Russians (song)
Encyclopedia
"Russians" is a song by Sting, from his debut solo album, The Dream of the Blue Turtles
, released in 1985. It was also released as a single. Sting cautions about the repercussions of the Cold War
including the mutually assured destruction doctrine ("there's no such thing as a winnable war/It's a lie we don't believe anymore"). Hence he hopes that the "Russians love their children too", since he sees this as the only thing that would save the world from a holocaust brought on by nuclear weapons ("Oppenheimer's deadly toy").
The famed Russian news broadcaster Igor Kirillov
says at the beginning approximately the following: "...The (British) Prime Minister described the talks with the head of the delegation, Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev, as a constructive, realistic, practical and friendly exchange of opinions...", referring probably to the meeting of Mikhail Gorbachev
and Margaret Thatcher
in 1984. The Soviet leader at the time was Konstantin Chernenko
.
"Russians" uses a theme from the Lieutenant Kijé
Suite by Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev
.
The song was a hit in France, where it peaked at #2 for three weeks and remained on the top 50 for 19 weeks. It is currently the 636th best-selling single of all time in France.
Sting performed the song at the 1986 Grammy Awards. His performance of the song was released on the 1994 album Grammy's Greatest Moments Volume I.
, the character Jeremy Osborne ponders "Do you think he really wondered, Sting, if the Russians loved their children too?" to which Mark Corrigan replies "No, it’s a rhetorical question like, 'can you feel the force?' or 'do they know it's Christmas?'."
A parody of the song appeared in the satirical TV show Spitting Image
which featured increasingly abstract concepts for the sake of rhyming, and referenced Sting's previous career as a schoolteacher.
12" maxi
"Russians"
"Gabriel's Message"
"I Burn for You"
The Dream of the Blue Turtles
The Dream of the Blue Turtles is the first solo album by British pop singer-songwriter Sting, released in the United States on 1 June 1985, a year after The Police had unofficially disbanded...
, released in 1985. It was also released as a single. Sting cautions about the repercussions of the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
including the mutually assured destruction doctrine ("there's no such thing as a winnable war/It's a lie we don't believe anymore"). Hence he hopes that the "Russians love their children too", since he sees this as the only thing that would save the world from a holocaust brought on by nuclear weapons ("Oppenheimer's deadly toy").
The famed Russian news broadcaster Igor Kirillov
Igor Kirillov
Igor Leonidovich Kirillov is a prominent former news anchor for Central Television of the USSR , the main state broadcaster of the Soviet Union...
says at the beginning approximately the following: "...The (British) Prime Minister described the talks with the head of the delegation, Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev, as a constructive, realistic, practical and friendly exchange of opinions...", referring probably to the meeting of Mikhail Gorbachev
Mikhail Gorbachev
Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev is a former Soviet statesman, having served as General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1985 until 1991, and as the last head of state of the USSR, having served from 1988 until its dissolution in 1991...
and Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
in 1984. The Soviet leader at the time was Konstantin Chernenko
Konstantin Chernenko
Konstantin Ustinovich Chernenko was a Soviet politician and the fifth General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. He led the Soviet Union from 13 February 1984 until his death thirteen months later, on 10 March 1985...
.
"Russians" uses a theme from the Lieutenant Kijé
Lieutenant Kijé (Prokofiev)
Lieutenant Kijé is the score composed by Sergei Prokofiev for the 1934 Soviet film Lieutenant Kijé directed by Aleksandr Faintsimmer based on the novel of the same title by Yury Tynyanov.-Suite from Lieutenant Kijé:...
Suite by Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev
Sergei Prokofiev
Sergei Sergeyevich Prokofiev was a Russian composer, pianist and conductor who mastered numerous musical genres and is regarded as one of the major composers of the 20th century...
.
The song was a hit in France, where it peaked at #2 for three weeks and remained on the top 50 for 19 weeks. It is currently the 636th best-selling single of all time in France.
History
In his 2010 interview with World Entertainment News Network Sting admitted that the song was inspired by watching the Soviet TV via satellite:Sting performed the song at the 1986 Grammy Awards. His performance of the song was released on the 1994 album Grammy's Greatest Moments Volume I.
Popular culture
In the comedy Peep ShowPeep Show (TV series)
Peep Show is a British sitcom starring David Mitchell and Robert Webb. The television programme is written by Jesse Armstrong and Sam Bain, with additional material by Mitchell and Webb themselves, amongst others. It has been broadcast on Channel 4 since 2003. The show's seventh series makes it...
, the character Jeremy Osborne ponders "Do you think he really wondered, Sting, if the Russians loved their children too?" to which Mark Corrigan replies "No, it’s a rhetorical question like, 'can you feel the force?' or 'do they know it's Christmas?'."
A parody of the song appeared in the satirical TV show Spitting Image
Spitting Image
Spitting Image is a British satirical puppet show that aired on the ITV network from 1984 to 1996. It was produced by Spitting Image Productions for Central Television. The series was nominated for 10 BAFTA Awards, winning one for editing in 1989....
which featured increasingly abstract concepts for the sake of rhyming, and referenced Sting's previous career as a schoolteacher.
Track listings
7" single- "Russians" – 3:57
- "Gabriel's Message" – 2:15
12" maxi
- "Russians" – 3:57
- "Gabriel's Message" – 2:10
- "I Burn for You" (live) – 4:40
Personnel
- Photography by Anton CorbijnAnton CorbijnAnton Corbijn is a Dutch photographer, music video and film director. He is the creative director behind the visual output of Depeche Mode and U2, having handled the principal promotion and sleeve photography for both for more than a decade...
- Made in West Germany by Polygram
"Russians"
- Written by Sting
- Engineered by Jim Scott
- Producer by Pete Smith
"Gabriel's Message"
- Written by Traditional
- Arranged by Sting
- Mixed and recorded by Pete Smith
"I Burn for You"
- Written by Sting
- Mixed, recorded and produced by Pete Smith
Certifications
| Country | Certification | Date | Sales certified | Physical sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | Gold | 1985 | 500,000 | 476,000 |
Charts
| Chart (1985) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Dutch Mega Top 100 | 8 |
| French SNEP Singles Chart | 2 |
| Irish Singles Chart | 11 |
| Swedish Singles Chart | 16 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 13 |
| UK Singles Chart | 12 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 16 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks | 34 |