Eduard Khil
Encyclopedia
Eduard Anatolyevich Khil , sometimes anglicised
as Edward Hill, is a Russian baritone
singer and a recipient of the People's Artist Award
of the RSFSR
.
where he ended up in a children's home, which lacked basic facilities, such as food. Despite this Khil regularly performed in front of wounded soldiers in the nearby hospital. He was reunited with his mother in 1943 when Smolensk was liberated from Nazi Germany
and in 1949 moved to Leningrad
, where he enrolled and then graduated from printing college. In 1955, Khil enrolled to the Leningrad Conservatory
, where he studied under direction of Evgeni Olkhovksky and Zoya Lodyi. He graduated in 1960. During his studies, he began performing various lead operatic roles, including Figaro in "The Marriage of Figaro
".
in 1965. In 1967, composer Andrey Petrov won the USSR State Prize
for a collection of songs performed mainly by Khil, and in 1968 Khil won the Meritorious Artist
of the RSFSR. The Order of the Red Banner of Labour
was awarded in 1971, and Russia
's most prestigious artist award, the People's Artist of Russia
, was awarded to Khil in 1974. He was so successful that the public called him the 'Symbol of Leningrad'.
Between 1977 & 1979, Khil taught solo singing at the Saint Petersburg State Theatre Arts Academy
.
Khil has toured in over 80 countries and currently lives at Tolstoy House
(Толстовский дом) in St. Petersburg.
After his singing career faded in the early 1990s, Khil re-entered private life and worked in a cafe in Paris, singing cabaret. Since 1997, Khil has been involved with his son in a joint project with the rock group Prepinaki.
For his 75th birthday, Khil was awarded the Order of Merit for the Fatherland
, 4th Class in 2009 by Russia and in 2010 performed in St. Petersburg's Victory Day Parade.
After retiring from a singing career, Khil slowly faded into obscurity in his later years. In 2010, Khil reclaimed the spotlight when he became the subject of the viral
Trololo internet meme
on YouTube, thanks to the spreading popularity of a single-serving website "Trololololololololololo.com" featuring a 1976 video of a vocalise
d version of the song, "I Am Glad I'm Finally Going Home"The original title Я очень рад, ведь я, наконец, возвращаюсь домой literally translates to I am very glad, because I'm finally back home, but I Am Glad I'm Finally Going Home is usually given as the translated title in online videos. (Я очень рад, ведь я, наконец, возвращаюсь домой).
, and Song about Friend (Песня о друге), Blue Cities (Голубые города), And People Go To the Sea (А люди уходят в море) by Andrey Petrov. Other popular songs performed by Khil included From What the Homeland Begins? (С чего начинается Родина?), How the Steamers Are Seen Off (Как провожают пароходы), Winter (Зима), Birch Sap (Берёзовый сок), Alder
Catkin
(Серёжка ольховая), We Need Only the Victory (Нам нужна одна победа), and many others.
Khil's manner of execution of songs is unique and easily recognizable in Russia, characterized by charm, always having a great sounding bright, sonorous voice and the flight of lyrical baritone, with the powerful charge of optimism and humour. On the stage Khil kept very confident, smart, accompanying singing light dance moves and spectacular gestures. By never changing his academic style of singing, Khil enjoyed enviable career longevity.
Khil is not derived from Hill, as it is reported on various web sites. The singer stated in an interview that he probably has a Spanish
ancestor with the surname Gil
, which is pronounced similar to hill.
version of the song I Am Glad, Cause I'm Finally Returning Back Home (Я очень рад, ведь я, наконец, возвращаюсь домой) was uploaded to YouTube
and became known as “Trololololololololololo” or “Trololo”. The name "Trololo" is an onomatopoeia of the distinctive way Khil vocalizes throughout the song. The quirky and catchy video quickly became an Internet meme
and Khil became known as "Mr. Trololo" or "Trololo Man".
. Besides Khil, it was also performed by Valery Obodzinsky, Hungarian singer János Koós, and by Muslim Magomayev on the Little Blue Light
program in the Soviet Union
. According to Khil, the Trololo song originally features lyrics, which described a narrative about a cowboy riding a horse to his farm:
Arkady Ostrovsky's son, Mikhail, gives another version of the vocalise story:
on Jimmy Kimmel Live! as well as Craig Reucassel
on the Australian TV show "The Chaser
".
