Billy Joel - Leningrad (Official Video)
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- čas přidán 1. 10. 2009
- In 1989, Billy Joel released his album Storm Front, a successful album that hit #1 on the Billboard 200 charts and went quadruple platinum. Watch the official music video for "Leningrad", which was written based on Billy's experiences in Russia during his historic 1987 tour there.
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Lyrics:
Viktor was born in the spring of '44
And never saw his father anymore
A child of sacrifice, a child of war
Another son who never had a father after Leningrad
Went off to school and learned to serve the state
Followed the rules and drank his vodka straight
The only way to live was drown the hate
A Russian life was very sad
And such was life in Leningrad
Billy Joel's official CZcams channel features music videos, live performances, interviews, TV appearances and more. Best known for his first hit song, 'Piano Man', in 1973, Billy has written and recorded thirty-three Top 40 hits in the United States. He is a six-time Grammy Award winner, a 23-time Grammy nominee and one of the world's best-selling artists of all time, having sold over 150 million records worldwide. Billy Joel is the sixth-best-selling recording artist and the third-best-selling solo artist in the United States.
#BillyJoel #Lennigrad #OfficialVideo #StormFront - Hudba
Never understood why this wasn't a bigger hit. It's one of Billy's best songs.
I think it's a masterpiece and for me Billy Joel's most memorable song. For some reason it was only released as a single in Europe (not in the US) which might be why it was not a big international hit. It was included on his album "Storm Front" in 1989 but I have always felt it would have had a greater chance to shine had it been released as a single also in the huge US music market. He has not performed the song that often in concerts either so it's a kinda forgotten gem.
Completely agree, one of the most beautiful songs he has written.
It was very popular in Poland.
Viktor was a Russian clown he met in the 80's while touring the Soviet Union; the story in the song is all true.
+Brian Corvello Thank you, in Moscow. I am now publisher of scientific literature.
Publish the Nobel lectures in Russian language. Victor Razinov.
Whoa. Who'd have ever thunk. :)
Thank YOU for taking the time to answer, Mr. Razinov, that means a LOT.
+Brian Corvello Thank you for the truth.
Виктор Разинов My pleasure
+Brian Corvello Definitely a very touching story!
I am a 52 years old German and heard this song in my early 20's. After 30 years it still makes me shiver.
Mir gehts genau so. Was für ein emotionales Lied
When I first heard the song, my English wasn't good enough to understand everything, yet the song shook my very soul. Nowadays, I can hardly control my emotions.
This song is special to me. It gives me hope, we can overcome the hate and see the human beings.
Its a true story..one of the Russian roadies told him when he was doing the first ever music tour there..
Hey German. The.third raith is still exist..
@@m.g.m8894 Yes and the world is flat, coward
For me, this is one of the most important songs in music history. When will mankind finally come to its senses?
Some people are stupid 😢🎉🇩🇪
When they stop believing the American governments are the good guys.
Wars never gonna end there's too much money to make for people who have enough already the worlds controlled by them greedy so and so's .
PTSD and psychotic needs for vengeance aint going anywhere brother. Because nature selects for it!
When they remove the Satanic fake elite at the top.
It made me cry. From Russia with love. We're not enemies, we are equal, Americans!
One of the great songs of all time. Still can't watch this without crying.
Shame comrade Putin and his followers think otherwise 😢
@@pecheur1951 Shame that you do not understand it is Blinken, Nuland and Blinken who started this. Putin did not want this war. He was given no choice.
@@pecheur1951 i would say that only 1 in a 1000 Russians want the war
The western media are lying to us about what is really happening. It is rather more complicated than what we are led to believe.
@@pecheur1951
You lie you are enemy for 🇺🇦
"Leningrad"
Viktor was born in the spring of '44
And never saw his father anymore
A child of sacrifice, a child of war
Another son who never had a father after Leningrad
Went off to school and learned to serve the state
Followed the rules and drank his vodka straight
The only way to live was drown the hate
A Russian life was very sad
And such was life in Leningrad
I was born in '49
A cold war kid in McCarthy time
Stop 'em all at the 38th Parallel
Blast those yellow reds to hell
And cold war kids were hard to kill
Under their desks in an air raid drill
Haven't they heard we won the war
What do they keep on fighting for?
Viktor was sent to some Red Army town
Served out his time, became a circus clown
The greatest happiness he'd ever found
Was making Russian children glad
And children lived in Leningrad
But children lived in Levittown
And hid in the shelters underground
Until the Soviets turned their ships around
And tore the Cuban missiles down
And in that bright October sun
We knew our childhood days were done
And I watched my friends go off to war
What do they keep on fighting for?
And so my child and I came to this place
To meet him eye to eye and face to face
He made my daughter laugh, then we embraced
We never knew what friends we had
Until we came to Leningrad
+californyaeh I love you
Thx
Respect to mr willian martin joel.
Beautiful lyrics
Да здравствует мир! Будь проклятая война! Простым людям она никогда не нужна!
Beautiful inspiring song. The Nobel Price should be given to Billy Joel.
“We never knew what friends we had
until we came to Leningrad.”
I visited St Petersburg in June of 2018. Beautiful, fascinating, with incredible history, art, architecture and culture. Everyone I met treated me very well. To the Russian people, love from America.
I have been in Russia many times since the last ten years. Mostly very nice people. I also wanted to go there with my wife - but I think that will not be possible anymore. I hate what is happening right now.
@@matthias3032 I hate too..I'm from Russia...Not everybody here are support this terrible war... people are shocked....we are hostages of the situation.
But we do hope for peace for Ukraine and freedom for Russia. And I want you come back and see it... I can't live without this hope. Otherwise why do we live.... all of this ruined our lives....and I don't know how to live now..
@@naftalinkaable Do more than 'hope.' You do realize why NATO was created in the first place. You also realized that your neighbors/Warsaw Pact allies joined NATO the nano second they had the chance.
@@naftalinkaableTo Russia with love from America!!
I don't understand something here. Why would you not support the military operation??? The people of Crimea and the Donbass region have been persecuted for 8 years because they are Russian, speak Russian, hold to their traditions, etc. and for this, their fellow citizens hate them. Why would you not want to defend them??? The people of Russia need to look out for each other, even if they, i.e. those in Crimea and in the Donbass region, were separated from Russia and became citizens of Eucraine when the Soviet Union fell. Do not the people of Russia have relatives in these regions??? Why would you not get behind Putin and come to their aid willingly??
He was a very kind and compassionate man to respond to their cries for help. It was the honorable thing to do.
Eight years of genocide on fellow Russians???? How do you think you should respond, and why???
@@randybailey2132 Hello Mr. Kremlin troll 👋
どうか平和な世界が戻って来ますように。日本から願いを込めて。
*****
During his USSR tour in '87 Billy Joel met a clown named Viktor. This is a true story. He went to all six shows, having been a long-time fan of the Piano Man. When Billy learned of this, he invited Viktor backstage to meet him. They exchanged stories, spent a bit of time with each others' families, and actually stayed friends for a long time.
in 2015 they had a reunion in New York where Joel sang this song.
Jesse Shields much 1 day age r genesis rubin.Meltzer.birtbday vigonfebesis ghosts shelter.bowery residence comitee this gow I program.agerholm. locker greene
Jesse Shields. we suffer for the good times we thank.trump man for good.adderall money republian is now democrat thank younovana could be trunp sorry it as t to send me away..
k Maz, None of this was about that.
this story brought me to tears...indeed
In light of what's going on in the Ukraine and Russia now, this song is especially meaningful and relevant 32 years later. I know in '89-'90 there was a sense of hope that we could have world peace after the Wall fell. Pray for peace!
Pray that god push back the falcons back to the cage.
Came here for the same reason :(
Israel wont allow peace
@@I.IL.4RY4N This song and the situation in Ukraine that we're talking about has NOTHING to do with Israel. Get over it.
@@janetjongebloed6446 God has missed, The falcons fly.
Not only music...it is history: a hymn
One of the most beautiful songs ever written.
Ever!
Your so right
I agree completely!!!
:)
Talia Shulman Gold: полностью согласен - absolutely agree :)
Ms. Shulman Gold I agree.
It made me cry. From Russia with love. We're not enemies, we are equal, Americans!
We love you too.
+ponyficated It made me cry as well, so sad and pointless that we are fighting each others when we are equals and are justing following the wish and orders of our governments.. it is they who should fight each others. not the people. poor us.. the people don't want to fight each other, it is our governments..
+ponyficated You're a brony.
