Review of Belarusian Culture: Music (November-January '23)
REVIEW OF BELARUSIAN CULTURE: MUSIC (NOVEMBER-JANUARY '23)
REVIEW OF BELARUSIAN CULTURE: MUSIC (NOVEMBER-JANUARY '23)
REVIEW OF BELARUSIAN CULTURE: MUSIC (NOVEMBER-JANUARY '23)
REVIEW OF BELARUSIAN CULTURE: MUSIC (NOVEMBER-JANUARY '23)
REVIEW OF BELARUSIAN CULTURE: MUSIC (NOVEMBER-JANUARY '23)
REVIEW OF BELARUSIAN CULTURE: MUSIC (NOVEMBER-JANUARY '23)
REVIEW OF BELARUSIAN CULTURE: MUSIC (NOVEMBER-JANUARY '23)
REVIEW OF BELARUSIAN CULTURE: MUSIC (NOVEMBER-JANUARY '23)
REVIEW OF BELARUSIAN CULTURE: MUSIC (NOVEMBER-JANUARY '23)
REVIEW OF BELARUSIAN CULTURE: MUSIC (NOVEMBER-JANUARY '23)
Pop & Rock. Freak Memes Versus the Cry of a Traumatized Person
Main Trends of the Season
Pop & Rock. Freak Memes Versus the Cry of a Traumatized Person
Main Trends of the Season
- Repression is intensifying. Now a music band can become an extremist formation, and you can get a criminal record for performing a song.
- The official stage works at the maximum of its abilities. And this is a tour of the band Drazdy and a freak meme about a Belarusian wife
- Independent music: creators have started to make quality music and this gives reason for cautious optimism
- Concert venues are closing in droves: there are no options even in pro-government ones, and others simply do not agree on the programme
Terrorists with Guitars: Permission as an Engine of Progress
Terrorists with Guitars: Permission as an Engine of Progress
For the first time in world history, a musical band is recognized as an extremist formation. It happened in 2023 in Belarus, and that's almost all you need to know about the state's attitude to free creativity. The musicians of the Tor Band from Rahačoŭ were arrested and received "days of arrest" several times in a row. Later, a "criminal investigation" appeared, and the Belarusian authorities recognized the music band as an extremist formation. By what criteria it was determined, we do not yet know, but we can contemplate about the meaning of criminalization and marginalization of rock music.
Extremism is how the government perceives independent music in relation to itself. It perceives only obedient and fully controlled art, and everything else is considered unnecessary, harmful and even dangerous. And the authorities broadcast it publicly through the recognition of the provincial band as radical. There is overconfidence in their own fear of dissent, a policy of total cancellation and a regime of maximum purge of public space. Officials are trying to repaint reality in the right colours and create their own vocabulary and methods of communication with creators. Musicians are criminals with guitars in their hands. In this context, musical instruments qualify as weapons with which harmful products are produced.
At the same time, every concert is a territory of unpredictability in the state, where everything must develop according to approved "manuals". In such circumstances, recognizing the band as an "extremist formation" further legitimizes the state's fight against dissent and gives it the opportunity to hand out sentences for wrongly performed songs.
Another precedent worthy of our attention: the Belarusian singer Mieryjem Hierasimienka, who was detained on Zybickaja street in Minsk for performing a song by the Ukrainian band Okean Elzy, received three years of house arrest. This is a clear signal to musicians who remain in Belarus and continue to work there: songs must be played only after approval by the relevant authorities. The total purge continues: one after another, musicians and other cultural figures are detained in the country, and as a result, they face criminal charges. The state broadcasts the message "the creator is a criminal". But for whom?
Extremism is how the government perceives independent music in relation to itself. It perceives only obedient and fully controlled art, and everything else is considered unnecessary, harmful and even dangerous. And the authorities broadcast it publicly through the recognition of the provincial band as radical. There is overconfidence in their own fear of dissent, a policy of total cancellation and a regime of maximum purge of public space. Officials are trying to repaint reality in the right colours and create their own vocabulary and methods of communication with creators. Musicians are criminals with guitars in their hands. In this context, musical instruments qualify as weapons with which harmful products are produced.
