Russian artist celebrates The Beatles' unifying force
A NEW sculpture by Russian artist Nikolay Rogatnev is to be officially unveiled at The Beatles Story at Liverpool’s Albert Dock today. The work, says the sculptor, has been created to mark the special relationship between the Beatles and Russia. During the Cold War, despite official disapproval, Beatles records were collected by Russian fans and the group was much admired.
The work – titled The Music of the Beatles Unites the Earth – is planned to be exhibited in other Beatles-related locations across the world like Hamburg and New York. The concept for the sculpture was dreamed up by Russian journalist Valentin Bayoukansky who explains: “There were four Beatles and we want to place a sculpture in four different countries to show how the people of the world were united by their wonderful music. “Liverpool was number one on our list as it is the Beatles’ hometown.”
The sculpture already has the support of the British Embassy in Moscow. Sian MacLeod, deputy head of mission there, said that Beatles fans were everywhere in Russia. “It is fitting that the links between our countries should be embodied in the sculpture created by a Russian artist and displayed in the UK. “For nearly 50 years, the Beatles have symbolised Britain in the eyes of many Russians. I hope the sculpture will serve as a symbol of the friendship between British and Russian people in the 21st Century.”
Jerry Goldman, managing director of The Beatles Story, said the importance of the Beatles to many Russian fans could not be underestimated. “In the last few years we have seen the number of Russian visitors rise with the introduction of our Russian audio guide.” Russian cultural journalist Artemy Troitsky explains on the guide that the Beatles started a huge movement in the Soviet Union, “a movement which involved not thousands, or even hundreds of thousands but millions of young people.” The sculpture will be unveiled at 11am today.
I thought it might be interesting if our East-European members could tell us more about the influence of The Beatles in their countries. How did they get to know their records and facts about The Beatles during the Cold War years, for instance? Experienced any resistance? Oh, and the forum is Russian based of course!
I went to Russia two summers ago to visit my friend M. She arranged a family dinner for many of her friends to meet her foreign guests. Since we spoke virtually no Russian and many of them spoke very little English, there was a lot of smiling without much conversation-- until the subject of the Paul McCartney concert came up. This was the one in St. Petersburg in 2004. The whole city center shut down that night, because all the people who couldn't fit into Palace Square were sitting on rooftops and crowding all around, listening. M. by good fortune was 20 feet from the stage, and was able to show us (when we went touring) how big the crowds were.
Anyway, we didn't have much of a common language--but we all could sing! So after dinner the whole group sang Paul McCartney songs for at least half an hour. Great fun. It is a lovely memory for me, and demonstrates how music can reach across cultures and bring people together. (All M's friends are great singers and harmonizers, too; it must be that Russian folk song heritage.)
Not quite what Bobber was asking for, but I can relay second-hand how excited my Russian friends were to have Paul visit them in person at last, and how lasting that good impression was on the city. Cheers.
All you've got to do is choose love. That's how I live it now. I learned a long time ago, I can feed the birds in my garden. I can't feed them all. -- Ringo Starr, Rolling Stone magazine, May 2007
For all I know, Ringo might be a yogi disguised as a drummer! - George Harrison
Well... I'm originally from Russia, but... not from the Cold-War era But according to my Mum it was quite hard to come by Beatles albums in shops, so you would get them from people coming from overseas to Russia. For example, international students used to sell Beatles records to Russian students. Stuff like that.
Also, there's the Paul McCartney Live at the Red Square DVD, where people talk about the Beatles and Russia. Back in the days, you could get in trouble if you were caught listening to to the Beatles. Also, Band on the Run was banned for a while.
But still, the Beatles were much loved in Russia. My Mum used to listen to them all the time as a girl... even while doing her homework! And that's lucky, coz K_E and I would probably never have become Beatles fans if it wasn't for her introducing us to their music
I'd ask my friends to come and see... an Octopus's Garden with me ^___^
Home
Calendar
Search
Register
Login
Bobber
Female
Male
Logged
And that's lucky, coz K_E and I would probably never have become Beatles fans if it wasn't for her introducing us to their music 
