Stalin Wasn't Stallin' (Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet)

[Yakovlievich]

I can never understand why anyone on the right (mainstream or extreme) can possibly be offended with the abuses of power under the Soviet Union. Power concentrated into the hands of few; wealth unevenly distributed; no democracy; no free society - a perfect instantiation of right-wing ideals and practices. It's only leftists, liberals and anarchists that can criticize according to their beliefs.

[Khayyam1048]

Thank you for that gem of advice, scientisticsoviet. Back to school for me, then, to find out why a handful of Marxist academics think that I should forgive Stalin for being a tyrant who murdered tens of millions of people.

Incidentally, I'm pretty sure I've mentioned this before, but - pace the learned political analysts and historians of the Golden Gate Quartet - I'm pretty sure that Stalin DID stall when agreeing to the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact.

[Scientisticsoviet]

@Khayyam1048 I can send you some good academic non-marxist sources on the Stalin ear related research. I'll send a private message.

[Scientisticsoviet]

@Scientisticsoviet *era

[GRANDMASTERKANE]

stalin was ultra conservative, not a dam left thing about him, dumass coons yall just dont understand, he was a tsar, a right-wing auto-crat with a strong mustache, that is all folks, now go fuck up

[viago2]

@GRANDMASTERKANE thank you for your inane racist utterances grandmasterc**t. why dont you go die some place where the sun dont shine bubba. im guessing you are probably the village intellectual from some inbred southern state. do you, by chance, play the banjo?

[BrokenneckYgor]

Vanessa Redgrave met Stalin at a special receptiion at the Kremiln. "Your excellancy, you are the greatest living statesman in the world," said Vanessa.

"Bend over and I'll pee on your back, " chuckled the dictator. from "I Was Stalin's Bodyguard" published in London, 1988, by Ygor the Dwarf (pen name of Ivan Serov)

[lokisgodhi]

@BrokenneckYgor

Bullshit. Redgrave was sixteen when Stalin died in 1953. She was also a member of the anti-Stalinist Worker's Revolutionary Party, on whose ticket she ran for parliament twice.

[aaronsdavis]

I believe both systems were "National Socialism", if there has ever been such a thing in practice. To call Stalins USSR communist is ridiculous. The same flag waving, God-leader worshipping, slave economy, police state etc etc. International Socialism lasted all of about 5mins after bolshy power began. Glad theyr'e both gone.

[TheRealFunkyCurls]

So they are definitely rapping. This is so dope! 

[some1randm]

RAINBOW STALIN

[Boldorion1958]

This is one of the many a cappella songs that came out in 1943, when the instrumentalists were on strike against the recording companies.

[TheNomadicMonad]

Respect to the USSR (under the leadership of Stalin and his clique) for crushing fascism.

[Khayyam1048]

@TheNomadicMonad How much do you know about Stalin. Have you read Alan Bullock's book?

[TheNomadicMonad]

@Khayyam1048

Drawing parallels between Stalin & Hitler is disingenuous to say the least. Yes they both held a lot of power and both their countries lacked substantive democracy, but that's were the parallels end, unless you lean towards right-wing revisionist history. And yes, they did in a sense get more power from each other, but how does that matter? The USSR was defending itself while Nazi Germany was planning on instating slavery and depopulating Soviet cities.

[Khayyam1048]

@TheNomadicMonad Yes, how "disingenous" of all those right-wing revisionists to spread dirty truths about the show trials, gulags, enforced collectivisation of farms by this most benign of mass-murderers.

Joking apart, your post is a perfect demonstration of the moral insanity of the far left.

[Jisawbam]

Jeez, for the last 10 years I thought this was by Robert Wyatt. This is 10X as classy and makes me wish I could sing it in a deep barotone.

[gigishab]

stalin was georgian so its wrong when he says: that nobal russian :)

[aaronsdavis]

ha ha ha!!! LOL LOL LOL! they left out the bit about the non-aggression pact, the alliance of Germany and the USSR... so apparently Stalin WAS stallin' after all...

[pulsatingremedy]

@aaronsdavis

But before the non-aggression pact, Stalin was already fighting Hitler in Spain. Search for the International Brigades and the Condor Legion.

[Khayyam1048]

@pulsatingremedy It amazes me that so many on the left still make excuses for this monstrous mass-murderer and tyrant. Read George Orwell's "Homage To Catalonia" before spouting nonsense about the Spanish Civil War.

[pulsatingremedy]

@Khayyam1048

I know very well that Stalin crushed the real revolution in Spain, I was merely stating facts, I do not support Stalin.

And yes, Homage to Catalonia is a good book. :)

[Mrdie]

@Khayyam1048 You could always read books by actual scholars about the Spanish Civil War. Paul Preston's book is a good start, and on PCE influence in Republican Spain there is Helen Graham's "The Spanish Republic At War." Orwell's book is alright (if obviously not fond of the Communists), but it is NOT one which explains the SCW to any significant extent. Stalin was definitely a Communist. Look up his interview with H.G. Wells where he debates Marxism with him.