At the same time, every concert is a territory of unpredictability in the state, where everything must develop according to approved "manuals". In such circumstances, recognizing the band as an "extremist formation" further legitimizes the state's fight against dissent and gives it the opportunity to hand out sentences for wrongly performed songs.
Another precedent worthy of our attention: the Belarusian singer Mieryjem Hierasimienka, who was detained on Zybickaja street in Minsk for performing a song by the Ukrainian band Okean Elzy, received three years of house arrest. This is a clear signal to musicians who remain in Belarus and continue to work there: songs must be played only after approval by the relevant authorities. The total purge continues: one after another, musicians and other cultural figures are detained in the country, and as a result, they face criminal charges. The state broadcasts the message "the creator is a criminal". But for whom?
Substitution of Meanings: from Nowhere, about Nothing, Nowhere
Substitution of Meanings: from Nowhere, about Nothing, Nowhere
On the other hand, what can the Belarusian official ideology offer in return?
The band Drazdy has been touring for two months through the cities and villages of the country with the hit song "Parents' House" and MP Tenhiz Dumbadze in the bundle. The pop band of the balalaika player Vital Karpanaŭ is experiencing its golden times and collecting hundreds of thousands of views – and we can say that it is the only legitimate Belarusian band that can afford to go beyond the borders of state television and really gather an audience at concerts. Karpanaŭ finally found his way after a series of experiments with public image in the form of nudes with geese and a weak imitation of the band Leningrad. In the current circumstances, the band Drazdy can be considered the best example of official culture, because in the rest, the state ideology is able to give birth to memes, not meanings.
A recent example is the track "Belarusian Wife", sung on state television: a mix of cheap amateur performance, gender chauvinism and rotten ideas about family values, allegedly from the Paleolithic era.
If you can't do it yourself, invite someone who can. It reaches the point of absurdity: the victory in the Belarusian television contest "Hello, we are looking for talents" is won by ... Ivan Diatlov from the Ivanovo region in Russia. This is what supporting local talents looks like in the Belarusian style.
The shortage of official Belarusian performers will be compensated by Russian and Russian-Ukrainian ones. So, for three days in a row in December, the Palace of Sports was sold out for an imitation art of "unwanted" after statements about Russian aggression Svetlana Loboda under the creative pseudonym Anna Asti. As we can see, the concert life continues, but it takes place again only at proven venues that fully comply with the state ideology.
But even connections with the state do not guarantee the owner a peaceful life. For example, the concert venue Prime Hall, owned by the pro-government tobacco magnate Tapuzidzis, was closed after complaints from "well-wishers" about the events harmful to the Belarusian government. Ouroboros in action – the pool of "untouchables" is dwindling by the day, and a warped view of how culture functions paints Orwellian plots and practices before us. These are interesting times for anthropological researchers, but all that is ruthless for creators.
The band Drazdy has been touring for two months through the cities and villages of the country with the hit song "Parents' House" and MP Tenhiz Dumbadze in the bundle. The pop band of the balalaika player Vital Karpanaŭ is experiencing its golden times and collecting hundreds of thousands of views – and we can say that it is the only legitimate Belarusian band that can afford to go beyond the borders of state television and really gather an audience at concerts. Karpanaŭ finally found his way after a series of experiments with public image in the form of nudes with geese and a weak imitation of the band Leningrad. In the current circumstances, the band Drazdy can be considered the best example of official culture, because in the rest, the state ideology is able to give birth to memes, not meanings.
A recent example is the track "Belarusian Wife", sung on state television: a mix of cheap amateur performance, gender chauvinism and rotten ideas about family values, allegedly from the Paleolithic era.
If you can't do it yourself, invite someone who can. It reaches the point of absurdity: the victory in the Belarusian television contest "Hello, we are looking for talents" is won by ... Ivan Diatlov from the Ivanovo region in Russia. This is what supporting local talents looks like in the Belarusian style.
The shortage of official Belarusian performers will be compensated by Russian and Russian-Ukrainian ones. So, for three days in a row in December, the Palace of Sports was sold out for an imitation art of "unwanted" after statements about Russian aggression Svetlana Loboda under the creative pseudonym Anna Asti. As we can see, the concert life continues, but it takes place again only at proven venues that fully comply with the state ideology.
