Red Russian Army Choir & Leningrad Cowboys

[t17burroughsfarms]

erkkaveli... the 1980s? Try the 1960s when we had drills in school where we had to cower under our desks. Detroit was ringed with Nike missles, they were in the local park! The hardware store sold bomb shelters. Crazy, crazy times. But I agree, at least we haven't nuked each other yet. Music is power.

[jnklee]

More hair gel here than in the whole state of New Jersey.

[Dortmundfanatiker77]

YEA!

[UnbIacken]

Alabama is anybody's home :]

[AmanD5001]

O.o...I think this just made my day SOOO much better.

[nijk1947]

Yes, all you need is love!!

[Njzizskmp]

no one was allowed to say a word against president or the regime or he went to jail

Everyone in Russia and Serbia miss SSSR and Yugoslavia not because of communism, but because standard was much higher then now and those countries were powerful....But communism had nothing to do with that

Other communist countries that were not so powerful (Chechoslovakia,Poland,Hungary­,Romania,Bulgaria), they dont really miss communism at all, they actually have higher salaries now then during communism!!

[aabceacba]

What exactly are the Leningrad Cowboys, anyway?

[XxShadowSinX]

Nice song ! :)

[GryphisOne]

Is it just me or does the lead singer look like Jim Carrey?

[IIIHeffaIII]

LoonyBinJim = amerikanski pig-dog!!!

[phillyphanatic1830]

Anybody besides me think it was a typo when this title popped up?

[catfoss1959]

This is AWESOME, and you people who want to make more of it than fantastic music ......well.... what a set of twats you must be! I'm sure the long winter evenings must just fly by in your house.

[southfest09]

this a comedy?

[x252]

What's the story behind this, just wondering?

[IIIHeffaIII]

@x252 Vodka, lots of it.

[looonybinjim]

@IIIHeffaIII

Of course these commies had to cover a song written by an American band because their music sucks over there.

[metsapeikkoo]

@looonybinjim

Ofcourse, because finns = communist.

[onewhopwns]

@looonybinjim same ol' arrogant yank eh?Whatever,I forgive you cause this song makes me happy,I'm a commie and I love both Soviet music and American music,especially Sweet Home Alabama!

[Njzizskmp]

@onewhopwns "I'm a commie" I have no idea where you are from, but im sure you're not from an ex-communist country(i am). If you were, you wouldnt have been "a commie" :)

[onewhopwns]

@Njzizskmp christmas island is an ex communist country?Anyway that's not the point,some people preferred communism some people not.

[Njzizskmp]

@onewhopwns Im no from Christmas Island, I dont think they even have internet there, im from Serbia and Yugoslavia was a communist country for over 45 years, they forbid all other parties, they killed each and every other rich person after WW2 and confiscated our property and gave it to poor people like manual workers, generations of work of my family was given to people with elementary school. Then after they were done with killing over 100 thousand "class enemies", no one was allowed to say...

[erkkaveli]

@x252 ; Back in the 1970's the group was called "Sleepy Sleepers", they played humorous punk with very controversial lyrics. One of their pieces was quickly removed from finnish juke-boxes, as the piece was considered harming to russo-finnish relationships. And then - it was all over. There was no more fear of military intervention from our neighbor. It was peace and freedom, and the band saw their opportunity to participate in the History. They invited Red Amy Choir to play with them.

[ivanoech]

I think this is an insult to the Russians. I am not against rock music, but I respect the folk of any country. This is not music is anything. I am not Russian, buy I love the Russian folk music.

[irettlav]

@ivanoech You've got the Red Army Choir there singing all sorts of classic Russian folk tunes, and you think this is an INSULT to the Russians? Oh dear me.

[The6949891]

@ivanoech Lighten' up comrade. Your sweatin' up your space suit !

[erkkaveli]

@ivanoech; If you take this as an insult, then it's your choice. I bet that Leningrad Cowboys didn't mean it as an insult. Actually, they are friends of russian people, and friends of finnish people. They are just humorous anarcho-punk, against all kinds of opression, against all kinds of economical elites. So, once there was a time when a finnish punk band could join forces with Red Russian Army Choir and sing for the sake of true brotherhood of common people of the globe. Peace!

[orchardman1963]

Rock'n Roll meets Rock'n Roll

[Warjacki]

Alabama meets the Volga boatmen. Gotta love it.

