Viktor Robertovich Tsoi (Russian: Виктор Робертович Цой) (June 21, 1962 – August 15, 1990) was a famous Soviet artist and leader of the rock group Kino. Tsoi was born to a Korean father and Russian mother on June 21, 1962 in Leningrad, USSR (now St. Petersburg, Russia).
He is regarded as one of the pioneers of Russian rock and has a huge following in the countries of the former Soviet Union even today. Few musicians in the history of Russian music have been more popular or have had more impact on their genre than Victor Tsoi and his rock band Kino.
Tsoi contributed a plethora of musical and artistic works, including ten albums. He died in a car accident when he fell asleep while driving on August 15, 1990.
For further reference, see
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_Tsoi
Below is my humble attempt to render for you into English one of my most favorite songs by Victor Tsoi, "The Legend". I love this song especially for the last stanza. ;-)
The Legend
In a tangle of chords
My cry stuck squeezed like a lump,
But the time has come,
And there’s no sense to cry.
Only later
Someone would never forget
How the warriors, staggering,
Wiped their swords by grass.
How the dark tribe of crows
Flapped their sinister wings,
How the sky laughed with glee,
But then bit its tongue shut,
And the shivering hands
Of those few who survived,
And the moment stretching
To eternity and beyond…
How the purple sunset
Burned like funeral fire,
And stars, like grey wolves,
Looked down from behind the clouds,
And those taken by night
Lying with hands spread wide,
And those who still breathed
Sleeping without dreams…
But "Life" is just a word,
Death and Love is all that is real.
Hey! Who is going to chant,
If you all want to sleep?
Death is costly enough to live,
And Love is worthy enough to wait…
.
Translated by Svetlana Goryacheva
October 27, 2008
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Comments: 29
My cry stuck squeezed like a lump," is so poetic that I am most impressed by your ability to express feeling emotion. Thanks for introducing this tragic figure to us.
Blessings and best wishes, now and again - S.
He was indeed a tragic, almost mystical figure. In one of his other songs, "The Star Called Sun", you can find the following words:
And we know that it’s always been like this,
That Fate’s favorite is
He who lives by different laws
And is destined to die young
He doesn’t remember the word “yes” or the word “no”
He doesn’t remember either ranks, or names.
And he’s able to reach out to the stars,
Not thinking it’s a dream,
And falls, burnt by the Star
By the name Sun...
That's exactly what happened with him...
Blessings and best wishes - S.
First of all he wasvery very handsome and I can understand that he was regarded as an almost mythical star. This brilliance within him is born out by the types of song chosen by him. They also seem to have a mythical message.
As I read your words I involuntarily thought of the young Alexander.
Totally different people, different aims, different milieu but yet of the samr heroic fatalistic type.
Your translations are very moving. Bravo.
I'd love to hear his music. I'm going to try and Google him.
Hugs and blessings in a plenty - S.
Blessings and best wishes - S.
In a tangle of chords
My cry stuck squeezed like a lump,
But the time has come,
And there’s no sense to cry.
I can only feel this powerful message. Tremendous article, friend.
Love and hugs - S.
Hugs and blessings - S.
Blessings and best wishes - S.
Hugs and blessings - S.
Translation often misses the spirit of the words in the native language.
Blessings and best wishes in abundance - S.
Hugs and blessings - S.
Blessings and best wishes - S.
Значит всё не так уж плохо на сегодняшний день...
But if there is in a pocket a pack of cigarettes
Means it is all not too badly for today.....Love him.