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The warning from the American authorities to Russia could not have been much more concrete: on March 7, the Americans warned of the “danger of terrorism at concerts within the next 48 hours”. It can reasonably be assumed that the attack was actually intended to hit one of the concerts of Russian megastar Shaman (32). Vladimir Putin’s favorite bard (71) appeared three times at the Crocus town hall in the days after the American warning.
But the terrorists arrived later than the US expected. And it wasn’t Shaman’s followers who had to believe in it, but rather the fans of the aging band Piknik. It remains likely that the Tajik attackers originally targeted Sjamaan. Because what he is currently doing for Putin makes him virtually irreplaceable in the Russian system.
The Russian – his real name is Jaroslaw Dronov – sought recognition in vain for years with his impressive vocal organ. His participation in the Russian editions of “X Factor” and “The Voice” did not bring a breakthrough, his white dreadlocks remained in the darkness of the Russian pop depths.
Song at the beginning of the war: Is it all a coincidence?
But then the singer released his song “Vstanem” (“Let’s get up!”) – exactly one day before Putin’s attack on Ukraine on February 24, 2022. In the song, Sjamaan sings about Russia’s heroes in World War II and calls out his compatriots to do this, to stay united and persevere. Is it all a coincidence? He himself said in an interview: “The song was dictated to me from above.”
Above: In Russia this can mean two things: God – or Putin. The handsome singer with the dark dress code has dedicated his soul to both. He campaigned for Putin in the presidential elections. He appeared on stage several times with the Russian president during major performances. And in new songs like “I am Russian,” “We,” and most recently “Mein Kampf,” the vocal artist wraps Russian wartime propaganda into easy-listening anthems, delivered in a voice that leaves even pundits critical of Putin speechless. .
Sjamaan’s support for Putin’s war is anything but subtle. In his videos he uses images of Russian soldiers in Ukraine. And a year ago he even traveled to the occupied territories himself to sing for the Russian troops in Mariupol and Kherson. Initially he refused to go to the front as a war bard (officially because his wife forbade him to do so). Sjamaan’s war journey with a bulletproof vest and a guitar around his neck left no doubt about who set the pace in the background of the pop phenomenon: not his wife, but Putin.
Fighting is better with noise in your ears
God also comes across well in the songs of the most popular singer of the moment in Russia. The serious gaze is often directed upwards, the cross dangles around the neck and the icons of Russian Orthodoxy are omnipresent. Last year, Sjamaan had his white dreadlocks cut off in a highly publicized manner by an Orthodox priest in a remote Russian monastery. And gave herself a new haircut. And when he went to the polls in Moscow in March, he crossed himself before voting for Putin.
Musicians serving in the war in their home country is nothing new. The horn players on the medieval battlefields; the Prussian marching musicians; the Russian crowd favorite: They all show that fighting is simply better with sound in your ears.
And at the same time, ballads can also cheer up the spirits of those left behind in the vast territories of Russia. Someone sings beautifully and with conviction about this war. Must be correct. Let’s tune in.
Putin’s propaganda in Western harmonies
Ironically, the Russian shaman consistently relies on Western harmonies for his hits, as exiled Russian musicologist Anna Vilenskaya recently explained to ‘Arte’. His hit ‘Ich bin Russe’ is based on the same harmonic patterns as the song ‘Zombie’ by the Irish band The Cranberries. ‘Let’s get up’ is composed entirely in the style of an Italian aria. It seems that the Russians like to keep their war propaganda nicely wrapped in European melodies.
Of course, Sjamaan also responded immediately to the terrorist attack in Moscow. “I will pay for the funeral of every victim and the treatment of every injured person,” he told his millions of followers on social media. He has already transferred the equivalent of 50,000 francs to the Russian Red Cross. The song “22.3.24,” which he recorded immediately after the attack in honor of the victims, will likely bring many times this investment back into his coffers.
“Nobody can break us, we’ll never give up,” Shaman sings. So far the bard is right.
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