[MrLaurila]

Its so Cool, and the pure genious of this Finnish band :)

[chrissel74]

One of the most genial things in human culture. I love it!

[sp0ckr0cks]

That's weird...my mind is completely full of fuck after watching this.

[mini11113]

Mind = Blown

[galiant609]

It's a shame that they didnt make an official recording of this song. :(

[AGD55]

@galiant609 they did - it's on the Total Balalaika Live DVD ! The whole show, and it's just the most bizarre thing I've ever seen. :-)

[IndependantW]

This is the coolest, most incongrous, hilarious melding of American and Russian/Communist culture I've ever seen. I didn't realize that the Red Army had a sense of humor.

It's good that Lynyrd Skynyrd is still alive; they'd be spinning if their graves if they were dead.

[RomMechEng]

@IndependantW Is that sarcasm?

[IndependantW]

@RomMechEng

Oh, heck no! I was serious - this was one of the wierdest, most idiosyncratic rendition of an American rock classic I've ever seen. You don't know me, but if you did you'd know that I really dig ideosyncratic wierd stuff. And the reason that Leonard Skinner (the namesake of the band) would be rolling in his grave is that he was a super-conservative, flag waving disliker of rock music. So the joke's on him...

[Heribertodude]

love this video been watching it for years at liveleak gess you get it from there thanks

[Emerald1323]

Now I can listen and watch this video anytime i want 'cause I just added it to my favorites on my channel! :D

[Emerald1323]

My dad showed me this about 2 years ago now, and just about 2 hours ago I heard the original on the radio, and I was thinking to myself "Where have I heard this before?" but then it came to me and then I started looking for it and "YAY!" I found it! again! :D

The radio station that I heard this on was either "95.7K.J.R.F.M." or "Move It 92.5"

[freefall4444]

Russia is a nice place Spent a month in russia It was so cool

[intuscaloosa1]

strange.

[jesseramoneman]

Amazing! And here I thought ruskis hated us Americans. And I mean that in a good way. Every russian I've encountered was never a good one, they always spew their American hate on me and I want to ask them why the fuck they come here anyhow, if some of u russians get offended by my language I apologize I been drinking with Irishmen.

[BloodofPatriots]

@jesseramoneman I've never met a Russian that hated America. Even when I was in the navy and their sailors began to visit our bases in cultural exchanges. They drank and cussed like... well, sailors, but we trade our crappy white hats for their much better caps and closed every bar we could find.

[ArmASoldier2006]

Some Finnish and Russian guys singing about USA during the Cold War - omg wtf! :D

[Losos35]

its lovely in a very special way

[Moorhuhn26]

@1972LS You don't play their music???

If you mean on MTV yes you are right, but if you go to some more cultural institution, like opera, bale... you shell here (and see) a lot of Russia there ;)

And, btw, who said that you invented a Rock?

I think that UK has something to say about that ;)

[tremmortrevor]

@Moorhuhn26 UK = 60s

US has had rock since the mid 40's

[BloodofPatriots]

@tremmortrevor The US did invent Rock, because Rock came from the combination of Blues, Country, Jazz and Gospel. The first rock song was Ike Turner's "Rocket 88" in 1951. Even the phrase "Rock and Roll" is American. It was slang among black Americans meaning really good sex. As in, "What'd you and Betty do after you all left? Oh, we spent da' night rockin' and rollin'."

[SnowMozart]

interesante... is that person waving a flag with a heart on it at 3:04 ?

[ObmibSm]

Now if we could just teach the Iraqi army to do that!!

[slipknotshukla]

#LOL

[moonoversanjuan]

From Finland With love; Always great Leningrand Cowboys.

[slaynt]

I love this so much I will travel to Germany in August to see them.

[MonikaLoveYouM]

Great band,and i like that song a lot. Thanks for sharing. xox

[skippers96]

does this strike any body here as ironic?

[SNOOPY24700]

trop cool bon délire comme quoi  la musique est universelle peace and love a tous

[greetzgent]

@SNOOPY24700 ...Yes Snoopy your right......peace,love and understanding is all you need....Lots of fun Loeske x

[dlouhajs]

I love it !!!!!!

[1972LS]

No question which side won the Cold War.

