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Vladimir Semenovich Vysotsky is one of the most popular Soviet actors, poets and musicians. An odious person whose life and death is shrouded in many mysteries, which are not always supported by facts, but this makes them seem even more interesting.
Now many people think that he was a star of all-Union scale, although in reality everything is not quite so. He was known as an actor and performer of author’s songs, but no one really knew him as a poet.
Vysotsky’s work was subjected to severe censorship, as in his texts he touched on sensitive topics: back in 1968, a large-scale campaign was launched in the Soviet press aimed at discrediting his works.
The first collection of his texts was published only in 1981, when Vladimir Semenovich was no longer alive. We decided to recall the most famous songs of Vysotsky, which everyone must have heard.
10 Lyric
“Lyrical” – a song based on a poem “Here the paws of the firs tremble in weight ..”. This work is considered an ideal example of love lyrics in Vysotsky’s work.
The main motive is inspired by the poet’s feelings for Marina Vladi, whom he regularly refers to in the text. The enchanted forest represents an obstacle that must be overcome, following the guiding thread of love.
It is impossible not to mention the magnificent metaphors that Vladimir Semenovich uses. They are built around the opposition of everyday and sublimely romantic elements, for example “Let the bird cherry trees dry with linen in the wind”.
9. On the mass graves
Song “On mass graves”, also known as “Common Graves”, was first performed on June 22, 1963 at Father Vysotsky’s birthday.
After 2 years, a second edition of the song appeared, which they wanted to use for the play “The Fallen and the Living” on Taganka, but ultimately abandoned it.
The popularity of the composition came with the release of the film “I Come from Childhood” directed by Vladimir Turov in 1966. The song was performed by Vysotsky himself and Mark Bernes, who, according to rumors, had to be called at the request of the KGB officers. Vladimir Semenovich himself spoke flatteringly about Bernes, believing that his participation only improved the sound.
8. Big Karetny
The famous song is dedicated to Vysotsky’s close friend Levon Kocharyan, in whose apartment the bard lived for a year and a half. The apartment was located, as the name implies, in Big Karetny lane in Moscow.
The poet himself spoke very warmly about those times, considering them one of the best periods in his life. Really interesting people gathered at Levon’s house: Andrei Tarkovsky, Vasily Shukshin and many others.
The relaxed and relaxed atmosphere that reigned there was conducive to creativity, and it was in this apartment that Vysotsky loved to create, and close friends became the first listeners.
7. Song about friend
“Song of a Friend” became one of the main hits of the film “Vertical”, dispersing into quotes. It was created under the impression of the stories of Leonid Eliseev, a professional climber who acted as a consultant on the filming of the picture. He told Vysotsky a story about six climbers who almost died under a rockfall because one of them got confused and panicked at a difficult moment. Fortunately, all six managed to survive.
The simple truth that the human essence manifests itself in a difficult moment, as presented by Eliseev, impressed Vysotsky so much that this song was born in his head quite quickly.
6. I do not like
Song “I dont like” – a kind of Vysotsky’s manifesto, somewhere on the verge of confession. 11 times the author pronounces the words from the title, applying them to a variety of situations.
For example, it is clear that the lyrical hero of the song, in which the personality of the poet himself is easily guessed, does not like interference in his personal life, which is clear from the lines “When a stranger reads my letters, I look over my shoulder”.
This composition is not a reflection on what is right and what is not: the author expresses a clear position, presenting it as the ultimate truth.
It is unlikely that people would forgive anyone else such courage in the text, but everyone agrees with Vysotsky’s words, and they do not lose their relevance even now.
5. Wolf hunt
In the song “Wolf Hunt” The rebellious spirit of Vysotsky is best felt, because the song is not really about wolves. All listeners perfectly understood who and what flags were actually overlaid by the authorities, who in the song are huntsmen.
In 1968, Yuri Lyubimov decided to stage a performance based on Andrei Voznesensky’s poems “Take care of your faces”, including “Hunting for wolves” in it. The composition became central, and Vysotsky himself performed it.
A whole year of hard preparation and rehearsals went down the drain, so “from above” an order came to ban the production. The real reason was this song, calling on people to fight and “pull for the flags”. Lyubimov and Voznesensky were offered to remove it in order to preserve the performance, but they flatly refused.
It is surprising that even 50 years later, when the USSR has long since disappeared and Russia has a different political system, the meaning of the song still touches the hearts of listeners.
The poet Yevgeny Yevtushenko heard the song during a business trip in the North and immediately sent a telegram to Vysotsky. In it, he wrote that he listened to it with friends 20 times and kneels in front of him.
4. Ballad of love
“The Ballad of Love” Vysotsky wrote in 1975 in Paris, especially for the film by Sergei Tarasov “The Arrows of Robin Hood”, for which he recorded a total of 6 compositions.
It is noteworthy that the “Ballad” never sounded in the film: it was included only in the second edition, which was released in 1987.
3. Crystal house
Song “Crystal House” is one of the most popular not only among listeners, but also among musicians, among whom there are many fans of Vysotsky’s work.
This composition was covered by Grigory Leps, but this is not surprising, since he performs almost all the songs of the great bard, but LSP .. Hearing the usual words in the voice of Oleg Savchenko is rather unusual.
2. He did not return from battle
Vladimir Semenovich repeatedly touched on the theme of the Great Patriotic War in his work, and the song “He didn’t come back from the fight” many consider the best in this direction.
The story of a man who lost a close friend on the battlefield in those years was close to everyone, so it is not surprising that the song sounded in every yard.
It was written in 1969 for the film “Sons Go to Battle” directed by Viktor Turov, and Vysotsky first performed it in front of the general public in 1971.
A year later, she entered the mini-album “Songs of Vladimir Vysotsky from the Movies” and was a great success.
1. Finicky horses
Definitely the most famous song of Vysotsky. When reading the title “Horses are picky” many lines immediately sounded in their heads “A little slower horses, a little slower”.
The lyrical hero, in whom the author’s personality is again guessed, foresees imminent death and at the same time hurries it and tries to delay it, either speeding up the horses, or asking them to slow down.
The song was written in 1972 for the film “Sannikov Land”, but the filmmakers ultimately did not accept it, although according to critics it would ideally reflect the tone of the picture.