The "Trololo" meme in turn re-ignited interest in Khil's singing career aside from his vocalised performance; for a time, the "Trololo" website included a petition for Khil to come out of retirement to perform on a world tour.
Khil's son was quoted as saying "He thinks maybe someone is trying to make a fool of him," and "He keeps asking, 'Where were all these journalists 40 years ago?'"
Anglicisation
Anglicisation, or anglicization , is the process of converting verbal or written elements of any other language into a form that is more comprehensible to an English speaker, or, more generally, of altering something such that it becomes English in form or character.The term most often refers to...
as Edward Hill, is a Russian baritone
Baritone
Baritone is a type of male singing voice that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice. Originally from the Greek , meaning deep sounding, music for this voice is typically written in the range from the second F below middle C to the F above middle C Baritone (or...
singer and a recipient of the People's Artist Award
People's Artist
People's Artist is a honorary title in the Soviet Union, Union republics, in some other Eastern bloc states , as well as in a number of post-Soviet states, modeled after the title of the People's Artist of the USSR....
of the RSFSR
Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic
The Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic , commonly referred to as Soviet Russia, Bolshevik Russia, or simply Russia, was the largest, most populous and economically developed republic in the former Soviet Union....
.
Early life
Eduard Khil was born on 4 September 1934 in Smolensk to Anatoly Vasilievich Khil, a mechanic, and Helena Pavlovna Kalugina, an accountant. Life as a child was hard on Khil, with his family breaking up and was brought up by his mother. During the Great Patriotic War (WWII Eastern Front), his kindergarten was bombed, he was separated from his mother and evacuated to Bekovo, Penza OblastBekovo, Penza Oblast
Bekovo is an urban locality and the administrative center of Bekovsky District of Penza Oblast, Russia, located to the extreme south of the oblast. Population: Bekovo is located on the right bank of the Khopyor River, from Penza...
where he ended up in a children's home, which lacked basic facilities, such as food. Despite this Khil regularly performed in front of wounded soldiers in the nearby hospital. He was reunited with his mother in 1943 when Smolensk was liberated from Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
and in 1949 moved to Leningrad
Leningrad
Leningrad is the former name of Saint Petersburg, Russia.Leningrad may also refer to:- Places :* Leningrad Oblast, a federal subject of Russia, around Saint Petersburg* Leningrad, Tajikistan, capital of Muminobod district in Khatlon Province...
, where he enrolled and then graduated from printing college. In 1955, Khil enrolled to the Leningrad Conservatory
Saint Petersburg Conservatory
The N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov Saint Petersburg State Conservatory is a music school in Saint Petersburg. In 2004, the conservatory had around 275 faculty members and 1,400 students.-History:...
, where he studied under direction of Evgeni Olkhovksky and Zoya Lodyi. He graduated in 1960. During his studies, he began performing various lead operatic roles, including Figaro in "The Marriage of Figaro
The Marriage of Figaro (play)
The Marriage of Figaro ) is a comedy in five acts, written in 1778 by Pierre Beaumarchais. This play is the second installment in the Figaro Trilogy, preceded by The Barber of Seville and followed by The Guilty Mother. The Barber begins the story with a simple love triangle in which the Count has...
".
Career and success
After graduating he fell in love with pop music after attending a K.I. Shulzenko concert, and started to perform popular music. This led to him winning several prizes in the next two decades. He won the "All Russian Competition for Performers" in 1962 and was invited to perform at the "Festival of Soviet Songs" in 1965. He attained second place in Sopot International Song FestivalSopot International Song Festival
The Sopot International Song Festival is an international song contest held in Sopot, Poland. It was the biggest Polish music festival altogether with the National Festival of Polish Song in Opole, and one of the biggest annual song contest in Europe...
in 1965. In 1967, composer Andrey Petrov won the USSR State Prize
USSR State Prize
The USSR State Prize was the Soviet Union's state honour. It was established on September 9, 1966. After the breakup of the Soviet Union, the prize was followed up by the State Prize of the Russian Federation....
