior, and obviously it has a history to it, but just in terms of what anthems I like the sound of, the German one is up there.

And Canada's... well... I mean I don't think it's in the top tier, but, the Canadian anthem has a very different feel to it. I actually kind of like it. Slower, a bit less bombastic, a different style of national anthem. It's a little too slow for my tastes, sounds less like an anthem and more like organ music, but I really don't think it's at all bad.

After all, there are some terrible anthems out there.

fgalkin · Post by **fgalkin** » Sun Aug 30, 2009 12:34 am

Dude, it's a drinking song. It's not complex, it's supposed to be hummed by drunken bums in a tavern somewhere. It's catchy, though, I'll grant you that.

Personally, aside from the Soviet Anthem, I absolutely adore La Marsellaise, possibly the best Anthem there is. The Hatikva is 2 millenia of longing turned into song, it is great.

The March of the Volunteers from our fraternal comrades to the South also deserves an honorable mention here, as does the Kimigayo.

On that note, compare the Internationale, sung in The Original, Russian, and, English. I think English is just contrary to good anthems or something.

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

LadyTevar · Post by **LadyTevar** » Sun Aug 30, 2009 8:15 am

While American, I have to disagree with Havoc. Our Anthem is rousing, yes, but it's not a Great Anthem. "America the Beautiful" is far better musically, just as majestic, and I've always wondered why it's not the anthem.

Norseman · Post by **Norseman** » Sun Aug 30, 2009 12:27 pm

I would say something for the Norwegian national anthem but it's very hard to find a good choral performance. Generally Norwegian patriotism has always been divorced from militarism, so there's few bombastic performances.

Cynical Cat · Post by **Cynical Cat** » Sun Aug 30, 2009 1:46 pm

LadyTevar wrote:While American, I have to disagree with Havoc. Our Anthem is rousing, yes, but it's not a Great Anthem. "America the Beautiful" is far better musically, just as majestic, and I've always wondered why it's not the anthem.

"American the Beautiful" is excellent, can't argue against the awesomeness of the Russian anthem, and the Marseillaises is the Marseillaises but merciful Zeus it's awful in English.

The Minx · Post by **The Minx** » Sun Aug 30, 2009 2:18 pm

Needs a link.

Same anthem in English (translated by Paul Robeson - he went for the spirit and poetic value of the song rather than a literal translation from Russian).

LadyTevar wrote:While American, I have to disagree with Havoc. Our Anthem is rousing, yes, but it's not a Great Anthem. "America the Beautiful" is far better musically, just as majestic, and I've always wondered why it's not the anthem.

I love both songs, but so help me I really hate how often they're butchered on stage by some random celebrity or other on the 4th of July. :(

EDIT: it's probably because they usually try for fancy frills on the way they sing it and somehow fail to do it justice.

LadyTevar · Post by **LadyTevar** » Sun Aug 30, 2009 2:52 pm

The Minx wrote:
LadyTevar wrote:While American, I have to disagree with Havoc. Our Anthem is rousing, yes, but it's not a Great Anthem. "America the Beautiful" is far better musically, just as majestic, and I've always wondered why it's not the anthem.
I love both songs, but so help me I really hate how often they're butchered on stage by some random celebrity or other on the 4th of July. :(

EDIT: it's probably because they usually try for fancy frills on the way they sing it and somehow fail to do it justice.

Especially when they can't hit the Hit Notes. *winces*

of course, if we want a rousing fight song, there's always "Battlehymn of the Repbulic"

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Sergei Mikhalkov,Writer of Soviet Anthem, dies at 96

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