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

Aquarius
The Retuses Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

взойдет на небе луна
утонет в море бездонном
кто пойдет за тобой
как белый ворон ко дну
ты спи спокойно а я
я разбужу тебя ... (?)
места нет где я не бывал
так ослепительны ночи

льются в небе огни
невозможно уснуть
я скажу тебе да
мой сон ну что ты пророчешь
снится мне снится мне опять удивительный сон
я лечу я лечу и машет с небес ... (?)
я счастлив ведь я окрылен
я все выше
что холод что жар
все равно

я никого не люблю
мне ничего не надо

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to The Retuses song Aquarius appear to be speaking about the beauty and mystery of the night sky, as well as the comfort and solace that sleep can provide. The first stanza describes the rise of the moon in the sky and its eventual descent into the endless ocean, suggesting a sort of cyclical, eternal nature to the natural world. The second stanza describes the singer's inability to sleep because of the captivating beauty of the night sky, with its shining stars and otherworldly lights. They tell someone else to sleep soundly while they remain awake and marvel at the wonders of the universe.

Line by Line Meaning

взойдет на небе луна
The moon will rise in the sky

утонет в море бездонном
It will drown in the bottomless sea

кто пойдет за тобой
Who will follow you

как белый ворон ко дну
Like a white raven to the bottom

ты спи спокойно а я
You sleep peacefully, but I

я разбужу тебя ... (?)
I will wake you up... (?)

места нет где я не бывал
There is no place where I haven't been

так ослепительны ночи
So dazzling are the nights

льются в небе огни
Lights are pouring in the sky

невозможно уснуть
It's impossible to fall asleep

я скажу тебе да
I will say yes to you