for a collection of songs performed mainly by Khil, and in 1968 Khil won the Meritorious Artist
Meritorious Artist
Meritorious Artist , also translated as Merited Artist, Deserved Artist or Distinguished Artist or Honorary Artist or Honorable Actor) is an honorary title in the Soviet Union, Russian Federation, Union republics, and Autonomous republics, also in some other Eastern bloc states, as well as in a...
of the RSFSR. The Order of the Red Banner of Labour
Order of the Red Banner of Labour
The Order of the Red Banner of Labour was an order of the Soviet Union for accomplishments in labour and civil service. It is the labour counterpart of the military Order of the Red Banner. A few institutions and factories, being the pride of Soviet Union, also received the order.-History:The Red...
was awarded in 1971, and Russia
Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic
The Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic , commonly referred to as Soviet Russia, Bolshevik Russia, or simply Russia, was the largest, most populous and economically developed republic in the former Soviet Union....
's most prestigious artist award, the People's Artist of Russia
People's Artist of Russia
People's Artist of Russia, also sometimes translated as National Artist of Russia, is an honorary title granted to citizens of Russia.It succeeded both the all-Soviet union award People's Artist of the USSR , and more directly the local republic award, People's Artist of the RSFSR , after the...
, was awarded to Khil in 1974. He was so successful that the public called him the 'Symbol of Leningrad'.
Between 1977 & 1979, Khil taught solo singing at the Saint Petersburg State Theatre Arts Academy
Saint Petersburg State Theatre Arts Academy
Saint Petersburg State Theatre Arts Academy is a theatre school in Saint Petersburg. Established in 1779, it is the oldest and largest institution of its kind in Russia.- History :...
.
Khil has toured in over 80 countries and currently lives at Tolstoy House
Tolstoy House
The Tolstoy House is a large and well-known apartment building in St. Petersburg, located at 15-17 Rubenstein Street and 54 Fontanka Embankment. The building was designed by Fyodor Lidval in the “Northern Modern” style....
(Толстовский дом) in St. Petersburg.
After his singing career faded in the early 1990s, Khil re-entered private life and worked in a cafe in Paris, singing cabaret. Since 1997, Khil has been involved with his son in a joint project with the rock group Prepinaki.
For his 75th birthday, Khil was awarded the Order of Merit for the Fatherland
Order of Merit for the Fatherland
The Order of Merit for the Fatherland was instituted on 2 March 1994 by Presidential Decree. The statutes describe it as a decoration for merit, not an order of knights....
, 4th Class in 2009 by Russia and in 2010 performed in St. Petersburg's Victory Day Parade.
After retiring from a singing career, Khil slowly faded into obscurity in his later years. In 2010, Khil reclaimed the spotlight when he became the subject of the viral
Viral phenomenon
Viral phenomena are objects or patterns able to replicate themselves or convert other objects into copies of themselves when these objects are exposed to them....
Trololo internet meme
Internet meme
The term Internet meme is used to describe a concept that spreads via the Internet. The term is a reference to the concept of memes, although the latter concept refers to a much broader category of cultural information.-Description:...
on YouTube, thanks to the spreading popularity of a single-serving website "Trololololololololololo.com" featuring a 1976 video of a vocalise
Vocalise
A vocalise is a vocal exercise without words, which is sung on one or more vowel sounds.-In classical music:Vocalise dates back to the mid-18th century...
d version of the song, "I Am Glad I'm Finally Going Home"The original title Я очень рад, ведь я, наконец, возвращаюсь домой literally translates to I am very glad, because I'm finally back home, but I Am Glad I'm Finally Going Home is usually given as the translated title in online videos. (Я очень рад, ведь я, наконец, возвращаюсь домой).
Songs and style
He was the first artist to sing such songs as Woodcutters (Лесорубы in Russian) and Moon Stone (Лунный камень) by Arkady OstrovskyArkady Ostrovsky
Arkady Il'ich Ostrovsky , was a Soviet Russian composer of light music, the author of the song May There Always Be Sunshine and other Soviet songs of the 1960s, including the lullaby of Good Night, Little Ones, the children's TV program aired for more than 50...
