Greetings Comrades.
I have just had the great honour of singing The Internationale in Moscow on the 1st of May. Red Square is invitation only on Mayday (yes, I know) so the ordinary folks gather in Sokolniki Park. On a stage that is a cross between Glasgow’s Kelvingrove bandstand and Hollywood Bowl I sang it. Words cannot describe how I felt.
(I did manage a sneaky chorus on the Square on the very eve of Mayday though!)
Mayday in Moscow
by 10 Comments
Wow. Any photos?
Now there’s a song that ought to be on the Singing in May thread.
There are pics and video but I don’t have them yet. I still don’t know how to do pics on this site though!
A fine song. Good for you.
My translator had to put it into context for me. It’s still associated with Stalinism here. Once they knew I was singing if for ‘the workers’ rather than in praise of Communism we were fine.
And yes, a grand tune.
Lucky man! Sounds like a very Red affair. My politics don’t tend that way, but I am a serious russophile and hence very envious. Since the mid 19th century Russia’s artistic, spiritual, and political influence has been, well… huge. Only comparable in global influence to Great Britain and the USA.
I had a chance to visit Moscow and Petersburg a few years back and I relished every second of it’s epic foreignness. Enjoy!
P.S. – Isn’t the Moscow subway amazing?
I was there as a guest of The Moscow Caledonian Society. It was me that mentioned the song in passing to the organisers and they thought it could work if put into context. So after a spoken introduction by my translator I sang it in the park. The audience got it for sure.
Yes, the Metro is the best transportation system I’ve ever been on by far.
Is that a descendant of the old British-Soviet Friendship Society, do you know?
I’m pretty sure it’s not. I’m by far the leftist on the ticket. They are more Lion Rampant than Hammer & Sickle.
By the by, I’ve just looked up the local Argos on Google Maps to find their bank holiday opening hours. Rather to my surprise they use the term International Workers’ Rights Day instead of May Day to inform me that opening hours might be different to usual.
No footage as yet of The Internationale. But here’s one clip. Based on a Russian melody and written for Liam Clancy. But it was grabbed by Macca for Mary Hopkin. It was recorded on the last Clancy Brothers album, and was Liam’s closer for the rest of his life.