(no subject)

[gordin.livejournal.com]

I've been monitoring the community for some time and came up with something to say.

We all know a nice way to learn a language is to listen to music and follow the lyrics.

But in a search for simple language some of you start listening to Russian pop, which has an incredible amount of disadvantages:


Bad quality of the musci product (even if you love pop, by the american standartsrussian artists are terrible)

The language is more than simple - the lyrics are designed to be loved by not (yet or ever) educated, low-cultured mass (I know I'm rough but hey, let's be honest) - you guys should have better standarts.

Thay make a lot of mistakes, ignore the language rules


So I'd say if you advanced from the very basic level, or even if you are still there, but are looking for some quality simple Russian, you have to make a better choice.


So I wanted to try making up a list of good bands and artists, splitting'em into genre groups and by difficulty, also giving a short description and a link for their website.
This table could be linked on the community main page and availible to anyone interested.

I guess the process would be fun for all the members (share your experience!!), we'll quickly come up with the first version of the list and later will add things there.

Huh?
I'll start with a comment, I guess. :)
Please try not just naming the artist, but giving some info on the level and type of language, type of music and official sources of downloads.


P. S.
I know it was discussed a lot of times, but it's just another reason to finally create a compehensive source of info.

Comments

[nadyezhda.livejournal.com]

great idea! My Russian professor in college started us out with "Chto takoe ocen'?" by DDT.

[froeken-snork.livejournal.com]

I would recommend Vysotsky. His texts are very straightforward, but by no means simplistic... well, it's really simple yet high-standard poetry. One mor thing -as you listen the music does not prevent you from actually hearing the text - whic Is the case with many songs...

[gordin.livejournal.com]

Just a couple of different items for example:

Ундервуд [Undervud]
http://undervud.ru/
Level: extremely high, very challenging, idiomatic, highly poetic expressions, a lot of cultural hyperlinks
Genre: smart pop
Description: A brilliant duo, playing easy-to-listen, not at all heavy music using different instruments, modern and wel-crafted, but not too innovative music with very good lyrics. Probably the best poets in Russian music, they're lyrics are not depressive, ironic and charged with a lot of positive energy, even when they make your eyes water.

Кирпичи [Kirpichi - The Bricks]
http://kirpichi.msk.ru/ - unofficial, but holds the mp3s, while the official site doesn't work right now
Level: Differs from quite advanced to really simple (not always easy to understand while listening, though), the band uses a great lot of common youth expressions, some offensive language (not much, really)
Genre: Ironic hip-hop/rock/punk
Desc: Interesting band, started as something-like-punk, still changing to hip-hop and back to rock/punk constantly. Extremely ironic, sometimes mocking the russian reality, still never really political nor agressive, even when the sound is rough. Can teach you some bad words, but also give an idea of how some of the russian youth talk. Can require asking some native speakes to clarify the expressions, you won't find in dictionaries.

Машина времени [Mashina Vremeni - The Time Machine]
www.mashina.ru
Level: pretty basic
Genre: straight-forward pop with guitars
Desc: a widely recognized, extremely popular band, started back in the USSR yet never really confronting the regime, making (they still do) simple songs about general things. The lyrics sre simple, yet very well-built, showing good quality and language. Recommended for the starters.


Ok for now. ;)

[lirrana.livejournal.com]

Well I'm afraid you won't find any of our pop-bands as good ;)) (hm, in my opinion all of them are terrible). Maybe some groups playing in other musical styles will be interesting for you? :)

"Мельница" Folk… Celtic..


http://www.hellawes.ru/
http://www.melnitsa.net/

"Машина Времени" A very good group with not very hard language but… mm… good meanings of lyrics. Rock

http://rmp.ru/catalog/singer.phtml?id=212
http://www.mashina-vremeni.com/


And «Пикник»… But they songs are very hard to understand… even for me :)

http://www.mp3up.ru/mp3.php?artist=%CF%E8%EA%ED%E8%EA&search=1&search_in=0
http://www.piknik.info/

And «Пикник»… But they songs are very hard to understand… even for me :)

http://www.mp3up.ru/mp3.php?artist=%CF%E8%EA%ED%E8%EA&search=1&search_in=0
http://www.piknik.info/

[gordin.livejournal.com]

Can dare preparing an entry like i did below? ;)
Vysotsky definitely deserves being on the list.