, and Song about Friend (Песня о друге), Blue Cities (Голубые города), And People Go To the Sea (А люди уходят в море) by Andrey Petrov. Other popular songs performed by Khil included From What the Homeland Begins? (С чего начинается Родина?), How the Steamers Are Seen Off (Как провожают пароходы), Winter (Зима), Birch Sap (Берёзовый сок), Alder
Alder
Alder is the common name of a genus of flowering plants belonging to the birch family . The genus comprises about 30 species of monoecious trees and shrubs, few reaching large size, distributed throughout the North Temperate Zone and in the Americas along the Andes southwards to...
Catkin
Catkin
A catkin or ament is a slim, cylindrical flower cluster, with inconspicuous or no petals, usually wind-pollinated but sometimes insect pollinated . They contain many, usually unisexual flowers, arranged closely along a central stem which is often drooping...
(Серёжка ольховая), We Need Only the Victory (Нам нужна одна победа), and many others.
Khil's manner of execution of songs is unique and easily recognizable in Russia, characterized by charm, always having a great sounding bright, sonorous voice and the flight of lyrical baritone, with the powerful charge of optimism and humour. On the stage Khil kept very confident, smart, accompanying singing light dance moves and spectacular gestures. By never changing his academic style of singing, Khil enjoyed enviable career longevity.
Family
Eduard Khil is married to Zoya, and the couple have a son, Dmitri (born 2 June 1963). Eduard Khil also has a grandson also named Eduard. Khil met Zoya in July 1958 at the Leningrad Conservatory where he sang, whilst she danced. Afterwards they went on tour together, where their romance began. They got married two months later at 1 December. The family nameFamily name
A family name is a type of surname and part of a person's name indicating the family to which the person belongs. The use of family names is widespread in cultures around the world...
Khil is not derived from Hill, as it is reported on various web sites. The singer stated in an interview that he probably has a Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
ancestor with the surname Gil
Gil
- Places :* Gil Island , one of several islands by that name* Gil, Azerbaijan , places named Gil in Azerbaijan-Given name:* Gil Amelio, technology executive and former CEO of Apple Inc.* Gil Baiano, Brazilian footballer...
, which is pronounced similar to hill.
Internet meme
In 2009, a 1976 video of Khil singing a non-lexical vocableNon-lexical vocables in music
Non-lexical vocables, which may be mixed with meaningful text, are a form of nonsense syllable used in a wide variety of music. A common English example would be "la la la".-Traditional music:...
version of the song I Am Glad, Cause I'm Finally Returning Back Home (Я очень рад, ведь я, наконец, возвращаюсь домой) was uploaded to YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
and became known as “Trololololololololololo” or “Trololo”. The name "Trololo" is an onomatopoeia of the distinctive way Khil vocalizes throughout the song. The quirky and catchy video quickly became an Internet meme
Internet meme
The term Internet meme is used to describe a concept that spreads via the Internet. The term is a reference to the concept of memes, although the latter concept refers to a much broader category of cultural information.-Description:...
and Khil became known as "Mr. Trololo" or "Trololo Man".
Meaning and the original text of the song
The song was written by Arkady OstrovskyArkady Ostrovsky
Arkady Il'ich Ostrovsky , was a Soviet Russian composer of light music, the author of the song May There Always Be Sunshine and other Soviet songs of the 1960s, including the lullaby of Good Night, Little Ones, the children's TV program aired for more than 50...
. Besides Khil, it was also performed by Valery Obodzinsky, Hungarian singer János Koós, and by Muslim Magomayev on 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...
program 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....
. According to Khil, the Trololo song originally features lyrics, which described a narrative about a cowboy riding a horse to his farm:
- I'm riding the prairie on my stallion, a mustang as such, and my sweetheart Mary now knits a stocking for me, a thousand miles away from here.
