Moscow, Russia

The Retuses were an independent musical project of M… Read Full Bio ↴Moscow, Russia

The Retuses were an independent musical project of Misha Rodionov, formed in 2007 in Zelenograd, Russia. Initially their first songs were recorded with a one-minute sound recorder with childhood friend Cyrill Nazarov. These songs together form the EP "For a Minute", which is available online. In 2008 Cyrill Nazarov left the duo; Misha began recording new material on his own. Cyrill Parastaev joined the band next year and they began working on the album "Echo". Some of the songs were recorded in the most unexpected places: in an old abandoned car, at 4 am in a village, inside of the water tower. The album was uploaded to the internet in June 2009 through the online label Whispering and was available free of charge. Their first live performance took place on May 12, 2009.

The band continued performing and giving interviews and released their second compilation of songs, Waltz Baltika!, through a new record label, Snegiri, in May 2011. Most songs on the album, notably their titles, were inspired by a trip to Kaliningradskaya Oblast' when Misha was a child, and memories of the scenery there. The album is intentionally lo-fi to create a specific atmosphere.

Their third and final album, Astra, was issued in late 2013. The Retuses disbanded on October 11, 2014 according to an announcement posted in the band's official social networking pages; it was also announced that Rodionov decided to pursue a solo career on his own.

The touring band:

Misha Rodionov - vocals, trumpet, recorder, ukulele, guitar
Cyrill Parastaev - vocals, guitar, ukulele, piano, percussion
Lera Saveleva - bayan, percussion
Misha Lvov - guitar, ukulele, percussion

A Bully Can Really Love
The Retuses Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Заметался пожар голубой,
Позабылись родимые дали
В первый раз я запел про любовь
В первый раз отрекаюсь скандалить

Был я весь – как запущенный сад,
Был на женщин и зелие падкий
Разонравилось петь и плясать

И терять свою жизнь без оглядки.

Мне бы только смотреть на тебя,
Видеть глаз злато-карий омут
И, чтоб прошлое не любя,
Ты уйти не смогла к другому.

Поступь нежная, легкий стан,
Если б знала ты сердцем упорным
Как умеет любить хулиган,
Как умеет он быть покорным.

Я б навеки забыл кабаки
И стихи бы писать забросил
Только б тонкой касаться руки
И волос твоих цветом в осень

Я б навеки пошел за тобой
Хоть в свои, хоть в чужие дали
В первый раз я запел про любовь
В первый раз отрекаюсь скандалить…

Сергей Есенин

Overall Meaning

In these lyrics, the singer is reflecting on their past experiences with love and their current feelings towards it. The lyrics begin with a description of a blue fire, which symbolizes the passion and intensity of love. The singer then mentions their homeland, but notes that they have forgotten about it because of their preoccupation with love.

In the first verse, the singer acknowledges that they have sung about love before but now they declare that they will no longer fuss over it. The second verse describes the singer as being full of desires and yet dissatisfied with singing and dancing. The singer realizes that their life is directionless, and they yearn for someone to love.

In the third verse, the singer expresses their desire to be with a particular person, admiring their golden-brown eyes and pleading that they won’t go to another. They describe the gentle footsteps and graceful nature of this person and reveal that they want to be with them forever, even if it means leaving everything else behind.

The lyrics of a Bully Can Really Love are emotional and introspective, offering an insight into the vulnerability and longing of the singer for love. The poetic style of the song, combined with the haunting melody, creates an atmosphere of melancholy that resonates with many listeners.

Line by Line Meaning

Заметался пожар голубой,
As a blue fire rages, everything in the world seems to disappear

Позабылись родимые дали
Even our homes and family ties are forgotten

В первый раз я запел про любовь
For the first time, I sang about love

В первый раз отрекаюсь скандалить
For the first time, I refused to cause trouble

Был я весь – как запущенный сад,
I was a mess, like an abandoned garden

Был на женщин и зелие падкий
I was weak, addicted to women and drugs

Разонравилось петь и плясать
I no longer felt like singing and dancing

И терять свою жизнь без оглядки.
And throwing away my life without a second thought.

Мне бы только смотреть на тебя,
All I want is to look at you

Видеть глаз злато-карий омут
And see your golden-brown eyes like a deep pool

И, чтоб прошлое не любя,
And so that I wouldn't love the past