The image of the group is mostly formed by Vyacheslav Butusov, its invariable frontman, lead guitar and composer. The lyrics were written mostly by Ilya Kormiltsev, who also wrote lyrics for several other notable "Ural rock" bands of the period.
The band's official site is www.nautilus.ru.
Their history starts in 1978, when three students of Sverdlovsk Institute of Architecture, Vyacheslav Butusov (vocals, guitar), Dmitry Umetsky (bass, backing vocals), and Igor Goncharov (drums) started playing rock-n-roll together for fun. Their first more or less complete, though amateur, recording was made in 1982.
This debut album, entitled "Переезд" (pronounced "pereyezd"; Russian for "crossing" or "moving on") was inclined heavily towards rock-n-roll or even hard rock in the vein of Led Zeppelin, which was completely abandoned by the time of recording the next album. The breakthrough came in 1986 with their third LP called "Разлука" ("razluka"; Apartness). Nautilus Pompilius became true nationwide stars, their brand of keyboard-driven post-punk with new wave elements and catchy melodies bringing them huge success. As ninety-nine per cent of Russian rock were politically engaged, the lyrical image of the band was also important. Nautilus created both pamphlets criticizing the Communist regime, such as "Скованные одной цепью" (Chained Together) or "Шар цвета хаки" (Khaki-Colored Globe), and emotional ballads, the most popular among them "Я хочу быть с тобой" (I Want To Be With You). The biggest hits of this period are still well-known in Russia. Butusov and Umetsky led the band to a cult status, but then Dmitry suddenly quit Nautilus in 1988.
In 1989, after a year and a half of almost uninterrupted touring, many line-up changes and a couple of live recordings, the band broke up while still enjoying enormous popularity and even some official recognition. This decision was unwelcome among fans, but it brought Butusov and Umetsky together once more. They started the band from scratch, but this attempt was unsuccessful and they parted ways soon having made only demos for what was later released as "Человек без имени" ("chelovek bez imeni"; Man Without A Name). But then Ilya Kormiltsev, the man behind the lyrics, decided to join Butusov again. The band had a composer and a lyricist, so the writing and recording began with help of a completely new line-up including Igor Djavad-zade, a Tajikistan-born drummer of some renown due to his involvement in successful jazz projects, and Oleg Sakmarov, the flutist of perhaps the most popular Russian band of the time, Аквариум.
The following three years saw the band change its style to guitar-driven rock and making two further albums. The biggest hit of that period was 1991's medieval-styled ballad "Прогулки по воде" ("progulki po vode" - Walking Upon Water) with lyrics about Jesus walking upon water and preaching to his disciple St. Andrew.
In 1994 Nautilus returned to the mainstream scene with the album "Титаник" (Titanic). The line-up was revised once more, with members of 1988 superstar line-up Albert Potapkin (drums) and Alexei Mogilevsky (keyboards, saxophone) returning to the band, the former since 1992 and the latter since 1994. The next effort was their perhaps most succesful CD entitled "Крылья" ("krylia" - Wings), the sombre title track becoming an instant hit. The band toured Russia and abroad, reaching ever larger audiences, but then finally broke up after one more album "Яблокитай" ("yablokitay" - Apple-China, a pun on the Russian word for "orange" - апельсин, which is borrowed from Dutch where it means literally "Сhina-apple") which didn't appeal to fans as much as the previous two.
Vyacheslav Butusov himself is still fairly popular in Russia and performs with a new band called Ю-Питер.
Казанова
Nautilus Pompilius Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Если холоден голос в твоем телефоне,
Я могу понять и могу простить,
Я звоню в никуда, я забыл даже номер.
Вчерашний день - не сегодняшний день,
На мягких подушках не въедешь в вечность.
Ты повесишь на стул позабытую тень
Моих присутствий и влажных приветствий.
Зови меня так.
Мне нравится слово.
В этом городе женщин,
Ищущих старость,
Мне нужна его кровь,
Нужна его жалость.
Казанова, Казанова,
Зачем делать сложным,
То что проще простого?
Ты - моя женщина,
Я - твой мужчина.
Если надо причину,
То это причина.
Если голос твой слышен - еще ты не спишь,
Ты светишься бронзой - раздетое лето,
Ты манишь на свет всех крылатых в ночи,
Но не хочешь согреть никого этим светом.
Подражая примеру соседских глазков,
Ты шпионишь постыдно за собственным телом,
Но не видишь на бедрах свинцовых оков,
Хотя можешь заметить даже черное в белом.
Казанова, Казанова
The lyrics of "Казанова" by Nautilus Pompilius talk about the desire for love and the struggles that come with it. The first verse speaks of a disconnected lover who may have lost their passion for love. The singer in the song understands and forgives this person, although he admits to calling a number that he's forgotten, knowing it may lead him nowhere. The next verse talks about the fleeting nature of life, where yesterday is not today, and one cannot find eternity on soft pillows. The subject of the song, "Казанова," hangs a forgotten shadow, of the singer's presence and damp greetings, to a chair.
