Seattle – May 12, the Russian folk/rock band Lyube is performing at Benaroya Hall. Lyube has been the most popular Russian band for several years with their traditional melodies and poignant lyrics. RussiaBlog has written before about popular music in Russia, and how the hits are the songs with strong melodies and realistic words. Lyube has been the first or near the top of the charts every year since the late 1980s.
Like the most popular American country and rock ballads, Lyube’s songs are compassionate stories about common Russians. Many of their songs are about the brutal Russian Army life and the war in Chechnya, talking about a single mother's son going into the army and dying for his troubled motherland. The album Zona Lyube was entirely devoted to Russians in prison – their life stories, dreams and hopes. Combined with great instrumentals, background choir vocals and beautiful music – this is concert will be a must see (and hear) for everyone interested in Russia.
Sadly, I have never seen Lyube performing live, and though they will be playing only a block away from my office, I will be in New York and will miss the show. Please click on the extended post to see photos of Lyube performing for Russian troops in Chechnya.
UPDATE1: Lyube tickets are now sold out according to Ticketmaster and the box office at Benaroya Hall. If you're like Charlie and still looking for tickets, try EBay or Craigslist. As of 3 p.m. PST May 9 there were no tickets being scalped online. Outside the Benaroya Hall website, there was no advertising in Seattle for this show, and it's still sold out. That's what I call a loyal fan base.
Stepping off a helicopter in Chechnya
Lyube supporting the troops
Performing in the Moscow Concert Hall "Russia"
Shooting video with the elite special forces counterterrorism unit Alfa
Cover of the album Combat
Cover of the album Songs About People
UPDATE2: One of our readers has asked us if there is a site where you can pay to download Lyube's songs. You might be able to buy the songs or listen to the 30 second samples at ALL of MP3.com.
UPDATE3: You can watch You Tube video of one Lyube's most popular rock ballads, "Let's Drink to Life" (Davai sa shi) here. The music video is a tribute to Russian soldiers killed in Chechnya, Afghanistan, and World War II. A sampling of the lyrics in the chorus:
Let's drink to them
Let's drink to us
Let's drink to Siberia and to the Caucuses
Let's drink to friends and to love
Let's drink to them
Let's drink to us
Let's drink to the Spetsnaz
Let's drink to the end of the war
Song title in Cyrillic: Любе: "Давай за"
You can also watch the music video to the song "Combat" (Kombat) here:
Song title in Cyrillic - Любе: "Комбат"
Not all of Lyube's songs are about war. Here's a more upbeat pop ballad called Nashevo Dvara:
Song title in Cyrillic - Любе: "нащево Двара"
Comments
Any chance for a link to their music, to hear a sample?
Posted by: Tanya | May 8, 2006 10:17 AM
There's no place to listen to their music for free, but you should be able to buy their songs here
Posted by: Yuri Mamchur | May 8, 2006 10:38 AM
Grr... can't believe I'm missing this! Also out of town and obviously without a ticket.
Per above comments that you can't get the music free online, you can download or listen to vast amounts of Russian music at www.zvuki.ru, including Lube
Posted by: Bonya | May 10, 2006 10:49 AM
Free russian Internet Radio station "Julian Radio", 24 hours. Listen to contemporary Russian music, all styles and formats, the Best!
Posted by: Dgina | July 27, 2006 5:36 AM
I only have Combat on cassette tape. I relaly want to find it on CD. I hoped someone could lead me in the right direction.
I fell in love with this group 10 years ago in Nizhny Novgorod. I bought the cassette and now have listened to it so much, it is warped. Please help me find it.
Posted by: Allison Schreiber | August 29, 2006 5:56 AM
they are selling the dvd on ebay
Posted by: rogers | October 25, 2006 6:09 PM
is there any chance for a link for lyrics?
Posted by: Julia | April 4, 2007 2:43 PM
well theres always myspace to go listen to their music =D.
Posted by: logan | July 17, 2007 6:18 AM
Does is notbother any of the Russians who have comented that the name of the song is NOT "Davai za shi", which makes no sense... it's actually "Davai za Zhizn" Which more closely translated means "To life!" but only in the context of invitation to drink. So the given translation is quite correct. Now the title is too. :-)
Posted by: Grisha | October 20, 2007 5:02 PM
and the last song iz not "Nashego dvora" which means "of our neighborhood", but rather "rebiata nashego dvora"/"Ребята с Нашего Двора" - guys from our neighborhood. Latter is a frequent expression of childhood friends.
Posted by: Grisha | October 20, 2007 5:08 PM
hi .I am from Syria and I love lyube music and Russia too.....thank you for this great website
Posted by: sam | August 16, 2009 12:16 PM