Igor Talkov
Encyclopedia
Igor Vladimirovich Talkov , was a Russian rock
singer-songwriter.
He is often compared to another Russian singer and songwriter of that time, Viktor Tsoi
, whom, according to his diaries, Talkov highly appreciated and to whom he even dedicated a song on his death. Talkov's songs also have much in common - particularly from a lyrical perspective - with Russian bard
music.
Igor Talkov was born in Gretsovka, Tula Oblast
, Soviet Union
. Whilst he is mostly remembered for songs about love and fate, most of his work held a clearly political message against the Soviet regime, desperately calling for a change. This is one of the reasons why Talkov was never popular with the Soviet government; even as a performer renowned and loved throughout the whole Soviet Union
, he lived in a small two-room apartment with his wife and son, even composing his masterful lyrics and music "on top of the washing machine in the bathroom", according to the rumours. Curiously enough, he was not satisfied with Perestroika
, claiming it to be nothing but the same regime under a different guise. In his post-Perestroika songs, he openly mocked the changes, calling them a ruse. Talkov was an avid reader of pre-revolutionary Russian history, which served as the inspiration for many of his songs. He even guaranteed at his last concert that he was willing to "back up" his lyrics with historical facts.
Talkov also made a brief presence in post-Soviet cinema, acting in the films Za posledney chertoy (Beyond the last boundary) and Knyaz Serebryanniy (The Silver Prince). The latter film he disliked, apologizing to a preview audience for participating in the film. Since Talkov refused to complete post-production sound on the film, Talkov's character was voiced by another actor.
He was fatally shot backstage at the Yubileiny concert hall
in Leningrad
; the next day was declared a national tragedy throughout the whole Soviet Union
. His funeral was a televised, nationwide event, where his casket was carried by some of the most prominent members of Russian stage to its burial. It is not uncommon to meet people in former Soviet countries who still dedicate October 6 to the honour of Igor Talkov.
While Valeriy Schlyafman, Talkov's one time manager, was found guilty of the murder by a Russian court, he fled through Ukraine to Israel before he could be arrested. He remains in Israel to this day, insisting he is not guilty of the crime while Israel refuses to extradite him. Schlyafman and his supporters have claimed that the KGB
orchestrated the murder.
Talkov is interred in the Vagankovskoye Cemetery in Moscow.
In 1999 he was honoured with his image portrayed on a Russian postage stamp. There is an Igor Talkov Museum in Moscow
.
My Motherland
I am walking through the shards of childhood fantasies,
In my homeland,
Where it seems nothing happens seriously to me, to me.
I had to get so tired having pulled through to Christ's age,
Oh God.
Yet around me as if on parade,
The whole nation is walking into hell with wide steps.
My motherland, grief filled and numb,
My motherland, you have lost your mind.
In suspended animation Moscow lives out its century,
Its come to that, to that.
Over the church domes Lucifer's star has risen, has risen.
Watching from above,
As you're sold off the mallot for five kopecks,
Laughing over your memory is your past lackey from the West.
Watching from above,
As you're sold off the mallot for five kopecks,
Laughing over your memory is your past demon from the West.
For the eighth decade it is not the rain
Which washes your cross, your cross.
They are the tears of your great sons from the skies, from the skies.
They are watching from the clouds,
As you are bowing before the yoke of idiots,
Either you drink up and grieve,
Or you hunger in silence,
Or pray.
They are watching from the clouds,
As you are bowing before the yoke of idiots,
Either you drink up and grieve,
Or you hunger in silence,
Or pray.
My motherland, grief filled and numb,
My motherland, you have lost your mind.
My motherland, destitute,
My motherland, you have lost your mind.
Igor Talkov
Russian rock
Russian rock refers to rock music made in Russia or in the Russian language. Rock and roll became known in the Soviet Union in the 1960s and quickly broke free from its western roots. According to many music critics, its "golden age" years were the 1980s , when the Soviet underground rock bands...
singer-songwriter.
He is often compared to another Russian singer and songwriter of that time, Viktor Tsoi
Viktor Tsoi
Viktor Robertovich Tsoi ; 21 June 1962 – 15 August 1990) was a Soviet rock musician, leader of the band Kino.He is regarded as one of the pioneers of Russian rock and has many devoted fans across the countries of the former Soviet Union even today...
