In 1987 guitarist Alexey Belov, vocalist Nikolay Noskov, bassist Alexander "Big Sasha" Minkov
, guitarist Jan Janenkov, and drummer Alexander Lvov (formerly from Aria) came together to form Gorky Park. Stas Namin, a famous 70's soviet musician and a leader of Tsvety, became band's manager. Since Gorbachev has lifted the censorship, many of underground rock bands, including Gorky Park, became able to recieve more widespread popularity. Later that year the band left Russia for USA in search of a record deal.
In the U.S. the band soon made some connections in the record business. One of the first people to take notice was famous guitarist Frank Zappa. Also Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora helped them to secure a deal with Mercury Records.
The band released a self-titled debut album in 1989, featuring initials GP stilized as Hammer & sickle on the cover. With a fall of the Iron Curtain and growing interest to soviets in western countries, Gorky Park soon became widely known. The band seemed to be a kind of symbol of American-Russian friendship. The band's first video, "Bang," received MTV rotation. Their next two singles, "Try to Find Me" and a collaboration with Bon Jovi, "Peace in Our Time," received rotation on mainstream radio stations.
Gorky Park participated on that year's Moscow Music Peace Festival alongside Bon Jovi, Mötley Crüe, Ozzy Osbourne, and the Scorpions. The band continued into 1990 touring with Bon Jovi and performing at the Goodwill Games opening ceremony. Gorky Park live shows often featured the band dressed in traditional russian style, waving soviet and american flags. In 1991 the band recieved scandinavian Grammy award as the best new international act.
As perestroika era came to its end, the group's fame in America subsided rather quickly. Nikolai Noskov left the band in 1990 but GP remained active and kept releasing albums in the '90s. 1993's Moscow Calling sold 500,000 copies outside the US. Their next album, Stare, came out in 1996, released only in Russia, followed up by promotional tour of the former USSR states. In 1998 the band released Protivofazza. In 1999 Alexander Minkov left the band and started his solo career under the scenic name Alexander Marshall. Gorky Park was never officially claimed to disband, but actually inactive since 2001.
Liar
Gorky Park Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Attached inside your skin
You haven't got remote
And when it turns the wheel
You feel the grind of steel
And spinning bumpy road
I hear the monkey yell
I feel a jungle spell
Come from within your body
A flower so divine
Inside of a human spine
Its pistil gets so naughty
Venus' flytrap is your petty doll
And it's blooming inside 'o' your soul
Liar...
Your talk is smooth and strong
Never cut it wrong
You're dancing very clever
And in the Court Of Law
With candy and a claw
You'll change my mind forever
And you're letting the oil to flaw
And you want me to walk on the floor
The opening lyrics of Gorky Park's "Liar" describe a haunting metaphorical machine inside a person's body that has taken control. The singer speaks of "a ghost machine attached inside your skin," indicating that this machine is not a physical one but a figurative one that has taken control of the subject's life. Unable to be remotely controlled, it turns the wheel and causes the grinding and bumpy ride that the subject feels every day, emphasizing the fact that this machine is inside his or her veins.
As the singer digs deeper into the subject's psyche, he hears "the monkey yell" and feels "a jungle spell" coming from within the person's body. The subject's hidden plants and flowers act as a metaphor for the secrets within his or her mind. The flower with its "pistil gets so naughty" and the Venus Flytrap in the subject's soul indicate that the secrets are not innocent but deceitful.
The chorus of the song screams "Liar!" recognizing the fact that the subject is not honest, that he or she deceives, and that the machine acting as a metaphor inside is controlling the subject's life. The following verse goes on to describe how the subject appears flawless on the surface, with "smooth and strong" talk, dancing "cleverly," and mastering the art of "the candy and a claw" in court.
Overall, "Liar" is a powerful description of the internal struggle of a person who is dealing with the demons within. It is a relatable song that reminds us that we all have secrets that we try to keep hidden but that ultimately, they will come to light.
Line by Line Meaning
There is a ghost machine
There is an invisible force at work that controls your behavior and actions
Attached inside your skin
This force is deeply ingrained in your body and mind
You haven't got remote
You have no control over this force
And when it turns the wheel
When this force takes control
You feel the grind of steel
You experience intense pressure and discomfort
And spinning bumpy road
Your life becomes difficult and uncertain
And it's riding inside'o' your veins
This force is always present and influencing your decisions and actions
I hear the monkey yell
I can sense the chaos and confusion within you
I feel a jungle spell
I sense a powerful and dangerous force at work within you
Come from within your body
This force originates from within you
A flower so divine
This force is fascinating and attractive
Inside of a human spine
It is hidden deep within your being
Its pistil gets so naughty
This force can be unpredictable and mischievous
Venus' flytrap is your petty doll
It appears innocent and small, but in reality, it is deadly and powerful
And it's blooming inside 'o' your soul
This force is growing stronger and becoming more influential
Liar...
You are lying to yourself and others about your true nature
Your talk is smooth and strong
You are skilled at deceiving others with your words
Never cut it wrong
You rarely make mistakes in your lies
You're dancing very clever
Your lies are artfully crafted and convincing
And in the Court Of Law
In a formal setting where honesty is required
With candy and a claw
You will use any means necessary to maintain your deception
You'll change my mind forever
You will convince others to believe your lies and change their perception forever
And you're letting the oil to flaw
You are deliberately making mistakes in your actions to hide your deception
And you want me to walk on the floor
You want me to believe that I am the one at fault and that you are innocent
Contributed by Avery F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Serzh_Molotov
Хорошая стилистика клипа, снято отлично. И композиция супер.
@user-ck8ko6yd2q
Это первые это гагарины Молодцы. Спасибо.
@_Sonnenschein
И песня и клип офигенные!
@user-fm2fj2ry6u
Могли бы собраться в оригинальном составе все же живы современно звучат!
@user-fs9iw8qm4t
Да, песня очень сильная, по энергетике как и All we can say, с этого альбома. Альбом вышел во время дефолта августа 1998, это главная причина провала я думаю.
@serg20101000
Последний альбом Парков был наименее заметным...но несколько песен там были очень хорошими.
@anton5442
Это песня с ахринительной энергетикой, может чуть похуже только чем Moscow Calling и Bang. И Маршалл тут кстати классно распелся.
Считаю, что очень плохо продвигали раз не получила вообще никакой популярности. Песне нужен 2й шанс.