Other than "Life Has Become Better", the music of the anthem has several possible outside influences. Alexandrov himself has described it as the combination of amarch withRussian traditional music, particularly that ofbylina epic songs. The anthem shares several chord progressions withVasily Kalinnikov's overtureBylina, Epic Poem (which, as its name indicates, is also inspired by thebylina tradition).[3] There also exist similarities between Alexandrov's anthem andRobert Schumann'sFrühlingsfahrt.[4]
When theCommunist International (Comintern) was dissolved in 1943 for the Soviet Union to maintain its alliance with the otherAllies of World War II, a new composition was needed to replace "The Internationale" as the national anthem. A contest was held in mid to late 1943 for a new anthem, and more than 200 entries were submitted.[5] Alexandrov's music was personally chosen by Stalin, who both praised and criticized it.[6] The anthem's lyrics then had to be written. Stalin thought the song should be short, and that it should invoke theRed Army's impending victory over the forces ofGermany on theEastern Front. The poetsSergey Mikhalkov andGabriyel' Arkadyevich Ureklyan were chosen by Stalin's staffers, called toMoscow, and given the task of writing lyrics that referenced not only theGreat Patriotic War, but also "a Country of Soviets". The first draft was completed overnight.
The anthem was first published on 7 November 1943. It was played for the first time onSoviet radio at midnight on 1 January 1944, and officially adopted on 15 March the same year.[7] The new lyrics had three refrains following three different stanzas. In each refrain, the second line was modified to refer to friendship, then happiness, then glory.Joseph Stalin and theSoviet Union's war againstGermany were originally invoked in the second and third verses, respectively. Reportedly, Stalin was opposed to including his name in the lyrics but relented after somePolitburo members insisted.[8]
With the process of de-Stalinization afterStalin's death, the lyrics referring to him were considered unacceptable, and from 1956 to 1977 the anthem was performed without lyrics.[citation needed] A notable exception took place at the1976 Canada Cupice hockey tournament, where singerRoger Doucet insisted on performing the anthem with lyrics after consultations withRussian studies scholars fromUniversité de Montréal and Soviet team officials.[9][10] In 1977, to coincide with the 60th anniversary of theOctober Revolution, revised lyrics, written in 1970 by original authorSergey Mikhalkov,[11][12][13] were adopted. The varying refrains were replaced by a uniform refrain after all stanzas, and the line praising Stalin was dropped, as were the lines referring to theGreat Patriotic War. Another notable change was the replacement of a line referring to theSoviet national flag with one citing theCommunist Party of the Soviet Union in the form of "Partiya Lenina" (The party ofLenin). These lyrics were also present in the original party anthem at the same place in the melody, but followed by the lyrics "Partiya Stalina" (The party of Stalin).
After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, theRussian Federation adopted a new anthem, thePatriotic Song.[14] It was previously theregional anthem of theRussian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic from 1990 until 1991 (until 1990 it used the State Anthem of the Soviet Union). Unlike most national anthems, it had no official lyrics (although unofficial ones written for it were proposed, they were not adopted).
The Patriotic Song was replaced soon afterVladimir Putin first took office on 7 May 2000. The federal legislature established and approved the music of the National Anthem of the Soviet Union, with newly written lyrics, in December 2000.[citation needed]Boris Yeltsin criticized Putin for supporting the semi-reintroduction of the Soviet-era national anthem, although some opinion polls showed that many Russians favored this decision.[15] In late 2000, the current national anthem of Russia was introduced, which uses the music of the Soviet national anthem with new lyrics bySergey Mikhalkov, who also wrote both the original Soviet anthem and its remake in 1977.
The same music was used for a proposed anthem for theState Union of Russia and Belarus, entitledDerzhavny Soyuz Narodov ("Sovereign Union of Nations"). Its lyrics were not tied to any specific nationality, and there were official versions in the languages of every Soviet republic and several otherSoviet languages; thus it could have been adopted by abroader union. However, it was never officially adopted, and there appear to be no plans to utilize it in any official role.
After Russiaannexed Crimea, Ukrainian artistOrest Lyutyy [uk] responded with the songDie, Empire! (Здохни, Імперія!), which is modified from the Soviet national anthem.[19]
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I Союз нерушимый республик свободных Сплотила навеки Великая Русь. Да здравствует созданный волей народов Единый, могучий Советский Союз!
Припев I: Славься, Отечество наше свободное, Дружбы народов надёжный оплот! Знамя советское, знамя народное Пусть от победы к победе ведёт!
