Den Pobedy
Encyclopedia
"Den' Pobedy" ranks among the most popular in the large corpus of Russia
n songs dedicated to World War II
. The song refers to the Victory Day (9 May) celebration and differs from most of these by its cheerful intonations of a marching song and by the fact that it was composed some thirty years after the war. In the words of Vladimir Shainsky
, a veteran composer, "the song seemed to have turned back the time. Although written three decades after the war, it now seems that it was this song that helped us to gain the victory".
, the Soviet
government announced a competition for the best song about the war. In March 1975, poet Vladimir Kharitonov, who had taken part in the war, approached his traditional co-author, the young composer David Tukhmanov
with a proposal to write a new song for the occasion. This effort was to differ strikingly from their previous collaborations, which had been disco-influenced chartbusters. Several days before the deadline, Kharitonov brought his lyrics to Tukhmanov and the latter composed a song just in time to be recorded by his wife and to be submitted to the jury.
However, the jury, composed primarily of elderly songwriters whose tastes had been formed during Stalin
's era, was exceedingly displeased with the result. The lyrics appeared to them lightsome and frivolous, while the melody was alleged to abuse the "rhythms of tango
and foxtrot", two "bourgeois" dances which had been banned in the Soviet Union.
Although the performance of the song was strongly discouraged, Lev Leshchenko
, one of the most popular Soviet singers, dared to premiere it during his concert in Alma-Ata in late April. Then the song was performed in the Little Blue Light
TV show on 9 May by another singer (Leonid Smetannikov)), but his interpretation was rather lackluster and failed to attract attention. Thereupon the song was not performed until 10 November when Leshchenko revived it for a grand concert (and live in Soviet television) in the Kremlin Palace of Congresses on the Militsiya
Day. His performance astounded the censors but proved to be a runaway success with the audience, who clamored for an encore.
Since then, the song has been invariably performed during every Victory Day celebrations in the Soviet Union and Russia, often concluding a program of festivities, with the last stanza drowned in sounds of fireworks over the Red Square
. According to Komsomolskaya Pravda
, the Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev
liked this song greatly, especially when performed by Joseph Kobzon
, and predicted to Kharitonov that "folks would sing this tune for many years after you and I are gone".
Brezhnev's expectation did not fail to materialize, in part because, as the American researcher David MacFadyen explains, "this powerful song draws not upon the bravery of youthful soldiers but the private memories of ageing, greying veterans. Its poignant combination of joy at a stunning victory and sadness at great loss sounds just as relevant today, when the war itself is something about which many young Russians neither know nor care".
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n songs dedicated to World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The song refers to the Victory Day (9 May) celebration and differs from most of these by its cheerful intonations of a marching song and by the fact that it was composed some thirty years after the war. In the words of Vladimir Shainsky
Vladimir Shainsky
Vladimir Yakovlevich Shainsky is a Soviet and Russian composer.Vladimir Shainsky was born in 1925 in Kiev, Ukrainian SSR, USSR. In 1936, he became a student at the musical school in Kiev, where he learned to play the violin. However, his studies were interrupted by the German-Soviet War , when...
, a veteran composer, "the song seemed to have turned back the time. Although written three decades after the war, it now seems that it was this song that helped us to gain the victory".
History
In order to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Soviet victory in the WWIIVictory Day (Eastern Europe)
Victory Day or 9 May marks the capitulation of Nazi Germany to the Soviet Union in the Second World War...
, the Soviet
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....
government announced a competition for the best song about the war. In March 1975, poet Vladimir Kharitonov, who had taken part in the war, approached his traditional co-author, the young composer David Tukhmanov
David Tukhmanov
David Fyodorovich Tukhmanov ; Soviet-Armenian music composer.Best known for a number of Soviet hits like Victory Day and the Last Electrichka.-See also:*Vesyolye Rebyata*Jaak Joala*Igor Talkov*Valeri Leontiev*Sofia Rotaru...
with a proposal to write a new song for the occasion. This effort was to differ strikingly from their previous collaborations, which had been disco-influenced chartbusters. Several days before the deadline, Kharitonov brought his lyrics to Tukhmanov and the latter composed a song just in time to be recorded by his wife and to be submitted to the jury.
However, the jury, composed primarily of elderly songwriters whose tastes had been formed during Stalin
Joseph Stalin
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin was the Premier of the Soviet Union from 6 May 1941 to 5 March 1953. He was among the Bolshevik revolutionaries who brought about the October Revolution and had held the position of first General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union's Central Committee...
's era, was exceedingly displeased with the result. The lyrics appeared to them lightsome and frivolous, while the melody was alleged to abuse the "rhythms of tango
Tango music
Tango is a style of ballroom dance music in 2/4 or 4/4 time that originated among European immigrant populations of Argentina and Uruguay . It is traditionally played by a sextet, known as the orquesta típica, which includes two violins, piano, double bass, and two bandoneons...
and foxtrot", two "bourgeois" dances which had been banned in the Soviet Union.
Although the performance of the song was strongly discouraged, Lev Leshchenko
Lev Leshchenko
Lev Valerjanovich Leshchenko , is a renowned Russian singer, who was best known for his rendition of "Den Pobedy" and the 1980 Summer Olympics closing ceremony theme song "Do svidanja, Moskva".-Biography:...