[slaynt]

@1972LS

Humankind won the cold war. Thank goodness we can all get together and make music like this. Wonderful! Much much better than blowing each other to bits.

[1972LS]

@slaynt Bad take. THEY know who won (us) and who lost (them) and the fact that they are playing OUR music and not us theirs should tell you alot.

[blackwolfdown]

@1972LS Actually I know plenty of people who would love to sing some Russian songs. Problem is we can't pronounce a thing in Russian.

[1972LS]

@blackwolfdown LOL. I actually do speak (some) Russian, and I still can't pronounce a thing. But in all seriousness, the universality of AMERICAN music, and in particular, ROCK music can't be denied. Islamic, or Hindu, or African music has not dominated the world (even though African and Latin rhythms have helped build rock). It's an important point, and the communists "get" it.

[Wolham]

@slaynt Except people weren't really that much blown to bits during the cold war, hence the name "Cold war". But I agree. Corporations dominating the world, backstabbing in the dark and bribing, corrupting and infiltrating is by all means so much better, because that way we won't notice anything until it's too late and all of mankind has lost. Well, except the 1%.

[erkkaveli]

@Wolham ; cheer up, pal! In the 1980's most of us were sure that sooner or later the USA and USSR are going to annihilate the whole globe in a nuclear inferno. But luckily enough it didn't happen, and this particular finnish band got to play together with Red Army Choir. So, as long as there is love and joy, there is hope. Sooner or later we might all find this neolibertarian quartal capitalism over, and get the power back to the people. Never lose your hope, never lose your love!

[trecotroco]

@slaynt humankind won the cold war ? hauaha, dont joke man

[PureSirin]

Эээээй ухнеееееем!

[ktommycary]

Sometimes I am proud to be a human being. Only sometimes, but this is one of them. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[screwyou]

Hmm.

I think that might have been a sign that the cold war had ended.

[ExtremeGearLabs]

Still a Great song!

[DougMcHead]

probably one of the most recognizable songs anywhere that radio is available

[wcleeuwenburg]

What's with all the negative vibes with some of the comments below. These folks are bringing music to the people with a spice of humor. Cheers to all from an American!

[gangsterpathan]

soviet union loved the confederates !! lol

[MrBuckwilliam]

mmm, home sweet home :)

[DVDSchneider]

Thank goodness we won the cold car!

[ps3gamespl]

@DVDSchneider

Europe won the cold war not you....

You americans don't even know where your capitol on map is

[1972LS]

@ps3gamespl LOL. The Euros who marched wanting the missiles to come out so that they could surrender? THAT Europe? too funny.

[tremmortrevor]

@ps3gamespl No one fucking one the cold war. IT WASN'T AN ACTUAL FUCKING WAR!!!!

[DVDSchneider]

@ps3gamespl Jeez Troll.

If by "Europe" you mean "Soviet Union" and by "won" you mean "lost" I completely agree.

Granted, there is still some debate as to who truly won the cold war.

That's why my comment was largely sarcastic, and why your response seems so ridiculous.

[ksztyrix]

@DVDSchneider Soviet Union was a part of Europe.

[DVDSchneider]

@ksztyrix yeah, I know. I didn't say that it wasn't.

[PZIKS]

SERBIA AND RUSSIA FOREVER!!!!!CCCC

[railnspike]

the best this jam has ever been done.

[pianomansoon]

I love this song i have a arrangement of this on piano check it out

[sdenny]

absolutely brilliant version ,

[Totte290]

Whats wrong with their hair. Heh heh.

[ownowbrowncowable]

@akachristian Oh really? How is this brainwashing? Please elaborate. I'd love to know which form of brainwashing we have going on here. Do you know what the definition of brainwashing even is?

[akachristian]

I suggest YOU watch 'Wag The Dog' documentary...also try 'The Secret Of Oz'...and other video explaining HOW brainwashing works...I KNOW what it is!!!

DO YOU??? Obviously NOT!!!

Study HOW 'CointelPro' works...'Controlled Opposition'...SUBLIMINAL messages...with audio and visual tactics...why don't you take your smart ass know it all attitude over to Project Camelot...and DO some damn research yourself...Stupid Amerikans they call us in RUSSIA and other RED Commie countries...WAKE UP!!!

[ownowbrowncowable]

@akachristian It's really ironic you know. You accuse us of being "conditioned" when clearly you are the one who has been brainwashed by all those BS counterculture videos. I bet you're a Zeitgeist fan too hahaha. Give me a break. I'm really curious to know what this video is brainwashing us to do though, any thoughts on that chieftain? You've continuously said this video is brainwashing us, but never elaborated on what its brainwashing us to do.

[akachristian]

No...NOT a fan of Zeitgeist at all...!

Again smart ass...NO ONE said it CAUSES you to do anything...why don't YOU study 'predictive PROGRAMMING'...how audio..how visuals...are USED as a means of 'dulling' the senses...so that DANGER that would normally be perceived...IS NO LONGER perceived in the manner that it should be...brainwashing has THE ability...to alter and change perception! Study psychology 'einstien'...and check OUT 'PREDICTIVE PROGRAMMING'!

When YOU'VE educated yourself on it...!!!

[ownowbrowncowable]

@akachristian Oh it alters perception. That would explain your ridiculously paranoid view of the world, you just have an altered perception caused by watching too many conspiracy-riddles videos. This video is more harmless than sesame street. (hint: this is where you say that sesame street is filled with brainwashing subliminal messages)

[darkking365]

@ownowbrowncowable I like how akachristian calls alot of people stupid when they can't spell America..

[1972LS]

@ownowbrowncowable You know when people twist themselves into pretzels like this guy that you're on the winning side of the argument.

[y3623951]

"Leningrad Cowboys" is Finnish band. Russian choir is only background and concert was in Helsinki in 1993. So if I'm follow you this is your propaganda against you.

[tremmortrevor]

@akachristian

lol internets. fail troll is fail

[nancyjoe5158]

Oh the shoes too!  Otherwise pretty good!

[nancyjoe5158]

The HAIR!

[vfitz]

Alabama! So the Russians ARE coming. That is the most fearsome rendition of Sweet Home I have heard. Their English is amazingly clear. Convincing music.

[redramat]

finns and russians doing an all american song - maybe the world is not lost just yet

[legitbusinessman]

FREE BIRD!!!!!

[bogans4truth]

Those kooky Russians. What are we gonna do with em?

[sliuhinas]

get ur ass kicked? :DDD

[howee100]

I feel dizzy.

[morph1450]

Uh, wow...Fins and Russians doing Lynyrd Skynyrd? I'm...honestly astonished....

[AutisticPsycho]

2:00 Red Army Choir member on drums!

[greetzgent]

@AutisticPsycho ......Yeah I really like the drums....its like.....you what i mean...Loeske

[zeppelze]

@AutisticPsycho Yep a good drummer

[Jacus1963]

Tak się bawią zdrajcy Europy... Pomijam fakt, że ZSRR zajął Finlandię (Cowboys...), jako jedną z pierwszych....

Rzygam na nich. A że Nokię wymyślili ? Olewam ICH.

[searats20]

Yaaa, go Leningrad Cowboys! :D

[supsailor1885]

I wonder if there are any Finns on Youtube who could give some info on these hairdos, I seem to remember about 20 years ago that this was a fad in Finland

[caspargomez00]

Sovject Choir singing about their home in the US.

[LordOfDaCyborgMOOSE]

Oh The Irony!!!!

[UKReferendum]

PNAC 'n' Jelly Commin' Home To You >>>.

[ScullyLookAlike]

I want to poke their hair. It looks....solid O.o This is so original and cute! :)

[waterfjord]

as usual the septics cant get the humour and feel the need to correct pronunciation.sad cunts oh and soldium look at your health care system your life is worth about 2 flies you sad twat.usa for life?????get a fucking life,

[NightmareContinues]

I can't believe people downgraded your comment. I agree completely that it is simply asinine to be so critical at such a trivial event that is dedicated for people's enjoyment.

[dsiglin]

His American accent is great except for the 'Alabama'. It's Elah-bam-eh not Elah-bom-ah. It's funny that he gets everything but that word. :)

[metalgeo]

Love how they add Volga Boatmen through the song.

[KCSteak]

They need to up the tempo.

[wanker64]

spaceeba, that was pretty good

[pinz2022]

To all my fellow Cold Warriors:

The Red Army chorus is singing "Sweet Home Alabama" and wearing extremely bad ducktails.

I think we won.

[sevkets]

do not think. be sure that you won

[james130357]

get a life ya bunch of pricks ! its a bit of fun lighten up! you lot want to get out more!