+ponyficated I love you
I cry every time Ponyficated. This cuts right to my emotions, like any well written song. When I found out this is a true story It drove home the fact we're all people who love our kids & want to live in peace, and live together as, well, you know. I put this song/story with "Imagine" even tho it will never have the audience that song did...War is such a tool of the state. But sometimes...I have a friend from Tublisi, in Georgia, and I learned of this story first hand, and that there IS hope for us : news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/4532539.stm
Don't you dare die on me, Billy. Most of my heros are already dead and my enemies are in power. Sing the world a lullaby for eternal sleep before you leave.
@Billy Joel Does that just so happen to be your name or are you actively trying to deceive people? Your channel info is visible, y'know. Opened 10th of February 2021, no content, one subscriber.
EDIT: I wouldn't mind a pen pal.
One of the best songs he has ever written.
I loved this song and Billy Joel's album back then... I could never have imagined it would again be relevant in 2022 😞
Me too 😢
Fucking Governments
Same for me! It's unbelievable! --- Stop PUTIN! FCK PUTIN.
I don't think you guys understand this song. it's about how governments, and other people, turn people against each other out of exaggerated fear, and how by meeting those "other" people you see how they're not so different.
You could write this song about Americans and Mexicans and the core message would be the same, though lyrics not about the dread of danger
@@derrickstorm6976 I am so agree with you. Hello from Ukraine...
Never forget that there are no winners in war!
One of the most beautiful songs ever written. So powerful, so emotional and so bitter sweet...
Billy's most underrated song - it's a real classic and I will never tire of coming back to listen to it. Lyrically and musically so powerful
Спасибо Гарри!!!
why do I always find the word "underrated" in comments, no matter what song and what artist. This song was not underrated!
@@VlankeBla cos it was. it is never spoken about when Billy Joel's songs come into discussion - ask anyone to name 5 of Billy's songs, and see if this is mentioned. I even requested this on a radio station, and the DJ said he hadn't heard this one before.
@@garrytaman7477 Well, I don't know where you come from, but here in the Netherlands he's definitely not underrated .
@@VlankeBla oh, he's not underrated, just this song
Nobody writes songs like this any more.
Yeah all the music today is his crap like "my boyfriend cheated on me" and other stupid topics no one writes about real topics like this anymore
some of it's ok, but modern music does not talk about politics as much
Isn't your name some sort of book series?
i mean the cold war has been over for like 20 years so...
modern music is less about politics and more about mental illness, you know, lighter issues.
I posted it to Twitter. Before we do anything silly over Ukraine, let's get everyone to sit down and listen to this song, as relevant today as it was when it was written. A beautiful song. 'And not a dry eye in the house', because people instinctively recognise universal human truths.
It's such perfect truth. I wish people would listen.
Это не песня, это ГИМН! Гимн миру и добру! Дай Бог скорейшего решения всех военных проблем! Всем мира и добра! Билли Джоэл - БРАВО !!!
Самая недооценённая его песня. Прошли десятилетия с момента ее написания, а она звучит просто фантастически, мурашки по коже ...
Put Putin to hell
Слава Україні!
@@asmodeaus8024😊
Спасибо за эти замечательные из России.
Leningrad
~ Billy Joel
Victor was born
The spring of '44
And never saw
His father anymore
The child of sacrifice
Child of war
Another son who never had
A father after Leningrad
Went off to school
And learned to serve his state
Follow the rules
And drank his vodka straight
The only way to live
Was drown the hate
The Russian life was very sad
And such was life in Leningrad
I was born in '49
A cold war kid in the McCarthy times
Stop 'em at the 38th parallel
Blast those yellow reds to hell
Cold war kids were hard to kill
Under their desks in an air raid drill
Haven't they heard we won the war
What do they keep on fighting for?
Victor was sent
To some red army town
Served out his time
Become a circus clown
The greatest happiness
He'd ever found
Was making Russian children glad
When children lived in Leningrad.
The children lived in Levittown
Hid in the shelters underground
Til the soviets turned their ships around
Torn the Cuban missiles down
And in that bright October sun
We knew our childhood days were done
I watched my friends go off to war
What do they keep on fighting for?
So my child and I came to this place
To meet him , eye to eye and face to face
He made my daughter laugh
Then we embraced
We never knew what friends we had
Until we came to Leningrad.