The chorus repeats the word "Казанова" several times, implying that it has significant meaning to the singer. He explains that he admires the word, and it's essential to him in a city where women seek old age. He craves "Казанова's" blood and compassion. The next verse talks about the "Казанова's" presence, the way she glows bronze in the undressed summer, and attracts all the winged creatures in the night. However, she doesn't want to warm anyone with that light.
The final verse talks about the "Казанова's" apprehension towards her own body as she spies in shyly. She doesn't see the lead shackles around her thighs, even though she can see black and white. "Казанова" is an intriguing song about a person's struggle to find love, the fleeting nature of life, and the contradicting nature of human beings.
Line by Line Meaning
Если нет любви в твоих проводах,
If there is no love in your wires,
Если холоден голос в твоем телефоне,
If your voice is cold on the phone,
Я могу понять и могу простить,
I can understand and forgive,
Я звоню в никуда, я забыл даже номер.
I call into nothingness, I've even forgotten the number.
Вчерашний день - не сегодняшний день,
Yesterday is not today,
На мягких подушках не въедешь в вечность.
You can't ride to eternity on soft pillows.
Ты повесишь на стул позабытую тень
You will hang a forgotten shadow on the chair,
Моих присутствий и влажных приветствий.
Of my presence and moist greetings.
Казанова, Казанова,
Casanova, Casanova,
Зови меня так.
Call me that.
Мне нравится слово.
I like the word.
В этом городе женщин,
In this city of women,
Ищущих старость,
Seeking old age,
Мне нужна его кровь,
I need his blood,
Нужна его жалость.
I need his pity.
Зачем делать сложным,
Why make it complicated,
То что проще простого?
What's simpler than simple?
Ты - моя женщина,
You are my woman,
Я - твой мужчина.
I am your man.
Если надо причину,
If you need a reason,
То это причина.
Then that's the reason.
Если голос твой слышен - еще ты не спишь,
If your voice is heard - you're not asleep yet,
Ты светишься бронзой - раздетое лето,
You shine with bronze - naked summer,
Ты манишь на свет всех крылатых в ночи,
You lure all the winged in the night to the light,
Но не хочешь согреть никого этим светом.
But you don't want to warm anyone with this light.
Подражая примеру соседских глазков,
Following the example of the neighbor's eyes,
Ты шпионишь постыдно за собственным телом,
You shamefully spy on your own body,
Но не видишь на бедрах свинцовых оков,
But you don't see the lead weights on your hips,
Хотя можешь заметить даже черное в белом.
Although you can notice even the black in the white.
Казанова, Казанова
Casanova, Casanova
Contributed by Carson B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Alex Alex
Смотрины. Чувства через край.
Прелюдией рассветной.
А, вдруг, найдёшь ты всё же рай.
Не только прелесть лета.
Стройна, как серна в вышине.
И Солнцем обогрета.
Для Казановы все не те.
Но ищет сон свой где-то.
И предвкушает томность фраз.
И скромность. Даже очень.
Глаза сверкают как алмаз.
Она. Царица ночи.
И дня похожего на сон.
Принёсшего желанье.
Струится нежный окоём.
Прикосновенье дланью.
27. 3. 2023 г.
Лариса Черных
Вячеслав ---СУПЕР !!!! 👍👍👍
Классное исполнение!!!! 🎸
Дмитрий Гузеев
Золотой состав Нау:Бутусов,Умецкий,Могилевский-супер!
Olga Olga
Вячеслав, спасибо..) Это моя молодость!!!)
Анна Лукина
Вам ясно, что не Бутусову ваш коммент?
Владимир Черных
Классно!!! Молодость,был на их концерте в конце 80 х. В Воронеже, Я был студент Мед. Института в Воронеже!! Тогда эти песни произвели очень сильное впечатление
Надежда Яуфман
Замечательное исполнение! Хотя я не любительница такого жанра исполнения! Всем приятного просмотра!
Dima75
Саксофон Могилевского это конечно бомба
АНДРЕЙ СУББОТИН
САМОЕ ЛУЧШЕЕ ИСПОЛНЕНИЕ ЭТОЙ ПЕСНИ
Alex Alex
Смотрины. Чувства через край.
Прелюдией рассветной.
А, вдруг, найдёшь ты всё же рай.
Не только прелесть лета.
Стройна, как серна в вышине.
И Солнцем обогрета.
Для Казановы все не те.
Но ищет сон свой где-то.
И предвкушает томность фраз.
И скромность. Даже очень.
Глаза сверкают как алмаз.
Она. Царица ночи.
И дня похожего на сон.
Принёсшего желанье.
Струится нежный окоём.
Прикосновенье дланью.
27. 3. 2023 г.
Евгения Кашина
Какой изумительный саксофонист