, one of the most popular Soviet singers, dared to premiere it during his concert in Alma-Ata in late April. Then the song was performed in the Little Blue Light
Little Blue Light
The Little Blue Light was a popular musical variety show aired on Soviet television since 1962 during various holidays. The name alludes to the light blue glare of a TV screen as well as some traditional Russian expressions relating to friendly visits: заглянуть на огонек – "to drop in on a...
TV show on 9 May by another singer (Leonid Smetannikov)), but his interpretation was rather lackluster and failed to attract attention. Thereupon the song was not performed until 10 November when Leshchenko revived it for a grand concert (and live in Soviet television) in the Kremlin Palace of Congresses on the Militsiya
Militsiya
Militsiya or militia is used as an official name of the civilian police in several former communist states, despite its original military connotation...
Day. His performance astounded the censors but proved to be a runaway success with the audience, who clamored for an encore.
Since then, the song has been invariably performed during every Victory Day celebrations in the Soviet Union and Russia, often concluding a program of festivities, with the last stanza drowned in sounds of fireworks over the Red Square
Red Square
Red Square is a city square in Moscow, Russia. The square separates the Kremlin, the former royal citadel and currently the official residence of the President of Russia, from a historic merchant quarter known as Kitai-gorod...
. According to Komsomolskaya Pravda
Komsomolskaya Pravda
Komsomolskaya Pravda is a daily Russian tabloid newspaper, founded on March 13th, 1925. It is published by "Izdatelsky Dom Komsomolskaya Pravda" .- History :...
, the Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev
Leonid Brezhnev
Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev – 10 November 1982) was the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union , presiding over the country from 1964 until his death in 1982. His eighteen-year term as General Secretary was second only to that of Joseph Stalin in...
liked this song greatly, especially when performed by Joseph Kobzon
Joseph Kobzon
Iosif Davydovich Kobzon is a Soviet and Russian singer, known for his crooner style.-Early life:Kobzon was born to Jewish parents in the mining town of Chasiv Yar, in the Donbass region of Ukraine....
, and predicted to Kharitonov that "folks would sing this tune for many years after you and I are gone".
Brezhnev's expectation did not fail to materialize, in part because, as the American researcher David MacFadyen explains, "this powerful song draws not upon the bravery of youthful soldiers but the private memories of ageing, greying veterans. Its poignant combination of joy at a stunning victory and sadness at great loss sounds just as relevant today, when the war itself is something about which many young Russians neither know nor care".
Russian lyrics
- День Победы, как он был от нас далёк,
- Как в костре потухшем таял уголёк.
- Были вёрсты, обгорелые, в пыли —
- Этот день мы приближали как могли.
- Chorus:
- Этот День Победы
- Порохом пропах,
- Это праздник
- С сединою на висках.
- Это радость
- Со слезами на глазах.
- День Победы!
- День Победы!
- День Победы!
- День Победы!
- День Победы!
- Дни и ночи у мартеновских печей
- Не смыкала наша Родина очей.
- Дни и ночи битву трудную вели —
- Этот день мы приближали как могли.
- Chorus
- Здравствуй, мама, возвратились мы не все...
- Босиком бы пробежаться по росе!
- Пол-Европы, прошагали, пол-Земли —
- Этот день мы приближали как могли.
- Chorus x 2
Romanization
- Den' Pobedy, kak on byl ot nas dalyok,
- Kak v kostre potukhshem tayal ugolyok.
- Byli vyorsty, obgorelye, v pyli —
- Etot den' my priblizhali kak mogli.
- Chorus:
- Etot Den' Pobedy
- Porokhom propakh,
- Eto prazdnik,
- S sedinoyu na viskakh.
- Eto radost'
- So slezami na glazakh.
- Den' Pobedy!
- Den' Pobedy!
- Den' Pobedy!
- Den' Pobedy!
- Den' Pobedy!
- Dni i nochi u martenovskikh pechey,
- Ne smykala nasha Rodina ochey.
- Dni i nochi bitvu trudnuyu veli, —
- Etot den' my priblizhali kak mogli.
- Chorus
- Zdravstvuy, mama, vozvratilis' my ne vse,
- Bosikom by probezhat'sya po rose!
- Pol-Yevropy proshagali, pol-Zemli —
- Etot den' my priblizhali kak mogli.
- Chorus x 2
Translation
- Victory Day, it's been so far away,
- Like an ember dwindling in the fading fire.
- There were miles, burnt and covered in dust, —
- This day, we hastened it the best we could.
- Chorus:
- This Victory Day
- Is thick with the smell of cordite,
- This is a holiday
- With temples already gray,
- This is joy
- With tears in our eyes,
- Victory Day!
- Victory Day!
- Victory Day!
- Victory Day!
- Victory Day!
- Days and nights at blast furnaces
- Our Motherland hasn't closed her eyes.
- Days and nights we fought a hard battle, —
- This day, we hastened it the best we could.
- Chorus
- Hello, Mother, not all of us came back...
- How I wish to run about barefoot in dew!
- Half of Europe, we have stridden half the Earth,
- This day, we hastened it the best we could.
- Chorus x 2