But even connections with the state do not guarantee the owner a peaceful life. For example, the concert venue Prime Hall, owned by the pro-government tobacco magnate Tapuzidzis, was closed after complaints from "well-wishers" about the events harmful to the Belarusian government. Ouroboros in action – the pool of "untouchables" is dwindling by the day, and a warped view of how culture functions paints Orwellian plots and practices before us. These are interesting times for anthropological researchers, but all that is ruthless for creators.
Visa Belculture: Mobile Heroes
Visa Belculture: Mobile Heroes
The concert schedule offered to Belarusians abroad is much more diverse. A mini-tour of the band Gods Tower took place in Lithuania, but the main musical country for Belarusians remains Poland - here you can organize a good festival without any logistical issues.
If earlier the celebration of Belarusian music took place in Poland once a year not far from the border, now the program looks consistently full. Well-known bands – Petlya Pristrastiya, RSP, Naviband, Volski, Daj darohu!, J:Mors — regularly announce concerts. Many musicians use the acoustic format, which is obviously more mobile and efficient from an economic point of view. Uładzimir Puhač or Juryj Stylski, Aleś Lutyč or Zmicier Vajciuškievič can be seen in a small bar with a guitar in their hands. There is a demand. But there is also an obvious problem for part of the target audience remaining in Belarus: if you want your injection of Belarusian music, first get a visa.
If earlier the celebration of Belarusian music took place in Poland once a year not far from the border, now the program looks consistently full. Well-known bands – Petlya Pristrastiya, RSP, Naviband, Volski, Daj darohu!, J:Mors — regularly announce concerts. Many musicians use the acoustic format, which is obviously more mobile and efficient from an economic point of view. Uładzimir Puhač or Juryj Stylski, Aleś Lutyč or Zmicier Vajciuškievič can be seen in a small bar with a guitar in their hands. There is a demand. But there is also an obvious problem for part of the target audience remaining in Belarus: if you want your injection of Belarusian music, first get a visa.
Results and Summaries: Singing on Bonfires
Results and Summaries: Singing on Bonfires
It was difficult to summarize the musical results of the year, because some of the high-quality releases did not get into the information space: search, systematization, evaluation – all these components are now the responsibility of the user who wants to delve into the Belarusian musical context.
Digging is back in trend, but now it's the only guide for a neophyte. Here are some albums from the end of last year that are worth highlighting in the "Best of the 2022" format.
ske.in "Rove" is an album as a symbol of an endless journey. Variegated and monochrome at the same time, beautiful and sad, near and far – a wonderful ambience with a national flavor.
"Prijom!" ("Over!") — Bieńka recorded a powerful reflection album together with Hala Čykis. Her lyrics have never been so strong and imaginative, and the musical component began to coexist better with the text since the bohemian band "Sierjebrjanaja svaďba"("Silver Wedding").
According to the results of the year, the group Soyuz should also be noted with the release "Power of the Wind": the Minsk trio recorded a very warm and cozy album, a tribute to the Latin American music of the 1970s. It sounds very unusual for the Eastern European tradition, but also very beautiful.
To this list you can add names that did not make it to the top and ratings at all, but are worth mentioning.
First of all, Name Killer Birchenson's "Variablrs" is a mix of midwest emo, math rock and punk in the Belarusian style, freed and rich in bright melodies and non-standard musical moves. And besides, Sož "Apošnija Tancory" is a mini-album of dark and monotonous post-punk with existential lyrics.
It is interesting that already this year, during January 2023, a lot of high-quality material was released, from which a separate rating can be compiled.
First of all, this is an album of the band Syndrom Samazvanca (Impostor syndrome), created from fragments of world music experience. Though the musicians do not play with them, but create their own puzzle of art rock, psychedelic and kraut, decorated with charismatic and apt lyrics by Uładź Lankievič: sometimes Bacharevič talks to us through the lyrics of the "Vostraŭ skarhaŭ" album, and sometimes Comrade Major.
Another interesting album is "Pap" from the band Čjortočka. It has atmospheric lyrics and a prickly, uncomfortable sound to accentuate the mood. The shadows of a gloomy city, painful introverted monologues, metaphysical lyrics appear here - everything works perfectly together.
