The band was formed in Leningrad, Soviet Union in 1972 by Борис Гребенщиков (Boris Grebenshchikov), then a student of Applied Mathematics at Leningrad State University, and Анатолий Гуницкий (Anatoly "George" Gunitsky), a playwright and absurdist poet. In Soviet era, independent music was banned, so early Aquarium's concert venues were private apartments. These concerts were a unique Soviet phenomenon, created by underground musicians. They were usually "unplugged", as noise would cause the neighbors to alert the authorities. The limited space fostered an atmosphere of intimacy between the group and its audience, listening with bated breath, with perhaps someone recording it on a simple tape recorder. This was similar to the concepts of the Russian bards (russian bard), however Aquarium were (admittedly) much more influenced by Western music, particularly by The Beatles, Bob Dylan, David Bowie, progressive rock acts Jethro Tull, King Crimson and Roxy Music and also reggae. Thus their compositions were considerably more complex and their lyrics covered a broader range of topics, showing Grebenshchikov's notable erudition in Celtic and Indian cultures, among other things.
Until 1987 Aquarium recorded all of their albums in a self-assembled underground studio (several members had engineering education) disguised as a "Young Technicians Club" (for the album Радио Африка (Radio Africa) (1983) a government-owned mobile studio was secretly used, after bribing a technician). Despite those hard conditions, the recording quality was rather high and Aquarium's albums between 1980 and 1987 are considered by most fans as their best.
The advent of Glasnost in 1985 brought many underground Russian rock musician to public recognition and Aquarium became one of the most popular Russian bands. They were allowed to play in large concert halls, appeared on the state-owned television and recorded soundtracks for several films, most notably ASSA. In 1987 they recorded their first album for the state-owned Melodiya record label. With official backing and legalized distribution the album was a huge hit in USSR, selling well over a million copies within a few months. This was, however, the last album recorded by this Aquarium line-up and the band broke up shortly afterward. Grebenshchikov released two albums in English and toured with several different backing bands. In 1991 after the break-up of Soviet Union he released Русский Альбом (The Russian Album) under the name BG-Band, a collection of melancholic folk songs influenced by his travels all over Russia and demonstrating a return to his Russian roots. Shortly afterwards BG-Band was renamed Aquarium although most of the musicians were different. This band continued to release more albums and touring extensively all over former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe and also appearing before Russian immigrant communities in Germany, Israel and United States.
Although often criticized for departure from their original style and constant line-up changes which make Aquarium essentially a Grebenshchikov solo project, the group still enjoys huge success in Russia - their songs, old and new, get a lot of airplay, their albums sell well, and they tour constantly.
There is also a side project by Adam Young (Owl City) by the name Aquarium (which redirects to this page when scrobbled) from around 2003-5.
PureVolume account.
Genre: European Dance/Screamo
Three songs were released:
1. If the Trees Had Eyes They Would Be Glaring at You
2. M is for Motorcycle
3. I am Denmark
From Owl City Database: "Now Adam had a lot of “screaming” bands lol, but this one is by far the best. Aquarium is catchy and progressive. For example, “I am Denmark”, shows immense structure with a driving European dance undertone. By far one of Adam’s most original works."
Websites used for information: Adam Young's Music, Owl City Fandom, Owl-City Fandom, and Owl City Database.
All of the links in this section were saved in the Wayback Machine.
Брод
Аквариум Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Солнце было не отличить от луны.
Куда бы я ни шел, я всегда шел на север -
Потому что там нет и не было придумано другой стороны.
Первая звезда мне сказала: "Ты первый".
Ветер научил меня ходить одному.
Поэтому я до сих пор немножечко нервный -
Я смотрю туда и вижу тюрьму.
Время перейти эту реку вброд,
Самое время перейти эту реку вброд,
Пока ты на этой стороне, ты сам знаешь, что тебя ждет,
Вставай.
Переходим эту реку вброд.
Там, где я родился, каждый знал Колю.
Коля был нам лучший товарищ и друг.
Коля научил пить вино, вино заменило мне волю,
А яшмовый стебель заменил
Компас и спасательный круг
Но в воскресенье утром нам опять идти в стаю,
И нас благословят размножаться во мгле;
Нежность воды надежней всего, что я знаю,
Но инженеры моего тела велели мне ходить по земле.
Время перейти эту реку вброд,
Самое время перейти эту реку вброд.
Если хочешь сказать мне слово, попытайся использовать рот,
Вставай.
Переходим эту реку вброд.
The song "Брод" by Аквариум is a melancholic reflection on the singer's origins and life journey. The opening lyrics refer to the grey and monotonous nature of the singer's birthplace, where the sun was indistinguishable from the moon. The singer notes that they always walked north, as there was no other side of the world imagined or known. The first star they saw told them that they were the first, and they learned to walk alone with the wind. Despite this, the singer still feels nervous when told to seek happiness because they associate it with prison.
The singer recalls a friend named Kolya, who taught them to drink wine instead of following their own will. A jade stem replaced their compass and rescue ring. On Sunday mornings, they must gather with others to mate in the dark, despite the tender water being the only thing the singer trusts. However, their body's engineers command them to walk on the ground.
The repeated refrain of "Время перейти эту реку вброд" (It's time to ford this river) seems to urge the singer to cross a metaphorical river and move forward in their life journey. The final line advises others to use their mouths to speak and concludes with the call to get up and ford the river.
Line by Line Meaning
Там, где я родился, основной цвет был серый;
The place where I was born was dull and grey;
Солнце было не отличить от луны.
The sun looked just like the moon.
Куда бы я ни шел, я всегда шел на север -
No matter where I went, I traveled to the north -
Потому что там нет и не было придумано другой стороны.
Because there's no other side, and no other way to go.
Первая звезда мне сказала: "Ты первый".
The first star I saw said: "You're the first one."
Ветер научил меня ходить одному.
The wind taught me to walk alone.
Поэтому я до сих пор немножечко нервный -
That's why I'm still a little nervous till this day -
Когда мне говорят: "Смотри - счастье",
When someone tells me: "Look, it's happiness",
Я смотрю туда и вижу тюрьму.
I look there and see a prison.
Время перейти эту реку вброд,
It's time to wade across this river,
Самое время перейти эту реку вброд,
It's the perfect moment to cross this river,
Пока ты на этой стороне, ты сам знаешь, что тебя ждет,
While you're on this side, you know what awaits you,
Вставай.
Get up.
Переходим эту реку вброд.
Let's wade across this river.
Там, где я родился, каждый знал Колю.
In the place where I was born, everyone knew Kolya.
Коля был нам лучший товарищ и друг.
Kolya was our best comrade and friend.
Коля научил пить вино, вино заменило мне волю,
Kolya taught me to drink wine, and wine replaced my will,
А яшмовый стебель заменил
And a jade stem replaced
Компас и спасательный круг
My compass and rescue buoy.
Но в воскресенье утром нам опять идти в стаю,
But on Sunday mornings, we have to go back to the pack,
И нас благословят размножаться во мгле;
And we'll be blessed to reproduce in the darkness;
Нежность воды надежней всего, что я знаю,
The tenderness of the water is the most trustworthy thing I know,
Но инженеры моего тела велели мне ходить по земле.
But the engineers of my body ordered me to walk on land.
Если хочешь сказать мне слово, попытайся использовать рот,
If you want to say something to me, try using your mouth,
Переходим эту реку вброд.
And let's wade across this river.
Contributed by Madison J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.