[gordin.livejournal.com]

Try desccribing it - I would, but 1. Your view is more interesting 2. I hate them. :/ (still, they can be ok for learning)

[gordin.livejournal.com]

I used the word 'music' three times in a row in the first paragraph. And not only this. :/ So please note it's 2 am here. ;)

[soidisantfille.livejournal.com]

Does anyone have any good recommendations for good Russian electronic music (NOT dance music, but more like industrial or ambient)? I can't remember who told me this, but apparently a lot of interesting Russian techno was made on equipment that was only available in the former Soviet Union.

Obviously this music would have zero pedagogical value. I just think it would be cool!

[lirrana.livejournal.com]

Sorry for my English :) I'm afraid there are lots of mistakes as usually -__-‘

Hm, yes, I forgot! I wanted to give some links for the songs of «Мельница», to be downloaded at first if someone will be interested of group )) Links for songs and for lyrics

http://www.hellawes.ru/songs/mp3/music/moonday/0513!S.MP3
http://www.hellawes.ru/songs/texts_chords/MoonDay/12_PrivorotnoyeZelye


http://www.hellawes.ru/songs/mp3/music/dreamroad/0602!S.MP3
http://www.hellawes.ru/songs/texts_chords/MoonDay/15_DorogaSna


http://www.hellawes.ru/songs/mp3/music/solo/02_werewolf.mp3
http://www.hellawes.ru/songs/texts_chords/Solo/02_Werewolf

[lliothar.livejournal.com]

Why won't you suggest the Rowan Tower then? :)))))

[froeken-snork.livejournal.com]

Vladimir Vysotsky (1938-1980)
http://www.kulichki.com/vv/
Level: Depending on the song - from intermediate to advanced; you may well need some knowledge of Russia's history and cultural background to fully grasp their meaning . Yet in terms of language the songs are simple and easy to understand.
Genre: the closest equivalent would be the French chanson:the singer is ath thesame time the composer and the author of the lyrics
Description: Vysotsky's voice has to be used to:)His manner is... well, powerful. The music (guitar, very simple accompaniment)doesn't get in the way of making out the words. Very good lyrics- the topics range from war to love, including pretty much everything. Theya are distingushed by deep psychological insight, and , not infrequently, by humour and irony, . - whether you like the songs or not, they are a part if the Russian culture and well deserve listening to.

[ex-eugzol340.livejournal.com]

Completely agree with you. I like heavy & power metall =)))) Rich music and poetic lyrics.. that's what we need.

Ария
Эпидемия
Catharsis

That what i'm listening to =)))

[gordin.livejournal.com]

he best russian electronic I know is Mescherin's band. They used to work in soviet times and did wonderful things.
But it's not techno - I'm... let's say "not into that". ;)

[http://users.livejournal.com/celsium_/]

Gush))) I'm late))) Just wanted to say the same.

[gordin.livejournal.com]

Ou-kay.
Try describing them for the learners.

I'm not sure though Aria is anything except pop. ;)
(sorry for discussing tastes, just can't help).

[gordin.livejournal.com]

Are you sure it's a good way to learn Russian? ;)

(If you are, make an entry)

[gordin.livejournal.com]

>> Well I'm afraid you won't find any of our pop-bands as good

If we face most of the music called "rock" in Russia is actually pop, it gets easier. 5nizza, just for example. Or Zemfira...

[soidisantfille.livejournal.com]

I'm not into hard-core techno either. House and drum n' bass make me ill... bad memories of lame ravers in high school. But I like interesting music that combines electronic sounds with instruments.

Is that the name of the band or the main guy?

[gordin.livejournal.com]

In tags it goes as Ансамбль В. Мещерина - V. Mescherin's Band.
The album (22 tracks) I've got is called "Easy USSR" and is sort of a compilation.

[lliothar.livejournal.com]

At least, a merry one :)

http://rowan.hole.ru/music/music.html
There are both texts and music.

Warning! Sense of humour needed! :)

[gordin.livejournal.com]

Try looking how i've done this.
Give some info on the language, describe the music - be helpful. ;)

[happy-accidents.livejournal.com]

They call it pop-rock, naturally!

[joliecanard.livejournal.com]

Сплин
http://www.splean.ru/index.php?obj_id=news
Easy to understand, pop-rock. The language is pretty simple.

5'nizza
http://www.5nizza.ru/doc/lyrics
Very difficult level but great music.
Reggae-influenced rap, generally an interesting amalgam of many styles.

[gordin.livejournal.com]

Not really. :/
Ask murmanskdays - he's an expert.

[lliothar.livejournal.com]

I'll try, but in the morning :) 'cause now my English has flown away. Haven't spoken it for quite a long time, you know... :)