I have always been fascinated by Soviet propaganda. I am mesmerized by those giant statues they put all across the USSR. One of the most famous ones (and one of the biggest in the world) is
Родина-мать зовёт! - literally translated "Mother Motherland is Calling", but mostly referred to as "Mother Russia". Located in Volgograd, Russia, she is commemorating the Battle of Stalingrad. When the memorial was dedicated in 1967 it was the tallest sculpture in the world, measuring 85 metres (279 feet) from the tip of her sword to the top of the plinth. (Lady Liberty is 151 feet tall.)
See her here. She is not a pretty lady, that's for sure. But boy, is she ever impressive! I've always wanted to go see her in person. Not sure if I can make it in time, though, because the lady's leaning due to groundwater level changes causing movement of the foundations. Unfortunately, the leaning is rapidly getting worse.One of these days mum's gonna fall flat on her face. Maybe it's a good thing that I won't be there when that happens. Still: crying shame, this. They didn't fix her to her foundation - she is only held in place by her weight, like so many of us. :-D
If one would go pay her a visit, one would first come across the very statue up above, well to a degree. :-P
Васи́лий Ива́нович Чуйко́в or Lieutenant General Vasily Ivanovich Chuikov was a member of the Red Army during World War II. He is also referred to as "Mother Russia's Son" (she had many, mostly members of the military). He's pretty impressive in size as well, but nowhere near mum's magnitude.
Well, things have changed quite a bit since those days. Lots of people have put down their weapons and left behind old concepts of so-called "enemies" and
The Leningrad Cowboys have entered the scene! (Who are, by the way, not from Leningrad, nor are they cowboys, those guys are are Finnish! :-o) Whoohoo!
They invited the virtuosos of the Russian Red Army Choir to a little jam session back in the 90's. They hit it off right away. If I am not mistaken, they've been working together a couple of times since then.
Sooo, in short: up there you see a more peaceful, musically inclined and culturally curious Russian son. He was always around but didn't have much of a chance in the past. He still enjoys exercise a lot - nothing wrong with that! *Rrrooow* :-D
I recommend having a look and a listen to this amazing
Playlist. Personally, I was blown away.