Songwriters: Billy Joel
Leningrad lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
As a first new generation fan of Billy Joel myself, I appreciate 👋👍🙂🙏💕the efforts you made by making use of your personal spare time🕰️📅⏳ on writing the lyrics of this beautiful💓 song🎼🎹🎶🎸🎵🎤 and share it 🖥️📺⌨️💻📳with us my friend. Gratitude🙏 from Hans🧔 of Berlin and Hamburg of Germany🌍🏛️🏫🏙️⛪🏰🇩🇪 as well as Auckland New Zealand🌏🐂🐄🏡🐏🐑🐎🏔️⛷️🇳🇿 and Brisbane Queensland state Australia🌏🦘🌳🐨🌲🦜🏞️🌊🏄🐳🏖️🇦🇺.
@@hansvonessen5367 All Good and You are Welcome. ~ Be Safe out there folks ~ Peace & Health to Us All.
To this day, and to me, this remains Joel's best song. And we're talking about a guy who wrote MANY great songs. This one is just above them all, because it's not "just" great music... there's also an importance to it.
One of the greatest and most under-heard songs ever written and produced. A song about love and compromise after all the mindless false pride, fighting and propaganda through all those crazy and fearful Cold War years
and the others don't? There is goodnight saigon which is the same political consciousness as this.
SCharlesDennicon For me it’s in the top five definitely
idk man. he uses racial slurs like crazy
❤❤❤❤❤❤ my favorite as well
Simply beautiful !
No more brother wars.
I remember this song with great sadness. I'm now watching "The Unknown War" (on CZcams) with even more sadness. Episode three shows the siege of Leningrad.
20 million plus Russians died fighting Nazi's and starving to death.
This is a powerful song. All those innocent kids who lost their dads to war and intolerance
their dads have started that war being attacking Finland and Poland, and those innocent kids later after war became kgb officers guilty of death over 50 000 russians ...
rangartons Well aren't you a barrel of laughs.
rangartons your comment really reflect the FAILURE of the US indoctrination-school system, and your own failure to educate yourself. This song and this video don't have nothing to do with your comment. Those children lost their fathers, and mothers, fighting the criminal Nazis, is about the WWII.
lenny zaroff in WWII my country was invaded by criminal nazis and red army, You can come to Poland and ask about my failure all of those raped woman, some of them are still alive, some of them was killed after multiple rape...
rangartons I sympathize with the Polish people in that dark period of time. Wars bring the worst of humans. Russia was forced to invade Poland, since Poland was unable to stop the Nazi advance. But the Red Army was the only force that defeat the Nazis, liberate Poland from them, and liberated mostly of the concentration camps. Don't forget that Russia suffered the highest number of victims of that horrific war. I apologize for any overboard comment, I don't care for political parties, to me humans are more important. Pokoju.
My father was in the blockade of Leningrad from the very beginning of the war. He was an artilleryman. He finished the war in Berlin. Eternal memory of all Soviet people and our allies the United States and Britain.
God bless your father, and all who fought with him. Much love from the UK!
Мой дед оборонял Ленинград. Всех вам благ!
Mine served in Russia for years and ultimately defended the capital of Berlin. He was wounded 12 times, lost an arm, a leg. He had multiple shrapnel in his brain until his death and suffered from epilepsy. Although he was almost dead, he did his job to the last. Because he knew: whoever defends just one square meter of German soil is defending Germany!
@@hans204 dude rest in piss
My father born 1943 did his Military service in the West German border troops by the fence. Kennedy was in the video and Russian military put the Fence and Berlin wall up over night in August 1960 when Kennedy was US president.
My dad told they picked up a 15 year old boy who crossed the mine fields from East Germany to West Germany. A True child of the Cold war who could have died. My Grandfather was born in Berlin and my grandmother Merseburg East Germany by Chemnitz that Soviets renamed Karl Marx Stadt.
Back when mainstream music was good!!
Billy needs to put this in his PERMANENT rotation. And especially in his MSG shows. There are tons of Russians/Ukrainians in NYC who want peace and this is a good song about friendship, peace and overcoming differences.
There is one problem with this song for making it permanent rotation.. It is in its name...Leningrad. Russian city... unfortunately everything Russian now is associated with aggression.
@@naftalinkaable For a good reason.
That probably won't happen for a while with everything going on there now. Billy had years and years to perform this regularly. I agree for all that time it should have been a staple in his setlists.
I saw him do it in MSG, Viktor was there (October 2015). I think it kicked off him doing it for a while cos I saw him do it twice in the UK not long after
Warms my heart to see someone acknowledge that Russians were not all bad people just because they lived in a communist state. America and Russia have so much in common, its heat breaking that our people are so galvanized against each other.
Absolutely right, and for people in all countries. Who leads a country and they're 'style' of governing doesn't reflect the feelings of all citizens of that country.