[Khayyam1048]

@Mrdie I could do, but I'd rather read a work of literature by a great writer than academic hackwork by tenured nobodies. Thanks for pointing out to me that Stalin was a Communist - I'd never have guessed!

[Mrdie]

@Khayyam1048 Orwell himself said that, "The revolutionary atmosphere of Barcelona attracted me deeply, but I made no attempt to understand it." Being a great writer is all fine and dandy, but Orwell's book does not suffice as the final word on the SCW, nor as a good introduction to it.

My "Stalin was a communist" comment was directed at others, and space restraints prevented me from noting as such.

[Scientisticsoviet]

@Khayyam1048 The problem is that literature is likely to be much more far removed from reality than academic work. Now even though academic research might be quite dry, once understood, it's insights are more profound and important I think.

[Khayyam1048]

@aaronsdavis Too bloody right! (But you'll never convince the tyrant-worshipping leftist diehards.)

[bighardron]

Now Palin wasn't stallin when she told the beast of chicago that she'll never rest contented till She has driven him from the white house so she called on the tea party and is running for president, Now Obamas having nightmares cause Obama knows darn well that the devils done wrote welcome on his resident in hell.

[gojira1968]

@bighardron

Sarah Palin is Hitler.

[Khayyam1048]

@gojira1968 No, she's just a very silly and ignorant woman. Get it in proportion.

[hansjalv]

Good times! .... well, better than THESE times, anyway....

[bjmensz]

@hansjalv yeah the good times were when the world was being annihilated by the greatest, bloodiest war in history, fascism was marauding throughout Europe, people were being literally exterminated in Germany's territory, Russia had its bloodiest ruler since the tsars, japan was being firebombed and nuked into oblivion, America was still a segregated country, Africa was still under colonial occupation and South America was basically one long series of coups and civil wars.

Nice tunes, though.

[CinnAlla]

@bjmensz I like the analysis!

[MrBiblethmpr]

I can't waight until we are singin how Obama ain't siten in power no mo messin everythin up with all that socialized nonsence... can I get a witness

[gilbertwham]

@MrBiblethmpr  No.

[MrBiblethmpr]

@gilbertwham Then you are probably a welfare recipiant looking for more government handouts. I know turn off the tv quit smoking pot and get a job. Can I get a witness?

[CinnAlla]

@MrBiblethmpr Interesting. In the rest of the world Obama fails just about every objective definition of "socialist". Just saying.

[suddenseer]

I had this on 78RPM disc when I was a kid. My brother smashed it and other valuable old records. I have not heard this in over 40 years! Thank you for sharing this wonder piece of American history. Our culture is indeed very rich!

[Izzierocks]

I've had this in my head for three days running. So catchy XD

[dropper3]

Thats what Raping is nice Caleb N. Ginyard 111.

[kyleevans5]

"that noble Russian"... PREACH IT BRUTHA!

[eisidisirock]

Cant get this damn song out of my head!

[dilzappa]

Like many others I first heard the Robert Wyatt version from the 1980's...nice to hear the original.Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition.

[trudbol]

Wonderful! Thanks for posting this song, I had never heard it before. Do you have any videos where they sing, like "Mockingbird"? Cheers

[eamcas67]

Still it is a great medium with which to teach history however skewed.

[trudbol]

Quite right

[odietarceo]

I don't think the song is so much about Stalin as it is about how "unchristian" nazi ideology was, and how it had to be defeated, and this song being recorded in '43, how immediate this message was. It just so happens that Stalin and the Red army were the principle combatants in that campaign in which if Hitler succeeded, well... And of course to us it is more about good vs. evil and such. It should be played in every classroom instead of those shitty "over there" and "Tipperary"

[XenagogueVicene]

The writer is looking down on the audience, not believing that they would understand the Red Army battle against fascist Germany in cold hard historical terms. This is not a song for ten-year-olds, but the lyracist treats the listener as if they must have a massive planet wide war explained to them in biblical fairytale terms suitable for a child's understanding. That's why people who followed Stalin's leadership and his methods are now held in such low regard.This song is now a curiosity.

[mogenim]

Shut up and dance!

[XenagogueVicene]

Musically it is performed quite well and is a catchy tune. But

Isn't it strange that a song about Stalin, the leader of an officially atheist movement that sees religion as an enemy of human freedom, is celebrated in a song that is presented as a biblical fable. Stalin had churches dynamited in Moscow. The Nazi lead German Army called upon God and Christ to bring them victory against the godless communists of the Red Army. This song panders to and reinforces a backward religious worldview.

[professor2824]

Very popular notion in the 1940's