Started as a mere musical joke for friends, the trio became popular on the clubbing stage in St.Petersburg (2002) and Moscow (2003). Their program combines cover versions of Tom Waits’ songs, author’s compositions, American Gothic, own life experiences, stories told by friends and urban mythology. The Billy’s Band musicians call their style Funeral Dixieland with an Infinite Happy End. ... See their official website: http://www.billysband.ru/
Tackling anything by Tom Waits is like wrestling an alligator: do it well and you`ve got a new pair of shoes:, screw up and you`re dead, Jack. Describing themselves as a Dixiland funeral with an infinite happy end, Billy`s band is on the fringe in its St.Petersburg home and will be on the fringe of the fringe here. Bandleader, Billy Novik heard Waits` “Early Years, vol.1”, and that is all she wrote. Novik barks gruff and hip (in Russian and English) just like Waits – or perhaps Cookie Monster on a vodka bender. A great deal of the band`s repertoire is Waits` stuff, and when the band ventures out on its own, the genius, the oddity, and the antiquated charm still shines, just like those alligator shoes I was talking about.
Billy's Band, the Tom Waits-inspired outfit from St. Petersburg, Russia, was held up at the Canadian border Friday while on its way to the Rochester International Jazz Festival. But fest co-producer John Nugent, who has a lot of experience in dealing with passport issues and paper problems, managed to talk the guys into the country in time for their shows at Max of Eastman Place. Safely onstage, they stole the night with their blend of beat-poet ballads, off-kilter rhythms and comedic timing. CDs were snapped up by consumers hungry for the band's brand of compelling weirdness. All of the English-language ones were gone by the second show, but I bought two, anyway: Anybody out there speak Russian?
The word on the street, which I picked up rather late, was that the guys from St. Petersburg, Russia were tearing down the house over at Max. Having had plenty of straight-ahead jazz from the Hammers, I left early to see what the fuss was about. And now, after the fact, I'm kicking myself that I didn't heed the advice sooner.
Billy's Band is like a combined Dixieland and polka band that plays almost jazzy. When you hear a big smash, it's one of the dudes crashing cymbals over his head to a crazy march. The lead singer/bassist (yeah, it's a bassist heading the ship) Billy Novik has a voice that can only be compared to Louis Armstrong. It's gritty and feels like it comes straight out of his gut. But he's a funny little white guy with a funny hat and even funnier stories about being told the difference between a bass and a coffin ("the dead guy's inside of the coffin").
They were wearing worn-down trench coats and no shirts, letting their bellies show for everyone. You might call them strange, but just call them special. They were that kind of underground street band that's got oodles of talent, but you don't want them to be too big because that dark atmosphere really suits their style. The crowd went wild for these guys, bringing them out for an encore and standing ovation. might pick up a CD tomorrow -- they were that good.
If Thursday night is the unofficial start of the weekend, Friday is the real thing. Go out, enjoy the late-night stuff. If any of Billy's Band gets up there, I'm gonna be lovin' it.
Вася
Billy's Band Lyrics
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Нетрудно встретить этого мужчину небесной красоты.
На нем всегда костюм отличный оттенка кофе с молоком,
И побродить по улицам столичным очень любит он.
Спросите у любого на Тверском бульваре,
Кто лучше всех танцует твист и рок-н-ролл,
Кто лучше всех играет Пресли на гитаре -
Конечно, Вася, Вася, Вася,
Ну, кто его не знает? Yeh - Yeh!
Вася, Вася, Вася - стиляга из Москвы.
Пойдите в театр Современник, на вечеринку в Дом кино.
В таких местах всегда вы, непременно, встретите его.
Футбольный матч Зенит - Динамо, и переполнен стадион...
А это кто сидит с красивой дамой? - Ну, конечно, он.
Спросите у любого на Тверском бульваре,
Кто лучше всех танцует твист и рок-н-ролл,
Кто лучше всех играет Пресли на гитаре -
На это каждый ответит, каждый ответит:
Конечно, Вася, Вася, Вася,
Ну, кто его не знает? Yeh - Yeh!
Вася, Вася, Вася - стиляга из Москвы.
Вот были дни, а что потом... А что потом? Тяжелые пошли времена.
Гулял, выпивал, кричал по ночам, в потолок из пистолета стрелял.
Я понимал, что я падаю, все ниже и ниже. И вот, когда я дошел до самого дна,
Снизу кто-то постучал!
