Russian Red Army Choir & Leningrad Cowboys - "Battle Hymn Of The Republic" - 10/11

[ChetzNation]

It is a soviet choir, paid for by the Russian state, performing a Union song from the american civil war, with a Finnish band, in the Swedish district in Helsinki.

[Zona57Bob]

jlafayet: I am 100% American, totally with you, and you are 110% correct! The best I've ever heard. This is not the first time the Red Army Chorus has wowed Americans - or our Canadian neighbors. Listen to their renditions of 'America the Beautiful' and the 'US National Anthem', also on Youtube. I agree about the marching clowns, but this Russian ensemble is extremely professional and worthy of great praise. Their spirit and enthusiasm could rouse the consciousness of any nation. You go, Russia!

[jurmupaa]

Sarate voisi kerätä porukan jenkeistä ja yrittää lähenellä tätä.

[Linkjoy123]

Is it me or did they do the chant to the Skyrim theme? It sounds exactly like them.

[jlafayet]

I'm an American and I find that performance to be hands down the most stunning version of the song I've ever heard in my life and probably ever will hear. Just awesome, what a musical force. I didn't like the clowns goose-stepping up front at all though and I found it insulting to the brilliance of the choir. They should have stayed out of the way; you just don't clown around and look foolish like that when such brilliance is unfolding behind you. My god, that soaring last chorus, wow!

[goodlawn47]

Fabulous!

[AmanD5001]

@terrisonb ...shut up and enjoy the song please.

[7howie71]

Go0od music with soul is the property of all.

To me this song sums up every fight for freedom and justice.

[yaknbo]

@terrisonb I am an American and I know the name and the first verse. No American knows the entire song.

[ChicagoLogoDesign]

May Russia always be free.

[dragenrider]

Well performed by a group of excellent professionals.

[XxSgTgERMAnxX]

slave slave aleluja! slovenian! da?

[Kilamanjaro96]

this is just amazing :) love it

[SS1v3k1]

2 people were owned by US and Red Army left, right, front, back, top, bottom and center

[eag3154]

Awesome version of a memorable song!! Great performance, RRA choir!!! Thank you so much!!

[severuslupus1]

God the irony just gave me cancer.

[SS1v3k1]

Next time the ought to sing the paratrooper version

[blitteaur99]

Awesome performance of "Battle Hymn Of The Republic". The Russians did an Excellent Job. Best rendition for this song I've ever heard. Bravo.

[folklore19]

Not the first group of people you'd expect to sing this song. They did very well though. Great performance.

Whoever was hosting this though got the name wrong. The song is not "Glory Hallelujah", thats just the chorus line. The name is "Battle Hymn of the Republic".

[ZeregAbir]

This is the USSR aggressive proud evil regime that his Leader Nikita Khrushchev front of the UN grate assembly, threaten the world banging his shoe (in his hand) on the desk, and now they sucking the American d--k by the order of some Finland clowns (“Leningrad Cowboys”) front of the all world. Is this can go better than that? On what ground Putin (or “Putana”) play the Macho on his people and against the world?

[triffffon]

@ZeregAbir You are so narrow minded, dude... so desperately narrow minded ...But that`s what one can expect from an obvious Republican redneck & an inveterate Bush voter. How`s life in the farm, is the price of the cotton good this year? :)))))

[Nautilus724]

@triffffon Kind of ironic that you attack someone for being narrow minded with comments like those.

[ZeregAbir]

@triffffon I'm actually a Canadian and exe Russian Jew, I know my contry very well. and No matter what you say, Putin is a "Putana" and still the continuation of the USSR the Evil side of Russia

[ZeregAbir]

in heavy Russian accent, and a tone like it was a mother Russia heroic song, (pathetic). When the band doing all kind of mucking movement and jesters.

The pick is when this funny “Leningrad Cowboys” maid the Russian Red Army Choir to sing this American glory song – “"BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC" or know also as -"Glory Hallelujah". In my view it can’t go law than that.