The world is too small for two countries like Russia and USA. Our interests collide, so we turn on each other. I only wish we all could understand we're not enemies, but rivals.
Really? When you see the rituals of KKK, you also call it "galvanizing against each other"?
Its not "galvanizing against each other", its all Washington regime's racist propaganda of hatred.
I know im commenting on a 2 year old comment but what most people didn’t under stand was that the soviets alone were the enemy, not the russian people.
Kosh Naranek it’s all because of the Russian Civil War, in which America and other western countries sent aid to the White Army.
We remember you Billy , we remember that you did . Thank you for rock and roll. Russian love you .
Фёдор Алехин the first letter in your name makes for a very pleasing profile picture :)
It's an F haha :)
I wish you peace and hope my brother
He isnt dead i think you mean we remember his songs not him
@Sara-Jane Williams I agree it should be a great world we live in but it is the opposite, I am lucky I live in a safe place, many others are not.I wish you peace and love❤️
I really love the fact that the intro sounds like the main theme of the Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35 of tchaikovsky who was born in ...Leningrad
If you think I just googled it to find the part, you're absolutely right. Thank you for that enlightening comment. Have a nice day :)
omg your right!!!! How did you pick up on that??
No coincidence, that's for sure!
What a beautiful answer to such a song! Thank you for history! In every human depth there is hope. This song manages to keep you in an emontional hell and letting you survive in the same place. Incredible!
@@Okkvltify Indeed, it's no coincidence. You can find this particular tidbit mentioned in the Song's Wiki page:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leningrad_(song)
We are all human beings and we all should belonging it doesn't matter if anyone is from another country we should all be friends with anybody
Sitting on my terrace and crying as a child. But I a m 60.
In light of the russian invasion in ukraine this song is evenm more heartbreaking. Man never learns.
A couple of years I told the younger kids in my family how broken the world back then was. They didn't beleive it.
Cold war kids were hard to kill - Under their desks in an air raid drill
This applies now more than ever
@@josephdelange8497 It applied back then more than ever. It applies somewhat still today.
I was one of those kids who like you did the duck and cover drills in elementary school, a time when we were indoctrinated to believe that citizens of the then Soviet Union were evil only to discover as adults they are no different than us, they just want to live in peace, raise their kids and grow old and so they can see their grandchildren grow up and live in a world free of hate and bigotry.
Next generation always think they know better and would never let the world become what it was in the past.
How have we allowed our world "leaders" and politicians and news media to reverse all of this? It is remarkably sad that every single bit of emotion contained within this beautiful song and all the emotion felt by the listeners of it over decades is being laid to waste before our eyes today.
Completely agree with your heartfelt comment. Absolutely awful.
wauu such a powerful words u wrote i am impressed by u
Its because of our Systems and the obeying these structures of power. One single lunatic person could never have power if we (the ones who are in the direct approach of these individuals) dont let them have it.
Ах,"Ленинград, Ленинград,я ещё не хочу умирать!"-как писала одна известная поэтесса.Спасибо Билли Джоэлу за замечательную, красивую песню о нашем блокадном Ленинграде! Мне ещё нравится этот клип, где показано так много сюжетов нашей военной кинохроники.Слезы наворачиваются на глаза, когда видишь этот красивый город весь в руинах.Особенно невыносимо смотреть на этих бедных деточек, которые идут, взявшись за ручки, и плачут.Наверно, потеряли родителей во время бомбёжки.И как ожил,и расцвёл наш город после войны.Совсем другие кинокадры! Спасибо, Билли!Вы огромный, великий талант с большой буквы "Т"!Желаю вам счастья и удачи!
Google translate
Ah, “Leningrad, Leningrad, I don’t want to die yet!” - as one famous poet wrote. Thanks to Billy Joel for the wonderful, beautiful song about our besieged Leningrad! I also like this clip, where so many scenes from our war newsreels are shown. Tears well up in your eyes when you see this beautiful city all in ruins. It’s especially unbearable to look at these poor children who walk holding hands and cry. They’re probably lost parents during the bombing. And how our city came to life and flourished after the war. Completely different film footage! Thank you, Billy! You are a huge, great talent with a capital “T”! I wish you happiness and good luck!
I love your City. I even learned russian to be able to communicate. Sind now i am not allowed to visit russia.
I cant understand.
