That's it. The lessons have finally finished for us 13 weekers in Petrozavodsk, we are in the last week. I am left with mixed emotions about leaving, part of me wants to stay in Petrozavodsk, my little microcosm of "русский рай" (Russian paradise) to go back to "Английский ад" (English Hell) but then also I can't wait to get back to England.
I thought as music is a huge part of my life and something I could talk about with people for hours and using an idea from The Mancunion (University of Manchester's student paper, which I also write for, if you didn't know) here are my "Top 5 Songs That Will Forever Remind Me of Petrozavodsk".
Number 5: Катюша (Katyusha)
Surprisingly this is the only Russian language song in this list and it comes in at the bottom. Despite hearing several drunken renditions by friends and one odd rendition from my host's daughter, I can still only remember the first line "Расцветали яблони и груши" (Rastsvetali yabloni i grushi, or in English, Apple and pear trees were blooming). One friend comes to mind that when he has been drinking a bit, he cannot wait to start singing Katyusha. In fact last weekend he requested it to be played by someone playing Sigmund Freud (The bar not the person I must add). His request was granted and many of the Russians joined in. So in conclusion, if you want a good sing-a-long in Russian, break out the Katyusha.
Number 4: Bara Bará Bere Berê - Alex Ferrari
This song is so annoying and shit but it is one of the songs I've heard the most whilst being in our local watering hole, PTZ Pivnoi Bar. This may go off on a tangent but the Russian choice of music lacks any logic. Several times it has changed from Rammstein or Slipknot to Nicki Minaj or this song. Back onto this song, the annoying part is the chorus gets stuck in your head and you end up remembering it and it will just not go away. However, this song may be shit but it will remind me of Petrozavodsk and a few Nevskoiye beers or some Medovokas (Mead). And luckily for me, I don't see this song breaking in to the UK any time soon.
Number 3: Ai Se Eu Te Pego - Michel Telo
Another song in the list not sang in English or Russian so I don't think I understand it but neither do the Russians, however, from the music video all I can conclude from the screaming girls is that he is some kind of Portuguese Justin Bieber and the aforementioned Alex Ferrari is just some kind of Portuguse pervert in his music video. This song taught me that when Russians don't know the lyrics they will just make sounds that fit into the lyrics which to me seems very odd. But yet again it is another shitty song, in my opinion, but it has been on so often on Europa Plus or in clubs and bars that it has just become a memory of PTZ to me.
Number 2: Gangnam Style - PSY
"You know what I'm saying?!?" I think most people knew this would be here but could be surprised that it wasn't number 1 on my list. The song was released and became popular around the world but never really hit Russia. I remember the first time I saw it on in PTZ, you could have heard a pin drop, all the Russians were fixated on this portly Korean riding an imaginary horse. Unfortunately, Russians have not yet adapted to this dance created by PSY himself so when a friend and I started doing it at a student party we got more than odd looks. Probably, "англичанин" (Englishman) was said more than a few times in our direction. While they thought we were taking the piss (we were as guys dance over here like a elephant having a fit), we thought they were judging us like were in Zebra (a club that only those "who are serious about dancing" go to in Yekaterinburg.
Number 1: Euphoria - Loreen
It is a song you cannot get away from in Russia. I believe I heard this on the first day I was in Russia and to date I must have heard it at least once each day from Europa Plus or being in a bar. And the sad fact is; I'm actually starting to like it. It seems odd that Russia play this song so much and it was the one that beat their Babushkas in Eurovision earlier this year. I am going to miss not hearing this every day from now on and I now think I won't ever be able to get sick of this song. Well, it certainly beats hearing Bara bara bere bere for the millionth time as this actually has proper lyrics.
I thought as music is a huge part of my life and something I could talk about with people for hours and using an idea from The Mancunion (University of Manchester's student paper, which I also write for, if you didn't know) here are my "Top 5 Songs That Will Forever Remind Me of Petrozavodsk".
Number 5: Катюша (Katyusha)
Surprisingly this is the only Russian language song in this list and it comes in at the bottom. Despite hearing several drunken renditions by friends and one odd rendition from my host's daughter, I can still only remember the first line "Расцветали яблони и груши" (Rastsvetali yabloni i grushi, or in English, Apple and pear trees were blooming). One friend comes to mind that when he has been drinking a bit, he cannot wait to start singing Katyusha. In fact last weekend he requested it to be played by someone playing Sigmund Freud (The bar not the person I must add). His request was granted and many of the Russians joined in. So in conclusion, if you want a good sing-a-long in Russian, break out the Katyusha.
Number 4: Bara Bará Bere Berê - Alex Ferrari
This song is so annoying and shit but it is one of the songs I've heard the most whilst being in our local watering hole, PTZ Pivnoi Bar. This may go off on a tangent but the Russian choice of music lacks any logic. Several times it has changed from Rammstein or Slipknot to Nicki Minaj or this song. Back onto this song, the annoying part is the chorus gets stuck in your head and you end up remembering it and it will just not go away. However, this song may be shit but it will remind me of Petrozavodsk and a few Nevskoiye beers or some Medovokas (Mead). And luckily for me, I don't see this song breaking in to the UK any time soon.
Number 3: Ai Se Eu Te Pego - Michel Telo
Another song in the list not sang in English or Russian so I don't think I understand it but neither do the Russians, however, from the music video all I can conclude from the screaming girls is that he is some kind of Portuguese Justin Bieber and the aforementioned Alex Ferrari is just some kind of Portuguse pervert in his music video. This song taught me that when Russians don't know the lyrics they will just make sounds that fit into the lyrics which to me seems very odd. But yet again it is another shitty song, in my opinion, but it has been on so often on Europa Plus or in clubs and bars that it has just become a memory of PTZ to me.
Number 2: Gangnam Style - PSY
Number 1: Euphoria - Loreen
