I much prefer the youtube clip from the previous post. I couldn’t watch this to the end. Tell me, does it turn out unexpectedly or does it really remain young Russians cheering along to the Soviet anthem? Seeing as the Russian anthem now has the same tune, seems odd to reminisce with the old one.

I know I could just watch it to avoid asking you the questions, but is it a joke? Is it recent? Will I need to combine Prozac and beer if I do watch to the end?

Sorry to be anal, but the translation of Rus’/Русь as Russia in the second line is just straightforwardly wrong. I’m not denying the connection, obviously, but they’re not one and the same.

(*slinks off muttering about the state of the world*)

Yes, the lyrics were written and re-edited second time later by 1980 by Sergey Michalkov, the father of Nikita Michalkov, a very famous poet of Soviet time who was mostly known for children’s poetry and as a chairman of “Soyus of Soviet Writers”. The revision of the anthem was done in the connection with the adoption of a new Soviet Constitution. The previous anthem mentioned Stalin’s name.
Translation of Rus’ as Great Russia in this occasion is appropriate. It is pretty often that in poetry Russia and/or Rus’ were used in the same context for the sake of rhyme and connection to the “great history of Russia”

Thanks Yuliya!