, whom, according to his diaries, Talkov highly appreciated and to whom he even dedicated a song on his death. Talkov's songs also have much in common - particularly from a lyrical perspective - with Russian bard
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...
music.
Igor Talkov was born in Gretsovka, Tula Oblast
Tula Oblast
Tula Oblast is a federal subject of Russia with its present borders formed on September 26, 1937. Its administrative center is the city of Tula. The oblast has an area of and a population of 1,553,874...
, 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....
. Whilst he is mostly remembered for songs about love and fate, most of his work held a clearly political message against the Soviet regime, desperately calling for a change. This is one of the reasons why Talkov was never popular with the Soviet government; even as a performer renowned and loved throughout the whole 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....
, he lived in a small two-room apartment with his wife and son, even composing his masterful lyrics and music "on top of the washing machine in the bathroom", according to the rumours. Curiously enough, he was not satisfied with Perestroika
Perestroika
Perestroika was a political movement within the Communist Party of the Soviet Union during 1980s, widely associated with the Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev...
, claiming it to be nothing but the same regime under a different guise. In his post-Perestroika songs, he openly mocked the changes, calling them a ruse. Talkov was an avid reader of pre-revolutionary Russian history, which served as the inspiration for many of his songs. He even guaranteed at his last concert that he was willing to "back up" his lyrics with historical facts.
Talkov also made a brief presence in post-Soviet cinema, acting in the films Za posledney chertoy (Beyond the last boundary) and Knyaz Serebryanniy (The Silver Prince). The latter film he disliked, apologizing to a preview audience for participating in the film. Since Talkov refused to complete post-production sound on the film, Talkov's character was voiced by another actor.
He was fatally shot backstage at the Yubileiny concert hall
Yubileyny Sports Palace
Yubileyny Sports Palace , also translated as Yubileiny Palace of Sports, is an indoor sports arena and concert complex located in St. Petersburg, Russia. It houses 7,012 seats for ice hockey and up to 7,700 seats for basketball. It is accessible from the Sportivnaya metro station...
in Leningrad
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
; the next day was declared a national tragedy throughout the whole 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....
. His funeral was a televised, nationwide event, where his casket was carried by some of the most prominent members of Russian stage to its burial. It is not uncommon to meet people in former Soviet countries who still dedicate October 6 to the honour of Igor Talkov.
While Valeriy Schlyafman, Talkov's one time manager, was found guilty of the murder by a Russian court, he fled through Ukraine to Israel before he could be arrested. He remains in Israel to this day, insisting he is not guilty of the crime while Israel refuses to extradite him. Schlyafman and his supporters have claimed that the KGB
KGB
The KGB was the commonly used acronym for the . It was the national security agency of the Soviet Union from 1954 until 1991, and was the premier internal security, intelligence, and secret police organization during that time.The State Security Agency of the Republic of Belarus currently uses the...
orchestrated the murder.
Talkov is interred in the Vagankovskoye Cemetery in Moscow.
In 1999 he was honoured with his image portrayed on a Russian postage stamp. There is an Igor Talkov Museum in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
.
Lyrics
I am walking through the shards of childhood fantasies,
In my homeland,
Where it seems nothing happens seriously to me, to me.
I had to get so tired having pulled through to Christ's age,
Oh God.
Yet around me as if on parade,
The whole nation is walking into hell with wide steps.
My motherland, grief filled and numb,
My motherland, you have lost your mind.
In suspended animation Moscow lives out its century,
Its come to that, to that.
Over the church domes Lucifer's star has risen, has risen.
Watching from above,
As you're sold off the mallot for five kopecks,
Laughing over your memory is your past lackey from the West.
Watching from above,
As you're sold off the mallot for five kopecks,
Laughing over your memory is your past demon from the West.
For the eighth decade it is not the rain
Which washes your cross, your cross.
They are the tears of your great sons from the skies, from the skies.
They are watching from the clouds,
As you are bowing before the yoke of idiots,
Either you drink up and grieve,
Or you hunger in silence,
Or pray.
They are watching from the clouds,
As you are bowing before the yoke of idiots,
Either you drink up and grieve,
Or you hunger in silence,
Or pray.
My motherland, grief filled and numb,
My motherland, you have lost your mind.
My motherland, destitute,
My motherland, you have lost your mind.
Igor Talkov