II Сквозь грозы сияло нам солнце свободы, И Ленин великий нам путь озарил: Нас вырастил Сталин — на верность народу, На труд и на подвиги нас вдохновил!
Припев II: Славься, Отечество наше свободное, Счастья народов надёжный оплот! Знамя советское, знамя народное Пусть от победы к победе ведёт!
III Мы армию нашу растили в сраженьях. Захватчиков подлых с дороги сметём! Мы в битвах решаем судьбу поколений, Мы к славе Отчизну свою поведём!
Припев III: Славься, Отечество наше свободное, Славы народов надёжный оплот! Знамя советское, знамя народное Пусть от победы к победе ведёт!
I Soyúz nerushímyy respúblik svobódnykh Splotíla navéki velíkaya Rus. Da zdrávstvuyet sózdannyy vóley naródov Yedínyy, mogúchiy Sovétskiy Soyúz!
Pripév I: Slávsya, Otéchestvo náshe svobódnoye, Drúzhby naródov nadyózhnyy oplót! Známya sovétskoye, známya naródnoye Pust ot pobédy k pobéde vedyót!
II Skvoz grózy siyálo nam sólnce svobódy, I Lénin velíkiy nam put ozaríl Nas výrastil Stálin — na vérnost naródu, Na trud i na pódvigi nas vdokhnovíl!
Pripév II: Slávsya, Otéchestvo náshe svobódnoye, Schástia naródov nadyózhnyy oplót! Známya sovétskoye, známya naródnoye Pust ot pobédy k pobéde vedyót!
III My ármiyu náshu rastíli v srazhéniakh. Zakhvátchikov pódlykh s dorógi smetyóm! My v bítvakh resháyem sudbú pokoléniy, My k sláve Otchíznu svoyú povedyóm!
Pripév III: Slávsya, Otéchestvo náshe svobódnoye, Slávy naródov nadyózhnyy oplót! Známya sovétskoye, známya naródnoye Pust ot pobédy k pobéde vedyót!
I An unbreakable union of free republics, TheGreat Rus' has sealed forever. Long live, the creation by the people's will, The united, mighty Soviet Union!
Chorus: Be glorified, our free motherland, Reliable stronghold of the people's friendship! Banner of the Soviets, the banner of the people, May it lead from victory to victory!
II Through storms, the sun of freedom shone on us, And GreatLenin illuminated our path. Stalin taught us to be faithful to the people, To labor and achievements, we were inspired!
Chorus
III We raised our Army in battles, And swept the vile invaders from the path! In battles, we determine the fate of generations, We bring glory to our Fatherland!
Chorus
I An unbreakable union of free republics, TheGreat Rus' has sealed forever. Long live, the creation by the people's will, The united, mighty Soviet Union!
Chorus: Be glorified, our free Motherland, Reliable stronghold of the people's friendship! TheParty of Lenin – the strength of the people, Leads us to the triumph of Communism!
II Through storms, the sun of freedom shined on us, And Great Lenin illuminated our path! To a righteous cause, he raised the people To labor and achievements, we were inspired!
Chorus
III In the victory of Communism's immortal ideas, We see the future of our country! And to the red banner of the glorious Motherland, We will always be devotedly true!
I Unbreakable Union of freeborn Republics Great Russia has welded forever to stand; Created in struggle by will of the peoples, United and mighty, our Soviet land!
Chorus: Sing to our Motherland, glory undying, Bulwark of peoples in brotherhood strong! Flag of the Soviets, peoples' flag flying, Lead us from vict'ry to victory on!
II Through tempests, the sunrays of freedom have cheered us, Along the new path where greatLenin did lead, Be true to the people, thusStalin has reared us, Inspired us to labour and valorous deed!
Chorus
III Our army grew up in the heat of grim battle, Barbarian invaders, we'll swiftly strike down. In combat the fate of the future we'll settle, Our country we'll lead to eternal renown!
Chorus
I United forever in friendship and labor, Our mighty republics will ever endure. The Great Soviet Union will live through the ages. The dream of a people, their fortress secure!
Chorus: Long live our Soviet motherland, Built by the people's mighty hand. Long live our people, united and free! Strong in our Friendship tried by fire, long may ourcrimson flag inspire, Shining in glory for all men to see!
II Through days dark and stormy while Great Lenin led us, Our eyes saw the bright sun of freedom above, And Stalin, our leader, with faith in the people, Inspired us to build up the land that we love!
Chorus
III We fought for the future, destroyedthe invader, And brought to our Homeland the Laurels of Fame. Our glory will live in the memory of nations, and all generations will honor her name!