Спросите у любого на Тверском бульваре,
Кто лучше всех танцует твист и рок-н-ролл,
Кто лучше всех играет Пресли на гитаре -
На это каждый ответит, каждый ответит:
Конечно, Вася, Вася, Вася,
Ну, кто его не знает? Yeh - Yeh!
Вася, Вася, Вася - стиляга из Москвы.
Cтиляга из Москвы, стиляга из Москвы.
The lyrics of Billy's Band's song "Вася" describe a stylish and elegant man who loves to wander around the streets of Moscow. He is always dressed in a unique suit, which has a coffee with milk hue. People in the city know him for his exceptional skills in dancing twist and rock and roll, as well as for playing Presley's music brilliantly on the guitar. He often attends parties in theaters, cinemas, and football matches, always accompanied by beautiful women.
The lyrics take a reflective turn when the singer narrates his experiences during hard times when he was drinking and shouting at night, hitting the bottom of his life. Just when he thought he had hit rock bottom, he heard someone knock on his door. As the final verse repeats the chorus, the singer realizes that the person who knocked on his door was none other than Vasya, who had come to cheer him up.
Overall, the song celebrates the glamorous and sophisticated lifestyle of Vasya, who has become a cultural icon in Moscow. His presence brings joy and rejuvenation to the singer, providing him with the hope he needs to get back on his feet.
Line by Line Meaning
Когда горят огнем витрины на старых улицах Москвы,
When the shop windows on the old streets of Moscow are blazing with fire,
Нетрудно встретить этого мужчину небесной красоты.
It is not difficult to meet this man of heavenly beauty.
На нем всегда костюм отличный оттенка кофе с молоком,
He always wears a suit of excellent coffee-with-milk color.
И побродить по улицам столичным очень любит он.
He loves to wander around the capital streets.
Спросите у любого на Тверском бульваре,
Ask anyone on Tverskoy boulevard,
Кто лучше всех танцует твист и рок-н-ролл,
Who is the best at dancing the twist and rock-n-roll,
Кто лучше всех играет Пресли на гитаре -
Who is the best at playing Presley on the guitar -
На это каждый ответит, каждый ответит:
Everyone will answer without hesitation:
Конечно, Вася, Вася, Вася,
Of course, Vasya, Vasya, Vasya,
Ну, кто его не знает? Yeh - Yeh!
Well, who doesn't know him? Yeh - Yeh!
Вася, Вася, Вася - стиляга из Москвы.
Vasya, Vasya, Vasya - a stylish guy from Moscow.
Пойдите в театр Современник, на вечеринку в Дом кино.
Go to the theater Sovremennik, to a party at the House of Cinema.
В таких местах всегда вы, непременно, встретите его.
In such places, you will definitely meet him.
Футбольный матч Зенит - Динамо, и переполнен стадион...
A football match Zenit - Dynamo, and a packed stadium...
А это кто сидит с красивой дамой? - Ну, конечно, он.
And who is sitting with a beautiful lady? - Well, of course, he is.
Вот были дни, а что потом... А что потом? Тяжелые пошли времена.
Those were the days, but what happened next... What happened next? Heavy times came.
Гулял, выпивал, кричал по ночам, в потолок из пистолета стрелял.
He walked around, drank, shouted at night, and shot a pistol at the ceiling.
Я понимал, что я падаю, все ниже и ниже.
I realized that I'm falling, lower and lower.
И вот, когда я дошел до самого дна,
And when I reached the very bottom,
Снизу кто-то постучал!
Someone knocked from below!
Cтиляга из Москвы, стиляга из Москвы.
A stylish guy from Moscow, a stylish guy from Moscow.
Contributed by Jonathan D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Семен Шетько
Тот случай, когда не знаешь, что круче кавер или оригинал.
Pavel Beloev
реально охрененно.. респект ребятам из Питера..
кирилл дмитриев
Лучшая версия песни,респект))
Олег Казанцев
Очень, очень круто!!!😃😃😃😃
sashamladshiy
респект билли!
Оля Барби
Конечно, Вадик, кто его не знает? Стиляга из Питера
Денис Мочалкин
С какого THEnit?
Eugeny
Вася выезда пробивал в Питер- один ультрас был на весь Советский Союз)
Оля Барби
@Timur Sultangaliev TM это вершина айсберга. Или вишенка на торте
Timur Sultangaliev TM
billy's band из Ленинграда