I am not of Russian descent, I am an American. I've probably commented on this post before - but with our current tensions regarding Russia, and how I feel in regards to War; in and of itself, separating people by country, by political parties, and merely by race - this song is so moving that it makes me cry. It is beautiful, and I am so distressed and so upset that regardless of what party you choose, what alliance you make with one group, with one religion - there will always be a war.
As they say, "Si vis pacem, para bellum."
"If you want peace, prepare for war."
And alas...
"Those who do not know history's mistakes are doomed to repeat them,"
So to be honest, we either know our history and are just purely ignorant in regards to it,
Or we're too stupid to learn from our past mistakes.
Lindsay Frederiksen exactly. Say it louder for the people in the back!
why tf isnt this top comment. LIKE THIS ONE UP, PEOPLE!
So actual and so true.
Nice lyrics
Lindsay Frederiksen I would say the latter goes along with the United States
At that time as true as today! Don't let you be told by your political or media system what is right or what is wrong. Go and meet the people all over the world by yourself!
We have failed. The chance will never come again. Not for us. May the Lord have mercy on us.
it's never too late to fight corruption
People today need to see and hear this song.
This is one of Billy Joel's most underrated songs. I wish it received more airplay then it gets.
Unfortunately too political...only because its thw bloody truth
This song "The Leningrad" official release by Billy Joel is copyright to Dian Rubianti.
Original Dian Rubianti's masterpiece by Billy Joel. Song original composed completely by Dian Rubianti officially original Performed by Billy Joel.
Dian Rubianti's original masterpiece of song melody.
Lyrics owned by Dian Rubianti & ------
Letter from the owner of this masterpiece,
Dian Rubianti
18-Nov-81
When my father was alive, he played this song on the piano. Now, sorry he died.
I do not know how many times I can say: yes, and yes, and yes, again! Love to this song forever! If the world could just listen and realize...!
I once saw an interview with the actor Peter Unstinov and he said that all around the world, basically, people are good......it's only their governments that let them down. Never was a truer word spoken.
I was born in 1951. This song speaks to me. A cold war kid under their desks in an air raid drill. Even as a child, I thought, we are doomed. Not a good way to grow up. But as an adult.i have taught my children to cherish their freedom, although they have different challenges to face❤
Trauma based mind control...It's "their" default psychological social engineering method...
We had all these drills all the time in Soviet Union when we were kids. It was terrible
I was born in 1944 too. A child of WW2 and every war since. What have I learned in my 80 years? To love everyone. This song breaks my heart ❤ love everyone, Jesus was right.
This song means a lot to me, a decade after Joel's visit I went to St Petersburg on vacation and unexpectedly met a Leningrad-born woman who would eventually become my wife. One of our memorable first dates was to the circus and this song always brings back memories of that evening and the "great friend" I made when I too made the journey to "Leningrad"...
Интересная история. Сердечно поздравляю вас. Расскажу эту историю Билли. Я тот самый Виктор -клоун.
@@viktor6634 Thank you Victor! It was December 1997, almost 25 years ago, that we visited the circus and the memory is still fresh and feels like only yesterday. I will let my wife know that of your congratulations, I am sure that it will make her smile! All my best to you and your family and I am happy that your friendship with Billy has been a lasting one!
@@viktor6634 Храни вас Господь, дорогой наш человек, за ваше открытое сердце, за вашу профессию. За то, что сподвигли Билли написать песню, которая тронула сердца миллионов. Будьте здоровы и счастливы, живите долго!
Fantastic. What a lovely story for both you and your wife.
Wishing you the very best.
☮️🇺🇸😍🇺🇸☮️
I'm a child of the cold war, and I can relate to the words of and sentiments of this song. I believe the point of the song is not for us to focus on Leningrad, but about a slice of life of Victor who with all of his pain, he learned to finally find joy in simply making children happy. "We never knew what friends we had until we came to Leningrad..." I believe Billy was saying in 1989, that we had friends in the Soviet Union and we can be friends..." Now our children are never taught about the cold war, the hiding under desks, the fear of a cold war that could turn hot and all of humanity disinagrating. In 1969, 1979, 1989, we all lived with this fear. Then the Berlin Wall came down, and the world changed. Yet, the more we change the more we stay the same. We're now at war with ghosts.
South africa heading down this path fast with covid 19
Yes I know I was born in 1981 and we did still have air raid drills when I was in first grade but they were very few. The cold war effected at least 5 generations and each generation doesn't fully understand the previous generations before them but the one thing we all have in common is the cold war😭😥😢😰
I hate makeing al thies spelling correction
Well said. 👍
The states require new boogey men constantly to channel their countries rage at to distract them from the system that slowly killing them. Be it nazis, Russia, terrorists, the middle east, North Korea or china
Thirty years later, the line "he made my daughter laugh and we embraced" gets me every time. I studied International Relations in college and I would think about this song when studying the Cold War.
Yep!
This song gives me shivers everytime I listen...
This masterpiece captures the horror of war. Powerful stuff! ❤
This song was written shortly after his tour in Russia in 1987. It was written to all the people he had met during his tour that he became friends with, especially a circus performer named Victor that was at every show and always in the front row.
I didn't know about this, but last week I told my students this thing you said. Is it accurate, or did I just fool them??? ;)
It is accurate. I saw a showtime documentary about it with Billy Joel, his band mates, ex wife, and others talking about their experiences while touring Russia. If you can find it I highly recommend you check it out. Its called Billy Joel A Matter of Trust - The Bridge To Russia
Cristinact porpus is right, try wiki and you will find a story of the song.
peace
*****
Thanks!!!! I've already watched the documentary, it rocks!!
Glad I could help. While it might not have been the biggest factor that lead to the fall of the Soviet Union, it was a small piece of it. He showed the Russians what American Rock n Roll was all about. Not only that, but they learned that they were not so different then him and he learned he was not so different then them. At least when it came to the people. Different politics, but deep down we are all the same.
In school as an introduction to the Cold War they should play this song.
Mine did lol
it wasn't the cold war....
My teacher did. That's how I found out about this.
Mine did
And then play We Didn't Start the Fire at the end as a review.
Aren't we stupid ? We let a handful of assholes to tell us whom to love or whom to hate.
Can you imagine what we could accomplish if Russians and Americans worked together? Nothing would be impossible.
Billy, we love you! From Russia with love.
Lol
Андрей Уу with all my heart with you
as someone who was born after all of the events described took place, it breaks my heart that this song is relevant still.
Sending love and compassion to EVERYONE involved in the current conflict. This song brings it home.
So many good people in the world... Greetings from Ukraine. But I was born in Russia (Soviet Union), it was and it will be always part of me.
All I can say is Billy Joel is poet musician and storyteller and nobody else does it better. And if they don’t put a monument to this man it would be sacrilege. So emotional ❤❤❤
This song really makes me tear up
+Christopher Inductivo I love you
+Christopher Inductivo Forget the song. Read about the siege of Leningrad during WW2. What those people endured is beyond belief.
+Christopher Inductivo Wonderful, poignant song! Almost everytime when I listen this I have tears in my eyes! Masterpiece!
+Charles The Hammer Martel, I think that you may be thinking of the siege of Stalingrad(now called Volgograd). Granted the people of Leningrad suffered but not in the way that the people of Stalingrad did.
+Mark Foor yes they did. The civilians of Leningrad were intentionally starved by the nazi siege which took more then 900 days. About 1 million citizens died. It was Hitlers plan to wipe Leningrad of the face of the earth. All in all it took longer for the Soviets to lift the siege of Lenongrad then the whole Stalingrad campaign, which ofcourse was also a most dire battle.
I think , It´s one of his best Songs
Heard this song for the first time here, though I have known Billy Joel since the 80th. Back then he became very popular in the Soviet Union. Perestroika, glasnost, democracy, new world and new opportunities.Tthe World was changing for the better. How it happened that history retraced? Thanks, Billy for you songs. You are great!
Absolutely love this song. One of Joel's most impartial. Makes you think real hard how good the U.S. is.
We all God's children. Whether in USA or USSR, we all have the same story. We all want the same things.We laugh, we cry, we seek joy and we have fears. Billy gets it. He's the people's musician! I love you STILL Mr. Joel. You are my Brother.
Referring to the song "Back in the USSR". -_-
Vorock16 Your joking right?
Vorock16 I'm sorry i misinterpreted your comment.
Vorock16 You are not.
Ezra Block Vorock 16 is not russian. He is only pretending to be. A normal russian guy will never put a profile picture resembling to Hitler face, because second world war 2 was the nastiest things that happened to Russia or at that time USSR. OR he is not very OK with himself. Like we russians say: В семье не без урода. Which if translated in good way will be: there is one rotten apple in every barrel.