Chorus
I The Russian [Soviet] republics, in freedom united, Have mastered their power, their glory, their pride, And thus they created the great Soviet Union, The will of the nations that spread far and wide!
Chorus: Great shall your glory be, motherland proud and free, Bulwark of friendship for nation and man! Flag of the Soviets, lead us to victory, Flag of the people since freedom began!
II The sunlight of freedom has shone through the tempest, And Lenin has lighted our path with his flame, While Stalin has shown us that faith in the people Inspires us to action, deeds, and fame.
Chorus
III Our army in action has grown in its power, And soon it will wipe out the enemy horde; The fate of the future is sealed by our bravery, For honor and glory shall be our reward!
^Державний гімн СРСР /Deržavnyj himn SRSR (Ukrainian) Дзяржаўны гімн СССР /Dziaržaŭny himn SSSR (Belarusian) СССР мадҳияси /SSSR madhiyasi (Uzbek) КСРО Мемлекеттік Әнұраны /KSRO Memlekettık Änūrany (Kazakh) СССР гимны /SSSR gimnı (Bashkir) ССРБ дәүләт гимны /SSRB däwlät gimnı (Tatar) ეროვნული ჰიმნი სსრკ /Erovnuli himni SSRK (Georgian) ССРИ Дөвләт һимни /SSRİ Dövlət Himni (Azerbaijani) ΤSRS valstybinis himnas (Lithuanian) Имнул де стат ал УРСС /Imnul de stat al URSS (Moldavian) PSRS valsts himna (Latvian) СССР Мамлекеттик гимни /SSSR Mamlekettik gimni (Kirghiz) ИҶШС Суруди Милли /IJSS Surudi Milli (Tajik) ԽՍՀՄ պետական օրհներգը /KSHM petakán orhnérge (Armenian) Дабаралы өвги ССРС /Dabaraly öwgi SSRS (Turkmen) NSVL riigihümn (Estonian) Совет Пӗрлешӗвӗн гимнӗ /Sovet Pĕrleşĕvĕn gimnĕ (Chuvash) ССРС өрөгөйүн ырыата /SSRS örögöyün ırıata (Yakut) Зүблэлтэ Холбооной түрын дуулал /Züblelte Kholboonoi türiin duulal (Buryat) ССРЭниң ыдык ыры /SSREniñ ydyk yry (Tuvan) СССР-ни кърал гимни /SSSR-ni qral gimni (Karachay-Balkar) Шуралар Бирлиги гимни /Şuralar Birligi gimni (Crimean Tatar) Асовет Еидгыла агимн /Asovet Eidgyla agimn (Abkhaz) Совет Зэгуэтхэм и къэрал уэрэд /Soviet Zeguetkhem i qeral uered (Adyghe) СССРалъул пачалихъияб гимн /SSSRaļul pacalixijab gimn (Avar) ССРСн пачхьалкхан шатлакхан илли /SSRSn paçẋalqan şatlaqan illi (Chechen) ССР Цæдисы паддзахадон гимн /SSR Cædisy paddzaxadon gimn (Ossetian) Сьруда ЙКСС /Sirûda YKSS (Kurdish) Държавен химн на СССР /Dǎržaven himn na SSSR (Bulgarian) Ύμνος Σοβιετικής Ένωσης /Hýmnos Sovieticís Hénosis (Greek) Hymne til Sovjetunionen (Norwegian) UdSSR-Hymne (German) Himno Estatal de la URSS (Spanish) Химна Совјетског Савеза /Himna Sovjetskog Saveza (Serbian) Hymn ZSRR (Polish) הימען פונעם סאוועטן פארבאנד /Himen funem Savetn Farband (Yiddish) 쏘련의 국가 /Ssoryŏnŭi kukka (Korean) 蘇聯國歌 /苏联国歌 /Sūlián guógē (Chinese) Совет лянмын гуәгә (Dungan) Quốc ca Liên Xô (Vietnamese)
^Shostakovich, Dmitriĭ Dmitrievich (2004).Testimony: the memoirs of Dmitri Shostakovich. Volkov, Solomon. (25th anniversary ed.). New York: Limelight Editions. pp. 261–262.ISBN978-0-87910-998-1.OCLC53183394.
^Советскай Союзтынъ гимни : Позыдыглыг республиктар : для хора без сопровожд. / (Сергей Михалковтынъ паза Эль-Регистаннынъ тексти ; А. В. Александровтынъ музыказы). - Абакан, 1944. - 3 с.
^"Data for item "43210"".Eesti Rahvusraamatukogu (Library catalog record) (in Estonian). Archived fromthe original on 2020-11-24. RetrievedAugust 19, 2020.