[ZeregAbir]

Thanks to GOD and president Regan, This was a when the evil empire collapse, time when Russia went bankruptcy and could not even feed they soldiers, they was wiling to do anything for money, and hear coming the hilarious Finland rock band the “Leningrad Cowboys” and for pennies getting the all entire Russian Red Army Choir to sing for them western song, in heavy Russian accent,

[mareckbamf]

While I think the "Cowboys" mock the song a bit, there is no doubt the RRA Choir sing this song the way it should be.

[1971vektorSP1]

Gerat Choir!

[alexanderwotl]

Nazis/Commies singing 'Glory Hallelujah'

[dagorlad3]

@alexanderwotl the Nazi and Communist pasties are on the opposite side of the politcal spectrum, granted they are both extreme and frankly dispicable, nazi/commie is an oxymoron.

[isagagenius]

they shud fight wars with music! lol gory gory what a helluva way to die!

[surreydockskodyerrus]

Solidarity forever Comrades!

[angelsoulblade]

@member737 Battle hymn of the republic is the official name of the song, but it is also known as glory hallelujah. The sheet music cover says it was adapted to the melody of glory hallelujah. It says on the wikipedia entry on the song under 'battle hymn...'. In any case, whether you want to see it as American or spiritual, for it to be sung by the Red Army Choir... oh, the beautiful irony :). (I meant that in the peaceful sense).

[100flyingfish]

all these Soviet soldiers singing Dixie, hehe who would have guessed

[jediszmiagol]

RUSZKIK HAZA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[szuperpeti]

@jediszmiagol Otthon vannak. Ezzel elkéstél vagy 20 évet :)

[member737]

@lmj22 true enough, the song however is the battle hymn of the republic, not glory hallelujah, terrisonb is just a bit nutty for thinking everyone is american.

[HangedMan30]

And so his truth marches on.

[cossack207]

@lmj22 Im Russian- American and if my grandfather was alive he would be shocked to hear the Red Army sing this-!

[Mueller077]

That´s international understanding. Great !

[pierrewaldn]

the best of the best version

[pierrewaldn]

génial !!!!!!!!

[ftjax]

Now i've seen every thing Russians copying The Mormon Tabernacle Chior...

Sound great !

[lovinSpoonful]

Beautiful harmonies - gave me goosebumps in some parts.

[leanrunnerboy]

..WOW..makes your hair stand on end. First heard the 2 CD set of this concert back in '96..blew me away. Already know 2 people who saw it live..said it was an incredible musical & visual experience. Would make an awesome world tour....!

[F4Wildcat]

The battle hymn of the republic sounds better with powerfull russian voices!

A great American song meets russia"s great voices

[wscottcrane]

Actually this IS The Battle Hymn of the Republic - made famous by the Union side in the American War.

As an interesting aside, musically, and a comment about President Lincoln:

The night the Confederacy fell to the Union, Mr. Lincoln had the Marine Band give concert at the White House. The piece he specifically requested first was "Dixie". How do you spell character?

[christof139]

The Red Army Choir did a magnificent rendition of the old song. Spasiba!

I wonder if they did a rendition of the 'battle Hymn of the Republic', also known as 'Rally Round the Flag'?

[88wildcat]

The most bizarre thing about this is that the next song they played after this was Just a Gigolo. Talk about a scene change.

[baruch60610]

So how do you explain the starving children, or the ichneumon wasp?

[baruch60610]

Wow... A choir from a defunct army, plus the Leningrad Cowboys from Scandinavia, singing an American Civil War song...

[Lindeberg73]

Well, i dont know how much you know about geograpy. But Finland is NOT in Scandinavia.

[baruch60610]

OK, whatever. It's not a matter of great concern to me. I doubt anyone failed to understand my comment, but if they did, I apologize for my inaccuracy.

