Re: music criticism

["Devine, James" <jdevine@xxxxxxx>]

--- "Devine, James" <jdevine@xxxxxxx> wrote:
(BTW, there's a song about him, by the agit-folk group
"the Foremen" (no longer with us, alas), that refers
to Z as the "Russian Limbaugh." )

JD

---
Really? How's it go?

(here it is, complete with notes, from http://www.roysongs.com/lyrics/foremen/folkreprise/russian.htm. BTW. even though the Foremen are gone (I believe), their writer -- Roy Zimmerman -- is still writing wicked-funny leftist political songs. However, I think a major reason why he broke up the group is that he needed to sing poorly.)

RUSSIAN LIMBAUGH
words and music by Roy Zimmerman
© 1994 Watunes (BMI)
(From "Sing It Loud! on Metaphor Records
Re-recorded for "Folk Heroes" on Reprise)
Note: The following lyrics are the original "Sing It Loud!" version. See footnotes for the lyric variations in the later Reprise "Folk Heroes" version.
 
 (spoken)
This is the story of Vladimir Zhirinovsky - an unlikely folk hero perhaps, he's being called the Hitler of Russia. He's a right-wing extremist, ultra-nationalist, power-hungry blowhard. He's Russian Limbaugh.
 
(sung - wonderfully by Andy, with a Russian accent)
My mother, she is Russian
My veins are full of borscht
But for the sake of this discussion
My parents are divorscht
Yes, long before election
My name was Eidelshtein
You show me circumspection
But I'll never show you mine
 
I lie, lie, lie - it's habitual
I lie, lie, lie - can't help it - You will 1
'Scuse me while I stage another coup
I'm Russian Limbaugh, I will bury you
 
I'm ready now to cash in
On the people's will
All done up in the latent fascist - uh, latest fashion
Overdressed to overkill
I'm taking back Alaska
The Russian River, too
So set aside a cask of Kendall Jackson '82
 
I lie, lie, lie - it's habitual
I lie, lie, lie - it's my niche - You will 2
'Scuse me while I drop the other shoe
I'm Russian Limbaugh, I will bury you
Russian Limbaugh, just like you-know-who
And by the way, I'm not a Jew
 
(spoken)
I have a letter on KGB letterhead, written when the KGB was still in operation... which, of course, we know it no longer is... stating that I, Vladimir Zhirinovsky, was never an operative of the KGB.  Signed, me.
(sung)

I'm causing much hysteria
>From area to area
They treat me like malaria or even dysenteria
I'm scarier and scarier to people in Bulgaria
Bavaria is wary of my various militaria
 
Hey, world, I got a secret weapon called ellipton
Like they got on Krypton
Hey, was that a banana or my tongue I slipped on? 3
 
We've had enough of Yeltsin
He's arrogant and fat
It's time we put somebody else in 4
A Liberal Democrat
You call me an extremist
For the opinions I disgorge
You certainly must be mistaking me for Wally George
 
I lie, lie, lie - it's habitual
I lie, lie, lie - can't help it - You will 5
'Scuse me while I break your back in two 6
I'm Russian Limbaugh, I will bury you
Russian Limbaugh, just like you-know-who
But from a different point of view
And by the way I'm not a Jew!
 
Reprise ("Folk Heroes") lyric variations:
1 I lie, lie, lie - never quit - You will
2 I lie, lie, lie - can't help it - You will
3 This entire break ("Hey, world, I got a secret..." sung to the tune of Mussorgsky's "The Great Gate at Kiev" from his "Pictures At An Exhibition") was dropped from the Reprise version of this song.
4 It's time to put somebody else in
5 I lie, lie, lie - it's my niche - You will
6 'Scuse me while I crack your back in two

Update, July 17, 2001: Thanks to Darren Zieger for alerting me to this article from the Washington Post: Russian Revises His Heritage - Anti-Semitic Politician Zhirinovsky Admits Father Was Jewish.
 
Note from Joan:  As with several of Roy's songs which are dedicated to particular individuals (That Jesse Helms Song, Do The Clinton), it was hard to find separate links to explain each of Roy's references. However, the "Vladimir Zhirinovsky" link (from Indiana University) is quite informative and explains the story in great detail. Any references which aren't explained there are explained in the "I'm not a Jew" link (once you close the annoying pop-up ad), a brief Zhirinovsky biography from "Russian Today."
 
Also, I don't usually include background vocals when I transcribe lyrics, but I thought I should point out the significance of the "duma, duma, duma" vocals: It's a reference to the State Duma which is the popularly elected lower house of Russia's legislature. (And, if you read Russian, you can check out their official website!)
And, while I'm at it, I'll encourage you to follow the "Liberal Democrat" link from "The Russia Journal online." (It's important to know that a Liberal Democrat in Russia is something very different from a "liberal" Democrat in the U.S.)
 
OK, obviously we know that this song doesn't actually have anything to do with Rush Limbaugh, and that Roy is using his brilliant pun to liken Zhirinovsky's and Limbaugh's extremism, but I thought I should include at least one Limbaugh link. Please forgive me for choosing a very critical-of-Limbaugh article entitled "The Way Things Aren't" from "Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting."
 
JD