Alisa (Алиса, Russian for Alice) is a Russian and Soviet hard rock band, on… Read Full Bio ↴Alisa (Алиса, Russian for Alice) is a Russian and Soviet hard rock band, one of the most influential in the Russian rock movement. Their lyrics, written by vocalist Konstantin Kinchev, are about social problems, rock lifestyle, Slavic culture and, recently, Christian faith. Alisa's music evolved from post punk in the 1980s to heavier metal sound of recent albums.

Alisa was founded in November 1983 by bassist Svetoslav Zadery. The name of the band is borrowed from Lewis Carroll's book "Alice in Wonderland". The band's lineup was finally completed in 1984, when new vocalist Kostya Kinchev (born Konstantin Panfilov) and guitarist Pyotr Samoylov joined Alisa. Their debut album "Energia" (Energy) was released by Melodia, the state publishing monopoly, and was sold in numbers of more than one million.

But the relations between the two leaders, Konstantin and Zadery, were poor, and finally Svetoslav left the band. This occurred just one hour before Alisa was to perform at a concert. Alisa had to ask Кино bassist Igor Tihomirov to replace him for one concert. Later Zadery created his own band 'Nate!' ('Take it!').

The growing popularity of the band created a fan community called the 'Army of Alisa', known for their rough behaviour at concerts. It led to animosity between the band and Soviet officials. In 1987 the newspaper Smena accused Kinchev of Nazi propaganda and worshipping Hitler. Alisa's leader Kinchev filed a suit for calumny and moral loss compensation. After the year-long court process the magazine published the refutation. Alisa's next album was titled Article 206 part 2, a chapter ('Hooliganism') of the USSR Procedural Code, alluding to this process.

There were new lineup changes in 1988, when guitarist Igor 'Chuma' Chumykin joined Alisa. This change was followed by the heavier sound of next albums Shabash and For those Who Fell From the Moon. Alisa toured through Europe and Israel together with Aria. The album Black Mark, 1994, was dedicated to the memory of Chuma, who committed suicide by jumping from the window.

In the new millennium, with albums such as Seychas Pozdnee Chem Ty Dumaesh (It is Later Than You Think, 2003) and Izgoy (Exile, 2005), the sound of Alisa was changed to a heavier one, including elements of nu-metal, industrial and heavy metal. Music critics credited Clawfinger as Kinchev's greatest new music influence. This gave Alisa a new fan base among Russian hard rock fans, and three songs from Izgoy continually reached the top of the NASHE radio chart.

Kinchev was baptised in 1990, and since then Christianity has been the main influence on his alignment and his lyrics. Although early Alisa lyrics were typical for Russian rock - the social protest and rock 'n' roll hype - since the late 1990's their main theme has been ideas of Christianity, Russian patriotism, and Slavic unity.

Konstantin is in good relations with the priests of the Russian Orthodox Church, especially Andrey Kuraev. Alisa has participated in many religion-supporting festivals, such as 'Musicians for the Christ Savior Cathedral'.

Крах
АлисА Lyrics

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Над землей кружит
Лебединая стать
Крыльев не сломать,
Не выбить, не взять,

А за ней следит,
Замышляя напасть,
Черная душа -

Смердящая пасть.

Так и нас пасут
По родным берегам
Полчища собак,
Что служат волкам.

Нам дают понять,
Что мы пыль и ботва,
А тем, кто не догнал,
Тем 282.

Смерть поглощает мир
Не спеша,
В ней постигают жизнь
Плоть, кровь и душа.

Где тот Русский Дух,
Что народу служил,
Головы ровнял,
Страной дорожил?

Только нет страны,
А родная земля -
Общая для всех
Территория.

Крах рубежей оборотистых сил
Мне очевиден и ясен.
Тот, кто себя в мире превозносил,
Глуп и опасен.

Некто А и Б
Присосались к трубе,
Но если А закрыть,
То крякнет и Б.

Только им и так,
Как без неба земле,
В олове кипеть,
Клубиться в смоле.

25.05.2011 Саба

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Алиса’s song “Крах” (Crash) symbolize the struggle between light and dark, good and evil. The lyrics start out with the image of a swan; its wings cannot be broken or taken, which represents the unbreakable spirit of the strong and noble. However, it is followed by the image of a black soul with a putrid mouth, symbolizing the corruptible and malevolent. The song goes on to describe how people are herded along by packs of dogs, serving the wolves, representing a society where those in power abuse those beneath them. The use of the number “282” is a reference to the Russian Federation Criminal Code article aimed at prosecuting hate speech, which has been controversial in its implementation and enforcement.

The song then moves on to the topic of death, which consumes life slowly, revealing the true essence of flesh, blood, and soul. The absence of the Russian spirit, which used to serve the people, is also lamented. The country no longer exists, and all that remains is a shared territory. The final verses celebrate the fall of corrupt powers, with poignant metaphors describing how those who cling to power are like two leeches holding on to a tube, and when one is removed, the other will inevitably fall. The song ends on a note of hope, stating how new life can grow from the ashes of the old.

Line by Line Meaning

Над землей кружит
The swan-like figure circles above the earth

Лебединая стать
In a majestic posture, like a swan

Крыльев не сломать,
Unbreakable wings

Не выбить, не взять,
Cannot be beaten or taken

А за ней следит,
And a black soul watches her,

Замышляя напасть,
Plotting an attack

Черная душа -
A dark soul -

Смердящая пасть.
With a stinking mouth.

Так и нас пасут
And so they herd us

По родным берегам
Along the native shores

Полчища собак,
Packs of dogs