Arkady Ostrovsky's son, Mikhail, gives another version of the vocalise story:
Publicity
The Trololo video first appeared on some sites beginning on 21 February 2010, the most prominent of those being the "Trololo" website that rocketed the meme into popular awareness, receiving more than 3,000,000 hits in its first month. It gained prominence on 3 March during a segment on The Colbert Report. It was also parodied by actor Christoph WaltzChristoph Waltz
Christoph Waltz is an Austrian-German actor. He received international acclaim for his portrayal of SS-Standartenführer Hans Landa in the 2009 film Inglourious Basterds, for which he won the Best Actor Award at the Cannes Film Festival and the BAFTA, Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild Award and...
on Jimmy Kimmel Live! as well as Craig Reucassel
Craig Reucassel
Craig Bruce Reucassel is a television and radio comedian from Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. He is best known for being a member of satirical team The Chaser...
on the Australian TV show "The Chaser
The Chaser
The Chaser are an Australian satirical comedian group, known for their television programmes on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation channel. The group take their name from their production of satirical newspaper, a publication known to challenge conventions of taste...
".
The "Trololo" meme in turn re-ignited interest in Khil's singing career aside from his vocalised performance; for a time, the "Trololo" website included a petition for Khil to come out of retirement to perform on a world tour.
Khil's son was quoted as saying "He thinks maybe someone is trying to make a fool of him," and "He keeps asking, 'Where were all these journalists 40 years ago?'"
Awards
- Winner of Second All-Russian competition of performers (1962)
- Sopot International Song FestivalSopot International Song FestivalThe Sopot International Song Festival is an international song contest held in Sopot, Poland. It was the biggest Polish music festival altogether with the National Festival of Polish Song in Opole, and one of the biggest annual song contest in Europe...
second prize (1965) - Meritorious ArtistMeritorious ArtistMeritorious Artist , also translated as Merited Artist, Deserved Artist or Distinguished Artist or Honorary Artist or Honorable Actor) is an honorary title in the Soviet Union, Russian Federation, Union republics, and Autonomous republics, also in some other Eastern bloc states, as well as in a...
of the RSFSR (1968) - Order of the Red Banner of LabourOrder of the Red Banner of LabourThe Order of the Red Banner of Labour was an order of the Soviet Union for accomplishments in labour and civil service. It is the labour counterpart of the military Order of the Red Banner. A few institutions and factories, being the pride of Soviet Union, also received the order.-History:The Red...
(1971) - People's Artist of the RSFSRPeople's Artist of the USSRPeople's Artist of the USSR, also sometimes translated as National Artist of the USSR, was an honorary title granted to citizens of the Soviet Union.- Nomenclature and significance :...
(1974) - Lenin Komsomol PrizeLenin Komsomol PrizeLenin Komsomol Prize was a Soviet annual award for the best works in science, engineering, literature or art carried out by young authors of age not exceeding 33 years...
(1976) - Order of Friendship of PeoplesOrder of Friendship of PeoplesThe Order of Friendship of Peoples was an order of the Soviet Union, and was awarded to persons , organizations, enterprises, military units, as well as administrative subdivisions of the USSR for accomplishments in strengthening of inter-ethnic and international friendship and cooperation, for...
(1981) - Order of Merit for the FatherlandOrder of Merit for the FatherlandThe Order of Merit for the Fatherland was instituted on 2 March 1994 by Presidential Decree. The statutes describe it as a decoration for merit, not an order of knights....
, 4th class (2009) - UtyosovLeonid UtyosovLeonid Osipovich Utyosov or Utesov ; real name Lazar Vaysbeyn or Weissbein , was a famous Soviet jazz singer and comic actor of jewish origin, who became the first pop singer to be awarded the prestigious title of People's Artist of the USSR .-Biography:Leonid Utyosov was brought up in Odessa...
Prize
Filmography
- 1965 – Cheryomushki (Черёмушки) – vocal
- 1974 – Eduard Khil (documentary, directed by Marina GoldovskayaMarina GoldovskayaMarina Goldovskaya, is an eminent Russian born documentary cinematographer famed for her candid portrayal of people. She has documented many types of people including simple folk, seamstresses, a female astronaut, literary and artistic legends, as well as political leaders.The recipient of...
) - 1985 – Golubye goroda (Голубые города, Blue Cities; film-concert, music by Andrey Petrov)
- 2004 – Yatinsotests – club manager