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'.
Черный
АлисА Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Мой rock-n-roll забил по цифре синхрокода,
Весь генофонд нагнул в полураспад,
А биомассу превратил в электорат.
Он каждому шепчет: "Ты", и каждый орет: "Мне!"
В самости по шею, по глаза в говне.
Три шестерки на семи понтах,
Землю распатронили в пух и прах.
Мир
Без
Глаз.
Танцы раком, срамом на показ.
Взгляд -
Кровь
Слез.
Где вразнос, там свара, да донос.
Мне вместо глаз все чаще видятся бойницы,
А вместо лиц все чаще цифры да таблицы.
ИНН ведет подсчет.
SIM, HTTP, GPRS, PIN-код.
И каждый орет: "мне! Сейчас и здесь, все!"
Требы оприходуя на то, на се.
Клоунами гнуться в истерике танца
Само истребители и самозванцы.
Не замечая, времени ход,
Звезды плетут хоровод.
С каждой минутой ближе покой,
Вечность стоит за спиной.
Как жить толпе, давным-давно диктует стая.
Все "распальцованно" от края и до края.
На криминал работает актив,
Без вариантов, то бишь без альтернатив.
Здесь слово "русский" не вполне политкорректно,
Вот "россиянин" - это "чисто" и "конкретно".
Строем роют по формату норы
Люди-телевизоры, люди-мониторы.
The song "Черный" by Алиса talks about the negative effects of technology and popular culture on society. The lyrics describe how the "black" (representing technology and modernity) has taken over, destroying everything in its path. It has turned people into a mass of consumers, manipulated by the media and technology. The singer describes how they see everything as numbers and codes, losing their connection to nature and humanity. The lyrics paint a bleak picture of a world where people dance like animals, fueled by their own greed and ego, and where the concept of community and morality has been lost.
The song is a critique of modernity and consumer culture. It speaks to the idea that technology and the media have a negative impact on society, causing people to become disconnected from reality and each other. The lyrics suggest that society needs to find a way to return to its roots and rediscover its humanity. The song calls for a return to community, morality, and a connection to nature.
Line by Line Meaning
Смотри, как "черный" распечатал всю колоду,
See how "black" printed the entire deck,
Мой rock-n-roll забил по цифре синхрокода,
My rock-n-roll has been silenced by the sync code,
Весь генофонд нагнул в полураспад,
The entire gene pool bent into decay,
А биомассу превратил в электорат.
And turned the biomass into an electorate.
Он каждому шепчет: "Ты", и каждый орет: "Мне!"
He whispers "You" to everyone, and each one screams "Me!"
В самости по шею, по глаза в говне.
In the self to the neck, in the eyes in the filth.
Три шестерки на семи понтах,
Three sixes on seven points,
Землю распатронили в пух и прах.
Turning the earth into ashes.
Мир
Peace
Без
Without
Глаз.
Eyes.
Танцы раком, срамом на показ.
Doggy-style dancing, shame on display.
Взгляд -
A look -
Кровь
Blood
Слез.
Tears.
Где вразнос, там свара, да донос.
Where there is a conflict without cause, there is a fuss and a snitch.
Мне вместо глаз все чаще видятся бойницы,
Instead of eyes, I often see gun ports,
А вместо лиц все чаще цифры да таблицы.
And instead of faces, there are more and more numbers and tables.
ИНН ведет подсчет.
TIN is being counted.
SIM, HTTP, GPRS, PIN-код.
SIM, HTTP, GPRS, PIN code.
И каждый орет: "мне! Сейчас и здесь, все!"
And everyone screams: "Me! Right here, right now, everything!"
Требы оприходуя на то, на се.
Levying taxes on this and that.
Клоунами гнуться в истерике танца
Bending like clowns in a dance of hysteria,
Само истребители и самозванцы.
Fighter jets and self-proclaimed rulers.
Не замечая, времени ход,
Unaware of the passing time,
Звезды плетут хоровод.
The stars weave a dance.
С каждой минутой ближе покой,
With each passing minute, closer to rest,
Вечность стоит за спиной.
Eternity stands behind.
Как жить толпе, давным-давно диктует стая.
How to live among the crowd is dictated by a pack long ago.
Все "распальцованно" от края и до края.
Everyone is smitten from edge to edge.
На криминал работает актив,
The active works on the criminal activity,
Без вариантов, то бишь без альтернатив.
Without options, that is, without alternatives.
Здесь слово "русский" не вполне политкорректно,
Here the word "Russian" is not entirely politically correct,
Вот "россиянин" - это "чисто" и "конкретно".
Whereas, "Russian citizen" is "pure" and "specific".
Строем роют по формату норы
Marching to dig burrows by the format,
Люди-телевизоры, люди-мониторы.
People-television sets, people-monitors.
Contributed by Callie M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Чужой
on С ним
грандиозно!