Welcome to all my loyal listeners and those who haven’t yet listened to my podcast, Russian Rulers History. I started this journey in April of 2010 and have gone way beyond where I thought it would be. Back then I thought I would get through Russian history in just 50-60 episodes but it is already over 100 strong.
Instead of ending the podcast with Vladimir Putin, I will extend things well beyond that as I will leave the rulers and start concentrating on events and people who contributed to the glorious history of Russia. Join me here and at my podcast site which you can reach here, or you can join our growing group on Facebook at the Russian Rulers History Podcast group.
12 replies on “Welcome to the Russian Rulers History Blog Site!!!”
Excellent info and nicely written. Keep up the excellent stuff!
Hey! how are you!
First of all I want to apologize for my poor english. I am from Ukraine & have no experience in it, but i have been listening to your podcast for reason to catch bit of information about my homeland through the eyes of foreigner. The Russian history find it self to be very close with the history of my country. & I am eager to find out your opinion in Ukrainian question. Does Ukraine identifies it self as a part of Russia in your point of view? What do you think about it independents is it just a misunderstanding? how do you see a future of those two states
Thanks!
and by the way – great job man!
Thank you for your kind comments. I do think there is a separation between Russia and the Ukraine but also a bond between the two. In today’s world, they are independent nations with a common history that goes back over 1,000 years.
Hope you don’t mind me joining this conversation, but my mother told me she knew a Ukrainian who didn’t like being mistaken for being Russian, she even changed her name. Obviously you don’t feel this way though.
Mark – My wife and I have been listening to your podcasts for a couple years now. Thoroughly enjoy them and they were a great help in preparation for our trip to Russia in 2012. But recently they seemed to have stopped and some have disappeared on iTunes. Is there something going on with iTunes or something else going on that has interrupted the podcasts? I scene similar issues with some other podcasts on iTunes so maybe it’s an iTunes issue? I know they are a lot of work and you have a life outside them so appreciate your effort.
Thanks,
Rick Herreid
Thanks for the comment. I think the problem is with iTunes as other podcasters have been having problems as well. Looks like it’s okay now though.
Hi Mark,
I would just like to join the ranks of the many and pass on a simple message of gratitude.
I initially stumbled on your podcast because of an interest in Russian history piqued by Tolstoy. I started out only looking for further information on Alexander I and Russian history around the time of the Napoleonic Wars. However, I am now listening to your back-catalougue a second time through, picking up the episodes I overlooked the first time and am thoroughly enjoying it once again.
I am a young Australian with a real interest in the broader world and its many cultures and thanks to your diligence, dedication and wonderful oratory manner, this fascinating area of history has been greatly coloured.
Many thanks!
Luke
Thanks Luke, the comment was much appreciated.
Hi Mark, I’ve started to listen to your podcast. Great stuff! Question though – I can’t find that awesome theme music anywhere on the net.
Welcome to the listeners. The music is the Soviet Red Army Choir singing the Volga Boat Song.
Hello Mark,
first of all, thank you for this amazing podcast. I have recently become interested in Russian history (in light of the events in Ukraine and the Crimea especially). That is how I discovered your podcast.
I don’t know if you’ll be interested in hearing/reading this, but communist Russia has a tradition of controversial singers/writers. One of them was called Igor Talkov. He was killed in the early 1990ies. While he was considered a “usual” pop artist at the beginning of his career, he also wrote some very critical songs, some of which were not released until after he died.
The translations of those songs into English tend to be horrible. And while I’m no poet, I do speak English quite well. So I’ve decided to translate one for everyone who is interested.
Here is the song itself:
youtube.com/watch?v=P0n_qHo2Z3w
It is called “People with bandaged foreheads”.
And here is my translation:
My friends have become stingy with words
There’s the indelible light of longing in their eyes
And they walk around with bandaged foreheads
Right in their prime*
My friends don’t write don’t read**
They have no time for societies problems
And they walk around with bandaged foreheads
Right in their prime
My friends have thrown away their guitars
They don’t care, be it midnight or dawn
And they walk around with bandaged foreheads
Right in their prime
My friends have ordered tickets
They’ve ordered tickets to the other world***
And they just live in waiting with their bandaged foreheads
Right in their prime
(spoken dialogue:
– Excuse me, when did you write this song?
– This song? In 1980, why?
– Wake up! It’s 1987, perestroika! Your song is no longer
relevant, it speaks about problems of the past. There
is no longer any need to break your head*** and anyway…
– But you too must excuse me. You haven’t heard all of the song.
It isn’t done yet. I have recently added one final verse.
Incidentally in light of recent changes. Why don’t you have
a listen, how that turned out. I’ll just finish up:)
My friends have become generous with words these days
But for some reason they’re not even considering, taking off their bandages
There’s a rumor going round,
That soon you’ll once again have to bandage your forehead.
* there is an expression in Russian “in the prime of their years”,
that is what he is saying here.
** in this case not meant literally. It means that they don’t
write books or articles and don’t read any either.
*** In this case he means not “the other world” as in heaven.
He means it as in “the west”.
Some people managed to leave the USSR (like my family) on legal
terms. But the wait was very long and the bureaucracy was incredible.
I should add a little more background info… In the USSR it was considered extremely difficult to have any kind of self expression as an artist. Unless you towed the party line 100% of course. In some circles they called the process of reaching this goal of self expression “breaking down a wall with your forehead”. Hence the symbolic bandaged foreheads.
He is also mentioning the people who fled the USSR to Europe, Israel and the USA in order too escape this system.