Everytime I hear it I must cry. From Germany with love to the world! May Peace will be here in Europe soon. Love and Happiness for all of you❤💙❤🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
@Joel Billy thank you Billy! I am happy to be here! I love your songs and your messages. So important now as it was before❤may you aleays be blessed and healthy💙❤🍀🌟
@Joel Billy Thank you so much! I means a lot to me to be here❤💙🌟
Many greetings from germany to all who love this song, let's love together!
Dear lord in heaven, if our leaders and corporations could learn just how much we actually matter, as we are all one people, one true human race, maybe one day, one day, we'll all live in peace.
I pray for peace in all nations.
It makes me so sad to hear this song in these times. I was young in the times of the cold war and we don't want that again! Stop this Invasion now!
Bronx born B.Joel...he became a cultural icon.
Still listen 22-09-2020
Ein Meister werk der music❤❤❤❤❤grüsse an die ganze welt aus Berlin Frieden für uns alle
Peace!!
We are what again , we as humans are always friends , as people
I was born in 1950, this song rings so true... I have always maintained regardless of where we live, the people have more in common than separates us.
I too was born in 1950 and agree with your words
@@mikewilliams3384 My Uncle was too
😢😢😢One of the most heartfelt, sad, and historically accurate songs I’ve ever heard! Just amazing!
It is great song, but never historically accurate! Those who knew the real life in Leningrad in 60-70th would never write about "sad life" there
@@juliamaurice9825 "sad" because many kids had to grow up without their Dads (which occures in the song, since it's about Viktor and others like him)
No singer these days has the talent to write a masterpiece like that
Did he win any awards for this?
Happy birthday, Leningrad, today's St. Petersburg! Today, the city is 317 years old! I love you, St. Petersburg!
I love rusia
WE didnt know what Friends WE had, until WE CAME to leningrad. With gratitude and love. Inge
This song feels like it has renewed relevance. "Haven't they heard, we won the war. What do they keep on fighting for?"
Ask the Americans that. Why did they interfere in the Ukrainian government overthrow in 2014 and then go back in December of 2016 making offers to the Ukrainian Neo-Nazi factions? What are they trying to do???
One of the great songs of all time. Still can't watch this without crying.
It is, indeed, majestic (in the best sense).
Yes, yes, yes!
Totally agree
Same feeling brother.. peace from asia
Felt the need to hear this again....
@Billy Joel
I will never stop listening to the music of Billy Joel.
We're both from the same area on Long Island and I've followed him from the start.
☮️💖🎼🎶💖☮️
Auch dieser Song sollte mehr Beachtung bekommen. Heute mehr, denn je! Alle Kinder, in jedem Land sollten sorgenfrei aufwachsen. Menschen sollten Menschen respektieren! Alle mögen in Frieden leben!
This song should also get more attention! Today more than ever! All children should grow up carefree. People should people! May all livein peace!
Thank you Mr. Billie Joel!
Viktor came over to NY several years ago and was a special guest of Billy’s at one of the Garden shows. He even brought a gift for Alexa Ray, Billy’s oldest daughter, who was only a year old during the Russia tour. Glasnost was so often credited to the political types, but I’d like to think that Billy and his band had a part in that too. I was 13 years old when this album came out, and when the Berlin Wall fell, and I remember that time so vividly. Seeing the East and the West come together was quite a sight. I never thought the world would be back at that place again, where fear would once again be used as a weapon, but here we are. War is a terrible thing, a power play by those who often hold too much power already. I hate to see what’s happening to the people of both Russia and Ukraine, and the people are always the ones caught in the middle. “What do they keep on fighting for,” indeed. ☮️
日本語で失礼します。
今この瞬間、ウクライナとロシアで同じことが起きている。
今、多くの人にこの動画を見てほしい。
History repeats (always !) .
Lots of then involved countries did‘n learn, unfortunately- and the „warlords and Aggressors“ are nearly the same !
What a shame !
I love this song. ❤
It reflects exactly the above situation wich makes me very sad and upset !
Отличная песня в прекрасном исполнении замечательного человека браво снимаю шляпу
As a Veterans Daughter this song hits home.
The best Song for ever
POWER☝💪❤
One of the greatest songs ever written and sung. Thank you Billy.
Another Song that is more relevant today than it has ever been!
We're not enemies. I am writing from Odessa. We are Russian, and now do believe us. We are all from Leningrad, and our hearts belong to our culture and traditions. And we are proud of our history.
Is't Odessa part of Ukraine.
This is one of my favourite Billy Joel songs