Ballad of Red Soldier
May 23, 2020
juliapiker
WWW
WIKI: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1st_Airborne_Corps_(Soviet_Union)
air instrument: soap bottle being squeezed
This song is about a woman retelling her story from youth. Her husband had been called to the German lines in 1942 at Demyansk with the Soviet Airborne army corps. He was an assault pilot. She told him she didn’t want him to fight but he did so anyway. I’ve made this all up and not sure you should fact check that assault pilots existed.
Decided to write a Russian song in a very classic Russian ballad style. Basically a waltz of extreme emotion and desire. Sung in a ‘waling’ vocal style that reminds me when my parents and I used to go to the Russian nightclubs when I was younger. The singers were always SO SO SO passionate. They rolled those R’s HARD.
I did not have time to mix! and I’m sorry about that. Hopefully the song itself comes through and you can still understand the intention of the lyrics and style. This was fun for me! I’ve never done a Russian song before
Lyrics:
Red Soldier
Young, Not much money
found himself in Stalingrad
He wrote to me and I thought to myself
Lets just leave it to fate
Put down your gun
Love is blood to me
knock knock (took took) at the door
army advocates are here
to tell me stories of the war
he flew the plane
the wind like ice
he crashed
and like that, played out
Put down your gun
Love is blood to me
Looking for feedback on
Anything you wanna say! Also that high A I sing in the chorus sounds flat to me but I checked Melodyne and its RIGHT ON THE MARK. am I crazy?
Discussion
nurphgun May 29, 2020 4:11pm
Julia, I have no words. This rules harder than anything ever. It’s an entire universe unto itself. Please find a way to put this in a broadway show.
alechutson May 26, 2020 8:55pm
отлично! I had no idea you spoke Russian haha, this was a pleasant surprise 🙂
super powerful and moving, truly impressive. really enjoyed the drums on this as well.
nurphgun May 29, 2020 4:08pm
https://alechutson.bandcamp.com/track/red-cowboy-ii 🤘🏻
laurawolf May 26, 2020 5:13pm
JULIA this is awesome- I seriously want you to do an entire album from this character. Your voice is so emotive and got chills during the choruses. Also I love the percussion. I agree with Ryan- would LOVE to hear more of the “clappies”. For me this track is so cool because of all the sonic incongruencies (Ie Russian plunking piano with a tuned powerhouse rock vocal and organic percussive samples) — I think you could lean into all of these more. But honestly it’s amazing as is.
Daevster May 26, 2020 1:39pm
Gotdamn, this is so haunting and gorgeous. Love the treatment on your vocals in those choruses and that sweet soaring synth (or is it guitar?). That major change gives me goosebumps. I would put the word out a bout this one overseas, there are rubles to be made!
Ben May 26, 2020 12:53pm
This is so awesome. The high note is right on the money I’d say. An eastern european war song loves a good waltz feel, and i think you are the right person to deliver that. Yeah this is your best yet. Love the changes in feel and juxtaposed sounds. The quieter parts feel like i’m in some bar in Kiev back when my great-great grandparents were drinking and picking fights there, but the digital beat and distorted sounds foreshadow the big, more modern sounds when it explodes into the chorus.
Ryan May 26, 2020 11:46am
Can picture you draped in a blue velvet gown singing this from the highest rooftop in Sheepshead Bay. The people weep with joy.
This is a dope track. Love your vocal performance and where you take the harmony in the chorus—a super cool subversion of the Eastern European waltz foundation you set up. Love the percussion composition as well. Would love a bit more meat on the snare than just the clappies but I also know you said you didn’t have time to mix—still sounds freakin’ great though! Also lemme heeeeeear that lead guitar business!! Bring it out!!
krismccarthy May 25, 2020 3:12pm
this song makes me want to commit arson but like in a good way. absolutely chilling I am so deeply shaken. this song makes me feel so many feelings I want more of it
peter May 25, 2020 2:58pm
this is mind-blowing. i think you could make an album from this perspective.
does not sound flat- recording is beautiful and excitingly dynamic
nick May 25, 2020 2:44pm
more more more! such a dope beat. super distinct percussive stuff going on. my fav so far 🚂
aubspeeps May 24, 2020 9:22pm
um oh my god i love this so much??!!!! what the hell one of the first things i thought was this mix is banging i am obsessed with everything about this, you are singing in russian??? wow
daeclan May 24, 2020 9:21pm
this is so intense & powerful. good god.
lowkey, i hope you don’t mind but my gf overheard me playing this & was like “what the fuck, that sounds amazing.” real cool lyrics/story & what commitment & spirit, inspiring fr
nick May 25, 2020 2:43pm
inspiring fr fr
Carseat May 24, 2020 9:12pm
Holy crap.