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.
Иван И Данило
Аквариум Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Мне скажут: "Как это мило", я скажу: "Иван и Данило".
Иван и Данило; вот идут Иван и Данило.
Мне скажут: "Как это было", я скажу: "Иван и Данило".
Мой лирический герой сидит в Михайловском саду,
Он курит папиросы у всех на виду,
Из кустов появляются Иван и Данило,
Он считает их персонажами собственных книг,
Он думает, не стал ли он жертвой интриг,
Он думает, не пил ли он чего-нибудь такого,
Дык, не пил, елы-палы, нет;
Иван и Данило; вот идут Иван и Данило.
Мне скажут: "Как это мило", я скажу: "Иван и Данило".
Иван и Данило; вот идут Иван и Данило.
Мне скажут: "Как это было", я скажу: "Иван и Данило".
На заборе сидит заяц в алюминиевых клешах,
Он сам себе начальник и сам падишах,
Он поставил им мат и он поставил им шах,
И он глядит на них глазами;
В исполкоме мне скажут: "Это чушь и это бред!",
Но я видел исполкомы, которых здесь нет,
Они сам себе сельпо и сам центральный комитет,
И глядят на них глазами;
Куда идут Иван и Данило; Иван и Данило.
Меняя шило на мыло, вот идут Иван и Данило.
Иван и Данило; вот идут Иван и Данило.
Мне скажут: "Как это было", я скажу: "Иван и Данило".
Вот идет Тиглат Палисар, вот идет Тиглат Палисар,
Раньше он был начальник, а теперь стал цар; Тиглат Палисар.
Вслед идет Орфей Пифагор, вслед идет Орфей Пифагор;
Вместе с Еврипидом из-за леса из-за гор, вот идет Орфей Пифагор.
Вслед идет Сирень да не та, вслед идет Сирень да не та.
Эй, лихие люди, отворяйте ворота,
Вот идет Сирень да не та.
А вслед идут Иван и Данило; вот идут Иван и Данило.
За ними белая кобыла; вот идут Иван и Данило.
The song "Иван И Данило" by the Russian rock band Аквариум is a surreal and dreamlike narrative about the singer who is sitting in Mikhailovsky Garden smoking cigarettes. He is observing two characters who suddenly appear from the bushes, Ivan, and Danilo. The singer then imagines himself as a writer and creates a world where these characters play out a story.
The song's lyrics are open to interpretation and could be seen as a commentary on the nature of storytelling and the power of imagination. The singer creates a world in his mind where he is in control and manipulates the characters to his will. The lyrics also seem to reflect the cultural and political climate in Russia during the time the song was written, with references to the government and its officials.
Overall, the song is a creative and imaginative piece that reflects the complexities of human nature and the power of storytelling.
Line by Line Meaning
Иван и Данило; вот идут Иван и Данило.
Ivan and Danilo are walking, here they come, Ivan and Danilo.
Мне скажут: "Как это мило", я скажу: "Иван и Данило".
They'll say to me "How cute!" and I'll say "Ivan and Danilo".
Мой лирический герой сидит в Михайловском саду,
My lyrical hero is sitting in Michael Garden,
Он курит папиросы у всех на виду,
He's smoking cigarettes for everyone to see,
Из кустов появляются Иван и Данило,
From the bushes appear Ivan and Danilo,
Он глядит на них глазами;
He looks at them with his eyes.
Он считает их персонажами собственных книг,
He considers them characters in his own books,
Он думает, не стал ли он жертвой интриг,
He wonders if he has become a victim of intrigues,
Он думает, не пил ли он чего-нибудь такого,
He wonders if he has drunk something strange,
Дык, не пил, елы-палы, нет;
No, he hasn't, never mind
На заборе сидит заяц в алюминиевых клешах,
On the fence sits a hare in aluminum pants,
Он сам себе начальник и сам падишах,
He's his own boss and ruler,
Он поставил им мат и он поставил им шах,
He's sworn at them and he's made them tremble,
И он глядит на них глазами;
And he looks at them with his eyes.
В исполкоме мне скажут: "Это чушь и это бред!",
"This is nonsense and madness!" they'll say in the executive committee,
Но я видел исполкомы, которых здесь нет,
But I've seen executive committees that don't exist here,
Они сам себе сельпо и сам центральный комитет,
They're their own cooperative and their own central committee,
И глядят на них глазами;
And they look at them with their eyes.
Куда идут Иван и Данило; Иван и Данило.
Where are Ivan and Danilo going; Ivan and Danilo.
Меняя шило на мыло, вот идут Иван и Данило.
Switching from one thing to another, here go Ivan and Danilo.
Вот идет Тиглат Палисар, вот идет Тиглат Палисар,
Here comes Tiglath-Pileser, here comes Tiglath-Pileser,
Раньше он был начальник, а теперь стал цар; Тиглат Палисар.
He used to be a leader, but now he's become a king; Tiglath-Pileser.
Вслед идет Орфей Пифагор, вслед идет Орфей Пифагор;
Following him is Orpheus Pythagoras, following him is Orpheus Pythagoras;
Вместе с Еврипидом из-за леса из-за гор, вот идет Орфей Пифагор.
Together with Euripides from beyond the woods and mountains, here comes Orpheus Pythagoras.
Вслед идет Сирень да не та, вслед идет Сирень да не та.
Following them is purple loosestrife, not that one,
Эй, лихие люди, отворяйте ворота,
Hey, wild folks, open the gates,
Вот идет Сирень да не та.
Here comes purple loosestrife, not that one.
А вслед идут Иван и Данило; вот идут Иван и Данило.
And following them are Ivan and Danilo; here go Ivan and Danilo.
За ними белая кобыла; вот идут Иван и Данило.
Behind them is a white mare; here go Ivan and Danilo.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind