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.
25 к 10
Аквариум Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
И больше я не получу.
Мне двадцать пять, и я до сих пор
Не знаю, чего хочу.
И мне кажется, нет никаких оснований
Гордиться своей судьбой,
Но если б я мог выбирать себя,
Я снова бы стал собой.
Мне двадцать пять, и десять из них
Я пою, не зная, о чем.
И мне так сложно бояться той,
Что стоит за левым плечом;
И пускай мои слова не ясны,
В этом мало моей вины;
Но что до той, что стоит за плечом,
Перед нею мы все равны.
Может статься, что завтра стрелки часов
Начнут вращаться назад,
И тот, кого с плачем снимали с креста,
Окажется вновь распят.
И нежные губы станут опять
Искать своего Христа;
Но я пел, что пел, и хотя бы в том
Совесть моя чиста.
Я счастлив тем, как сложилось все,
Даже тем, что было не так.
Даже тем, что ветер в моей голове,
И в храме моем бардак.
Я просто пытался растить свой сад
И не портить прекрасный вид;
И начальник заставы поймет меня,
И беспечный рыбак простит.
The lyrics of Аквариум's song "25 к 10" (25 to 10) speak to the struggle of a young man who is uncertain and aimless, despite his position as an engineer earning only 100 rubles. The first verse reveals that he feels stuck in his position and that he doesn't even know what he wants. The second verse speaks to the anxiety he feels, both about the unknown future and the person standing behind him. He seems to be seeking some sort of validation or acceptance, acknowledging that his words may not be clear, but that ultimately they are sincere.
The final verse is a bit more abstract, discussing the idea that time may reverse itself and that the singer is content with how things have unfolded. He accepts the chaos in his own head and the disorder in his physical surroundings, but still tries to cultivate a beautiful garden. The last two lines of the song suggest that others will understand and forgive his actions, even if they seem careless.
Overall, the song's message is one of acceptance and self-discovery, even in the midst of chaos and uncertainty. It's a message that many people can relate to, as we all struggle with questions of purpose and identity at some point in our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Я инженер на сотне рублей,
I am an engineer who earns only a few hundred rubles.
И больше я не получу.
And I will not get any more than that.
Мне двадцать пять, и я до сих пор
I am still just 25 years old,
Не знаю, чего хочу.
And still don't know what I want.
И мне кажется, нет никаких оснований
And it seems to me that there are no real reasons
Гордиться своей судьбой,
To be proud of my fate,
Но если б я мог выбирать себя,
But if I could choose myself,
Я снова бы стал собой.
I would become myself again.
Мне двадцать пять, и десять из них
I am 25 years old and for 10 of those years
Я пою, не зная, о чем.
I have been singing without knowing what about.
И мне так сложно бояться той,
And it is so difficult for me to be afraid of the person
Что стоит за левым плечом;
Who is standing behind my left shoulder;
И пускай мои слова не ясны,
And even if my words are unclear,
В этом мало моей вины;
It is not entirely my fault;
Но что до той, что стоит за плечом,
But as for the person standing behind me,
Перед нею мы все равны.
We are all equal in front of them.
Может статься, что завтра стрелки часов
It may happen that tomorrow the clock hands
Начнут вращаться назад,
Start rotating backwards,
И тот, кого с плачем снимали с креста,
And the one taken down from the cross with tears,
Окажется вновь распят.
Will be crucified again.
И нежные губы станут опять
And tender lips will once again
Искать своего Христа;
Look for their Christ;
Но я пел, что пел, и хотя бы в том
But I sang what I sang, and at least in that
Совесть моя чиста.
My conscience is clear.
Я счастлив тем, как сложилось все,
I am happy with how everything turned out,
Даже тем, что было не так.
Even the things that did not go well.
Даже тем, что ветер в моей голове,
Even the wind in my head,
И в храме моем бардак.
And the mess in my temple.
Я просто пытался растить свой сад
I simply tried to grow my own garden,
И не портить прекрасный вид;
And not spoil the beautiful view;
И начальник заставы поймет меня,
And the border guard chief will understand me,
И беспечный рыбак простит.
And the carefree fisherman will forgive me.
Contributed by Miles H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.