In the Soviet Union, there was a man known as the "last hero." He was not a great politician, nor a great thinker or a religious man, nor a soldier with outstanding military achievements, he was just the lead singer of a rock band. He was known as the "Elvis Presley" of the SOVIET Union.
Today, there is also a memorial wall to him on Russia's most prosperous Arbat Street, and every year thousands of young people come from all over Russia to sit under the wall full of graffiti and flowers, reciting poems, re-singing his songs, or just sitting quietly smoking cigarettes, drinking wine, and looking at his sad face. He was the godfather of Soviet rock and roll, Victor Choi.
The godfather of Russian rock – Victor Choi. (Image source: profile photo)
His 28-year life course is short: he has created many classic works
On June 21, 1962, Viktor Choi was born in Kiorda, Republic of Kazakhstan, the son of Choi Dong-lie, a Korean engineer teacher, and the mother of Valenzina Basilevna, a Ukrainian-born physical education teacher.
According to a comprehensive perspective on Russia and Beijing's Non-Music magazine, at the age of 5, Victor Cui's family moved to Leningrad (now St. Petersburg). (Later, after his death, there was a debate between Kazakhstan and Russia over his nationality.) The final controversy ended with the nationality as Russian, but the indication of the place of birth as Kazakhstan. However, Kazakhs still proudly consider Victor Choi to be a Kazakh and list him as one of the 13 great men who represent Kazakhstan. ）
In 1969, Victor Choi entered the elementary school where his mother worked, and transferred three schools with his mother. From 1974 to 1977, Victor Tri, a talented painter, entered the Selov School of Fine Arts and formed the band "Sixth Ward" (Палата No 6 6) with Maxim Bashkov.
In 1979, he was expelled from the school for reasons of grades. Subsequently, he entered the Municipal Technical College No. 61 with his expertise in wood carving.
In his youth, Victor Tri admired the famous Soviet musicians Mikhail Boyarsky and Vladimir Vysotsky, and later worshipped Bruce Lee and began to imitate his image, developing a strong interest in martial arts.
In the summer of 1981, a group of young people formed a band called "Garin and Hyperbola" (Гарин и Гиперболоиды). In the winter, the band joined the "Leningrad Rock Club", where it enriched its musical elements through communication with other bands. After the departure of one of the members, Oleg Wawlinski, the band officially changed its name to Кино (film).
In the spring of 1982, the band released their first album, 45, which is said to have been 45 minutes long and was improvised by Victor Choi.
A month before the band's first album was released, Victor Choi began living with his new girlfriend, Marlena, who also served as the manager of the initial Kино. There are also many twists and turns in living with Marlena, the biggest reason is that Marlena's parents don't like this Korean boy with black hair and yellow skin who has no legitimate income. In the same year, he shared the stage with Boris Glebentkov for his first plug-in concert.
Although the album did not sell well musically, Victor Trii still had to work while making music, working on wood carving at a repair shop in Pushkin and then at a garden trust factory.
In 1983, victor Trey had a disagreement with the band's veteran Alexei Repin, after which Repin left the band.
In 1984 the band participated in the second (SOVIET) Rock Festival and won awards. In the second half of 1984 the band collaborated with the best Russian band of the time, "Akvarim" (Аквариум), the best Russian band of the time, and recorded some small samples, followed by a second major blood change. In February of the following year, Victor Tri and Marlena married. In the spring, the band once again won awards at rock festivals. In August 1985, Victor Tri and Marlena gave birth to their son Alexander.
In January 1986, the band's album Night was released. In the spring of 1986, he participated in the 4th Rock Festival and won the Award for Best Lyrics.
In the spring of 1987, Victor Choi participated in the rock festival for the last time, won the Creative Achievement Award, and completed the creation of the album Группа крови).
In the summer of 1989, the band went to the United States to participate in the "Золотой Дюк" (Golden Joke) festival in New Jersey. In the same year, he performed in France and published the album "The Last Hero" (Последний герой)
In 1990, the band performed in Japan. In July of the same year, he held a concert in Moscow for the last time and completed the creation of the last album, which was titled Black Album shortly after victor Cui's death (Черный альбом)
On August 5, 1990, Victor Choi was killed in a car accident. He was only 28 years old at the time of his death. The accident occurred near Tukums in Latvia, just a few dozen kilometers from Riga. According to the most credible accounts, Victor Tri fell asleep while driving, only to have his dark blue "Muscovite-2141" drive into the opposite lane and crash into an "Ikarus-250" bus.
The death of Victor Cui has left many fans saddened. Among the many admirers of rock singers, there is a popular saying: "Choi is not dead." He just went out and smoked a cigarette. ”
After Victor Tri's death, artists in St. Petersburg raised funds to make memorials on his cemetery, and streets named after him appeared throughout the Soviet Union. In particular, at 2 Old Arbat Street, Moscow's art street, his memorial wall (aka the "Wall of Weeping") appears, which is filled with fans' thoughts about him. (Image source: provided by Liu Jun)
His confession: Don't sing for the hate years
In the 1980s, Victor Choi was the first to introduce rock 'n' roll to Russia on the eve of the collapse of the Soviet Union. At that time, Russian society was in turmoil, and a confused look was written on the faces of young people, and wild and untamed rock music quickly became the fashion and sustenance of young people.
On May 6, 1989, Soviet Youth magazine interviewed Victor Cui, which was probably the last time the great singer was interviewed by the media.
What works have influenced the transformation of your social life?
How can they make me change? I am not a social protester, not a musician who sings for the sake of "hate years".
--(Remember) How did you compose your song?
This is also a mystery to me... I don't know myself... I picked up the piano and started playing, and then the lyrics and tunes followed.
The Leningrad newspaper Смена (a very influential newspaper of the Soviet period, mainly aimed at young people) called you the most outstanding rock poet of 1988, what do you think about the difference between rock poets and (traditional) poets?
I don't know the difference between these two terms, I don't put aside the music to chew on my lyrics, it will make me lose a lot.
What is the most important thing for you today?
- (Dimension) Keep your inner freedom.
You don't sing your own songs all the time when you're on stage, what does that mean?
Some songs have lost their relevance with the times, and I am no longer interested in those songs. There are so many good songs now, and I wouldn't refuse to sing those songs that I like.
Your band is now on a nationwide tour, what do you hope to get on tour?
We've never had a desire to go with the flow. We never thought about what kind of musical style we should play and which style would last for how long. We only do what we like, which is the most important thing for us. If we become less popular, then we'll leave the stage.
Have you ever been invited to perform abroad?
- (Dimension) Of course, go out many times. But we carefully sift through these invitations, because now "Russian stuff" (unlike "Soviet stuff") is popular in some places, and we intend to reduce the number of performances in those places.
--(Remember) Where have you all been?
- (Vi) Denmark, the United States and France.
-- So how receptive are you there?
They looked at me with a confused expression: Why aren't you the one holding the Balalika (Russian three-string folk music) and wearing a Russian shirt?
Victor Choi's songs were popular with the young people of that era, and in addition to the concise and powerful style, the main reason was that the content of the lyrics reflected the voices of the young people at that time. To this day, his spirit still influences a group of young people who love rock and roll. In June 2012, people take a picture in front of the Victor Choi Memorial Wall on Arbat Avenue. (Image source: provided by Liu Jun)
Link: The song is highly sought after by young people and bands like a whirlwind sweeping through the Soviet Union
"Blood Type" is one of Victor Cui's most classic representative songs, and the lyrics read:
"Gentle comfort nest, but the streets are waiting for us.
The dust of the starlight on the military boots...
Comfortable sofas, plaided sofa covers, triggers that don't pull on time
The sun was shining on a day just in a brilliant sleep
Although there are means to pay the price
But I don't want cheap wins
I don't want to trample on anyone's chest
I hope to be with you
I just want to stay with you
But the stars in the sky call me on my way
I have a blood type on my cuffs
I have my military number on my cuffs
Pray for me as I rush to the battlefield
Pray for me
Don't let me stay in the wilderness
Don't let me lie on the field
Pray for my victory
Pray for my victory."
Young people at the time immediately understood the hidden meaning of the lyrics, namely, "The world is yours, no matter what the cost, it is up to you to change." Fight now! Don't lie on the desolate wilderness, fight! I will be with you, praying for victory and luck in the battle..."
The song was sung from house to house, the young people sang it aloud in the streets, and the Kино boom instantly occupied the whole of the Soviet Union like a whirlwind.