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'.

Шестой лесничий
АлисА Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Шестой лесничий мёртвого леса...
О, небеса!
Здесь не до смеха, не до фиесты
И не до сна.
Всех поднимая звонкою флейтой -
Тень под глаза -
Шестой лесничий,
Шестой лесничий что-то сказал.

И заревели истошно глотки:
"Всех причесать!"
И глохли тонкие перепонки.
"Лечь! Встать!"
А когда вышел грозный хозяин,
Нервно упали ниц.
Их спины стоили ровно столько,
Сколько пергамент лиц.

Не совладать с простым сюжетом -
Только каприз.
Нас поднимали во всю сонетом,
Мы же стремились вниз.
И имена героических песен,
Ваших тарелок слизь...
Шестой лесничий,
Шестой лесничий

Здесь.
Ну-ка брысь!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics in Алиса's song Шестой лесничий describe a forest ranger who appears to be in charge, but whose forest is dead and lifeless. The forest ranger tries to bring some life to the land by playing the flute and commanding the others to "get up," "lie down," and "stand." However, despite his efforts, the people who are commanded are unresponsive and seem to be lifeless like the forest around them. The forest ranger is frustrated and overwhelmed, unable to cope with the simplicity of the situation and the lack of response from those around him. The lyrics hint at a deeper meaning, perhaps commenting on the larger societal issues of power, control, and apathy.

Line by Line Meaning

Шестой лесничий мёртвого леса...
The sixth forester of the dead forest...

О, небеса!
Oh, Heavens!

Здесь не до смеха, не до фиесты И не до сна.
There's no time for laughter, fiestas or sleep here.

Всех поднимая звонкою флейтой - Тень под глаза - Шестой лесничий,
Raising everyone up with a loud flute - Shade under the eyes - The sixth forester,

Шестой лесничий что-то сказал.
The sixth forester said something.

И заревели истошно глотки: "Всех причесать!" И глохли тонкие перепонки. "Лечь! Встать!"
And their throats howled in agony: "Brush everyone's hair!" And thin membranes fell silent. "Lie down! Get up!"

А когда вышел грозный хозяин, Нервно упали ниц. Их спины стоили ровно столько, Сколько пергамент лиц.
And when the formidable owner came out, they nervously fell down. Their backs were worth exactly as much as their parchment faces.

Не совладать с простым сюжетом - Только каприз. Нас поднимали во всю сонетом, Мы же стремились вниз.
Unable to cope with a simple plot - Only caprice. They raised us all with sonnets, but we were striving downwards.

И имена героических песен, Ваших тарелок слизь... Шестой лесничий, Шестой лесничий Здесь.
And the names of heroic songs, slime on your plates... The sixth forester, The sixth forester is here.

Ну-ка брысь!
Now, go away!

Contributed by Nolan V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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