Note: both albums were recorded by musicians who live and work in Belarus, and this is a wonderful illustration of the vitality of Belarusian music and the ability to adapt to the conditions of a total ban.
Two parallel realities: music outside Belarus lives in a live mode, music in Belarus – in a studio format. To assemble a complete picture of musical life, you need to be well versed in puzzles with a thousand fragments and more.
Digging is back in trend, but now it's the only guide for a neophyte. Here are some albums from the end of last year that are worth highlighting in the "Best of the 2022" format.
ske.in "Rove" is an album as a symbol of an endless journey. Variegated and monochrome at the same time, beautiful and sad, near and far – a wonderful ambience with a national flavor.
"Prijom!" ("Over!") — Bieńka recorded a powerful reflection album together with Hala Čykis. Her lyrics have never been so strong and imaginative, and the musical component began to coexist better with the text since the bohemian band "Sierjebrjanaja svaďba"("Silver Wedding").
According to the results of the year, the group Soyuz should also be noted with the release "Power of the Wind": the Minsk trio recorded a very warm and cozy album, a tribute to the Latin American music of the 1970s. It sounds very unusual for the Eastern European tradition, but also very beautiful.
To this list you can add names that did not make it to the top and ratings at all, but are worth mentioning.
First of all, Name Killer Birchenson's "Variablrs" is a mix of midwest emo, math rock and punk in the Belarusian style, freed and rich in bright melodies and non-standard musical moves. And besides, Sož "Apošnija Tancory" is a mini-album of dark and monotonous post-punk with existential lyrics.
It is interesting that already this year, during January 2023, a lot of high-quality material was released, from which a separate rating can be compiled.
First of all, this is an album of the band Syndrom Samazvanca (Impostor syndrome), created from fragments of world music experience. Though the musicians do not play with them, but create their own puzzle of art rock, psychedelic and kraut, decorated with charismatic and apt lyrics by Uładź Lankievič: sometimes Bacharevič talks to us through the lyrics of the "Vostraŭ skarhaŭ" album, and sometimes Comrade Major.
Another interesting album is "Pap" from the band Čjortočka. It has atmospheric lyrics and a prickly, uncomfortable sound to accentuate the mood. The shadows of a gloomy city, painful introverted monologues, metaphysical lyrics appear here - everything works perfectly together.
Note: both albums were recorded by musicians who live and work in Belarus, and this is a wonderful illustration of the vitality of Belarusian music and the ability to adapt to the conditions of a total ban.
Two parallel realities: music outside Belarus lives in a live mode, music in Belarus – in a studio format. To assemble a complete picture of musical life, you need to be well versed in puzzles with a thousand fragments and more.
Conclusions
Conclusions
– The pressure on Belarusian musicians is constantly increasing. The Belarusian authorities are breaking records in repression and are trying to legitimize them. Now the dissenting creator is under criminal prosecution. There are two options not to get punished: to stop writing songs or to agree with the postulates of the "code of conduct" manuals.
– The capabilities of the official variety show are limited to the production of homogeneous trash. This is not a freak show, but a hallucination of a traumatized mind. The target audience of this work is mythical and exists only on paper.
— Independent Belarusian music now works exclusively with gloomy intonations and narratives. This is a painful reflection, regardless of genre components – be it art punk or chanson. Finding the positive in these circumstances is an impossible task.
— At the same time, Belarusian music is slowly coming out of a standby mode and creating a new dictionary of narratives and meanings: it is the cry of a traumatized person, an attempt to draw attention to oneself through therapeutic monologues and a handful of chaste self-irony.
– The capabilities of the official variety show are limited to the production of homogeneous trash. This is not a freak show, but a hallucination of a traumatized mind. The target audience of this work is mythical and exists only on paper.
— Independent Belarusian music now works exclusively with gloomy intonations and narratives. This is a painful reflection, regardless of genre components – be it art punk or chanson. Finding the positive in these circumstances is an impossible task.
— At the same time, Belarusian music is slowly coming out of a standby mode and creating a new dictionary of narratives and meanings: it is the cry of a traumatized person, an attempt to draw attention to oneself through therapeutic monologues and a handful of chaste self-irony.