[CarlSwift3]

Great Russian Choir!

But..

Ridiculous stupid band with pathetic outfit.

Respect the song! Let the choir sing alone.

[smiti69]

esencja amerykanizmu w wydaniu wschodnio-europejskim :d

[Crox300]

Dobrze powiedziane ;D ameryka nasz duży brat zza oceanu. Pomyśleć że ci sami rosjanie którzy wielbią armię czerwoną i piosenki o niej pierdolą amerykę ;D

[kldyn]

stupid idea, this is rape against both russian and US music - different culture, different history, different "soul".

[Crox300]

US no have history, Russia have bad history.

[drummerboyTB2]

This is the best version of this song i have ever heard... LOL It's awesome!!!

[SternMann93]

This is extremely good! Leningrad cowboys is a finnish band.

[kasimargarita]

sweet home alabama nıce song

[fanfonderen2]

if red army is that and makes that great music,

I fuck garbacov,prestroika and yeltsin.

[dearelbulli]

- Siete troppo simpatici.

[Evalizzie1]

Banaan224 posted: "copy & paste?" .. and you are right. You see I mentioned the source. Reason why I did copy facts is that so many people don´t do it themselves.. they only keep saying all the time that this band is russian and it is not. The choir is russian but the band is Finnish.

[Evalizzie1]

The band was an invention of the Finnish film director Aki Kaurismäki, appearing as a fictional band in his 1989 film Leningrad Cowboys Go America. The fictional band, however, was made up of Sakke Järvenpää and Mato Valtonen, members of a real Finnish band the Sleepy Sleepers with some additional musicians. In the film, they are joined by Nicky Tesco, former lead member of the UK punk rock band, The Members. (Wikipedia)

[Evalizzie1]

In 1994, the band appeared together with 70 members of the Alexandrov ensemble at the 11th annual MTV Music Awards, at the Radio City Music Hall in New York, where they sang the Lynyrd Skynyrd classic Sweet Home Alabama. The show was seen by an estimated 250 million people worldwide. That same year, the band and ensemble again joined forces for the "Nokia Balalaika Show", a concert held in Berlin. In 1998 they featured in the film L.A. Without a Map. (according to Wikipedia)

[21bice]

siete troppo forti,viva la russia

[Banaan224]

2.25 :D

[Banaan224]

2:25 :D

[squigoth6]

wtf.......

[scotishjohn]

this was the bizz

[shnozwma]

whats with the hair?

[nugi13]

It's to match the shoes...

[cssafterfruits]

Finnish singers can Alabama too :)

[UKReferendum]

This ones for PNAC - Molech - and - the Banksters...!!!... There's a Jonnie Reb... under every bed... now world wide...!!!... The deep south got it right the first time... Liberty and Justice for all... Until tyranny is no more...!!!... humanity... will rise against you...!!!... away with your cable splicer... Tyrannical Rex 84... Ride A White Swan... it ain't over ..'til the fat lady sings...!!!... Your soap opera is a loser... we'll see you in hell...!!!

[PC4TW]

Merci pour le partage ; )

[Bennyliz]

REally cool, I think they should just loose the outfits tho, they look totally stupid, especially the shoes.

[Izaroth]

i'm pretty sure that's the point ;) the cowboys we're actually a fictional band at first.

[exdome]

Pretty damn cool

[drjekyll66]

Sadron is right: this is far away from funny. But very closed to a genious arrengement. This is much more perestrioka´n roll than L. Skynyrd´s recording. ( but I love them too !!!)

[SadronAphaderuiondur]

This wasn't only funny: it was actually very good! I prefer this version rather than Lynyrd Skynyrd's.

[oblivion292]

sweet home al-obama- lolz appropriate way for the russians to sing it

[gertcz1]

the chorus is russian, the main band is Finnish

[immantiat]

awkard and awesome...mmh need degvins with whiskey to digest this...

[pijnscheut]

Did anyone get payed for this?

[sethadamlee]

this. is. awful.

[Condors55]

Ignorant dumbass...gotta be an American.

[GrofCmarnik]

awesome!

[ahernandez50]

Dude what an unlikely combination of a soviet style band with a southern style rock and roll song. Talk about fussion music.

[bertielis]

I always knew Communism had a sense of humour. No offence intended.