[Herpkid56]

its Battle Hym of the Republic...the russians got it wrong........they need to sing it in english next time

[jobreton]

Hey this is a christmas song

[Lindeberg73]

The name of the song is "Battle Hymn of the Republic" from the US Civil War, NOT Glory Hallelujah!

[morgaler]

The original song written was titled "Gory Hallelujah!" Unlike in the modern era where a song once written remains relatively static, songs of the 19th century would frequently be sung by a wide cross-section of the population, each time evolving a little bit. Several years after the original version was penned, another artist added the now famous lyrics that we know today.

[cjbatesii]

You are partially right...The music was in place, but to the tune "John Brown's Body". Julia Ward Howe did not want to see the Union going to war with such profanity on their lips so she wrote something more Godly for this tune, this being the result. This essentially was a total about face, not an "evolution" in this case. However, you are right in many other cases, so good point.

[morgaler]

And as for the red army orchestra performing an american civil war song, a popular song commonly performed in the US to celebrate the 4th of July is the 1812 Overture. A song which was written by a Russian commemorating the defense of Moscow against the French, so I'd say its not at all unusual for them to borrow an ACW song.

[pfcsusczynski]

its to celebrate the civil war

[pfcsusczynski]

also its called the hymn of the republic not glory hallelujah

[s0411713]

Don't correct it...this song is the original from the russia communist... just the melody be copy while the us civil war

[neptunisregis11]

The tune was originally "John Browns Body" (Lies a mouldrin' in the grave)

"Ossawatamie Brown" took a sword, and chopped-up a couple of men in front of their families. Then He lead a raid against Harpers Ferry, Va. and the first man that was killed by his group, was a

freedman, I guess that He only wanted to free the slaves, but saw black freedmen in the south as part of the system. Kinda like the Muslims terrorists saw Muslims who workd in the World Trade Center.

[Azerty76LH]

libbymycat is right lmj22...

[mareckbamf]

These guys put heart into a song, unlike most choirs.

[rdsieben]

The RRAC in my opinion are the "Beatles" of classical and traditional music...

[pahis31]

of course USA owns the songs, its their song! Version is very good and soviet choir does excellent job. Just listen and enjoy as were told earlier. This is AMERICAN SONG. Best wishes from Finland.

[rdsieben]

What do you mean American? This is a public domain song and they do an excellent job.

[BellmontXP]

Somehow I just can't see the offical band of the US army singing Kalinka or the Cossack Red ARmy Choirs.

[american277]

well, a am glad that we can finally get over the cold war and sing each others songs.

[PrairieBoy99]

Great version! Odd that It takes a military band of boisterous Slavic singers to do true justice to this American classic!

[angelsoulblade]

@PrairieBoy99 Hahaha. Well said!

[Fritztoons]

@PrairieBoy99

Relax mate. The Russians are the best singers in this beautfull world!

So in some way the honor this song.

[MrRezz0]

@Fritztoons Russians are most invader and occupier bastards in the world.

[Fritztoons]

@MrRezz0

I allways thought that my Grandpas earned the darkt titel of beeing invader and occupier bastards and others in the world say that other nations in the colonial times where as well........world seems to be very complicated.

Sorry i´m not the one then to explain it ;-))

[Archraveful]

@MrRezz0 you moron fascist bastard

[BillyQuincy]

@PrairieBoy99 Oh the irony...

[Froschman80]

That is the way, I want to see the armies of the world! Singing songs and move hearts!

Great event and obviously a great choir.

Oh... and great cowboys :)

[angelsoulblade]

@Froschman80 Oh if only...

[andyjamess]

It is quite touching that Finland and Russia were at war at one point and I think this is a fitting song for the two countries that have resolved any factions that the used to have between them

[M2MotoMedia]

The real story about Glory Hallelujah. A clergyman connected to Lincoln asked a poet Julia Ward Howe to write a song for the war effort to replace "John Brown's Body." The result was the poem, "Battle Hymn of the Republic published February 1862. It was set to the tune that had been used for "John Brown's Body" — the original song written by a Southerner was a gospel and thats the history. A sarcastic tune rewritten by a poet to be a Civil War rally song.

