1. Alla Pugacheva
Considered the prima donna of the Soviet pop stage, Alla Pugacheva is often likened to American singers Bette Midler or Barbara Streisand. A native of Moscow, she has sung over 500 songs in 8 languages, and sold almost as many records as Michael Jackson or The Beatles. Now at 71, and 5 husbands later, she is not only famous for her music but she’s also one of the most talked about Russian celebrities. Yet while she appears to be a household name in Russia, she’s little known abroad. Her music includes catchy pop and melancholic love songs and I think I’m already a fan. One of her ballads, Blizzard Again (Опять метель), appears at the end of the famous Russian New Year classic film “The Irony of Fate or Enjoy Your Bath!”. Her most popular song however is probably A Million Crimson Roses (Миллион алых роз). Enjoy:
2. Vladimir Vysotsky
Vysotsky is an iconic singer from Soviet times. His career took off in the 1960s with bootleg tapes spread across the Soviet Union through fans. His music had a huge effect on Soviet culture – filled with irony about everyday life in his Soviet homeland. Although his music was not acknowledged by the authorities, he still practiced as an actor and commonly gave home concerts across Russia, with over 600 songs to his name. His fame and privilege led him to many world travels as far as the United States where he even gave an interview with 60 Minutes about his life and career. After passing away in 1980, he remains an iconic figure to this day, with his songs played around campfires across the country. One of his most well known songs is called Fastidious Steeds (Кони привередливые), which was originally commissioned for a film but eventually wasn’t used. You can hear his famous raspy voice in this recording.
3. Lev Leshchenko
At 78 years old, he was touring Canada as recently as mid-March this year, giving concerts in Ontario. That’s right, he’s not just a local star. He has a repertoire of over 700 songs with many well-known hits. His songs are catchy, easy to sing along to and extremely popular. He sings about romance, and draws on the heart strings, his charming manners also contribute to his popularity. One of his most famous songs is called Victory Day (День победы) and is sung every year on May 9 celebrating the end of the Great Patriotic War. Some other popular songs to look out for are: Nightingale grove (Соловьиная роща), Goodbye (Прощай), Earth's Attraction (Притяжение Земли), and Native Land (Родная Земля).
4. Zhanna Aguzarova
The Lady Gaga of her time. Eccentric and colorful, she was the lead singer of rock'n'roll band Bravo and was famous for her particular looks and performance style. She’s known as a rebel, maybe even a bit crazy, and now lives a life well out of the limelight. Her most famous songs are: Jeltie Botinki (Yellow Boots), Koshki (Cats), Veru Ya (I Believe), and also Chudesnaya Strana (Wonderful Country). Her fame took off thanks to the support and later mentoring of Alla Pugacheva.
5. Andrey Makarevich (Mashina Vremeni)
As the founder of famous Russian rock band Mashina Vremeni or Time Machine, Andrey Makarevich is a well-known household name. Inspired by the Beatles and other Western influences, the band soon became almost as famous in the Soviet sphere. When not performing with this band, Makarevich spent his time in the kitchen whipping up dishes and chatting with celebrities in Smak, probably the longest-running cooking show on Russian television.
Want to know more about Russian culture? Check out our Do it like a Russian and Speak like a Russian articles.