Seem ripe for satire to me.

[hlmclyde]

I think it is a great thing. Maybe we can grow up, be friends, and all get along. If not there is always nuclear winter so I think the "Godless Communists" singing an American religious song is wonderful.

Sweat home Alabama also makes me feel there is a chance for our grandchildren to have a world.

[mtuman1843]

Ah uriahsheep, we do own it...that's why its our battle hymn. What republic did you think they were referring to?

[uriahsheep]

my point isn't the origin of the song. I'm saying that it doesn't make it wrong for them to play/sing it though it is an american military song. Estonia really copied their national anthem from Finland....that's something to think about.

[kingconst07]

Or maybe its satire?

[kingconst07]

Russians singing the the Battle Hymn of the Republic!?  This surprises me, especially since it is an American military song! Very good!

[stene93]

Haha, talking about political correctness here are we? ;D

[chandler3214]

ur right

[1942tj]

Love the Song! Love the Choir!

HAHAHA! For something that represents Marxism, what a COMBO!

WEll it trully is wonderful,

What history has showed us that when two things oppose non-win but the Victor is the one that is able to have the synthesis, meaning those who can grab good from both sides. :) MOST WONDERFUL!

[chandler3214]

that is un american song leave that song to us americans besides you guys don`t sound right!

[1942tj]

I think its a very good version of the Battle Hymn of the Old Republic.

The Power of the Choir isjust so amazing!!!!

HAHAHAHAHA!

[uriahsheep]

Americans....you just think you own everything, don't you?

[ScottXC91]

No, it's a fact. We do own this song. There's no denying that.

[uriahsheep]

this IS a great version of the song and believe me, I'm NOT a commie for saying that. USA has brought some very nice music to this world but it doesn't make it right for you chandler3214, to critizise others. It maybe sounds different because it's an arrangement by someone with a talent, but it surely it doesn't sound wrong!

[smoku46]

bs it sounds great !

[lightbier]

Russians thank very good version of this song ...

[lamnaa]

I hate the message of the song. I loathe it war and religion, sickening.

Yet the music is so beautiful. It gives me chills.

[AmericanPatriot92]

It's about the bravery of those who have fought and died for those oppressed and against tyranny.

Is that really a bad message?

[lamnaa]

That's what the song is about, but not the words.

It's like the French anthem, the words are nasty but as a song it's something else.

[ugfubug]

if you cant respect those who fought and died for yourfreedom, you dont deserve any of it, regardless of whether or not you agree with the religion its talking about

[lamnaa]

What made you think I don't respect them? Pretty much everyone who fought for my freedom was religious of one kind of another.

[Otilia1943]

¡¡Viva Rusia!! ¡¡¡Bravo!!!

[dstevenslsw]

Such awesome talent!!!!!

Thanks for sharing.

I'd love to see these folks in person--the energy there must be AMAZING!!!

[jonnis51]

999pain999, could you please translate? I'd appreciate what you have to say.

Many choirs sing religious songs - it doesn't make them religious. Doesn't matter to me, it's a presonal choice. I do love this redition, though!

[WilliamH1942]

999pain999 is saying "Could you just be happy

That sounds good"

[magorster]

These guys make me so happy. I love the way they all stand still and then right on cue start marching around like 5 year olds. hey the religion thing. i clicked on a thumbs up by mistake \but might we let it be, this arguing over which is what is what they want you to do. They all have value on some level and they all are used to beat people up on other levels. is! is not! is! is not! believe in nothing. accept possibilities. dance.

[999pain666]

Можешь ты быть просто счастливым

Это звучит хорошо

[Genzek]

The best version of this song!!