Russia
Foreign Songs
Reviews

In 1999, when the Moscow station Our Radio issued a list of the top 100 rock songs of the 20th century, “Blood Type” was ranked first. This song is what Russians could call “our everything.” Its release in 1987 was not astounding, yet the lukewarm welcome did not stop it from eventually becoming a hymn for daring explorers and rebels, deservingly so. The band KINO (КИНО, meaning film or cinema) and its leader Victor Tsoy acquired a reputation as new romantics, and their lyrics were filled with heroism and protest.

"This song is what Russians could call 'our everything.'"

The popularity of KINO bordered on hysteria. When, in 1990, Tsoy tragically died in a car accident at the age of 28, a number of his fans committed suicide since they were unable to endure such a loss. The band broke up, but to this day continue to receive tributes to their music and to Tsoy’s short life. Many musicians have dedicated their songs to Tsoy, and countless walls in Russia have “Цой жив” (Tsoy is alive) written all over them. One of these walls can be found on Arbat Street, in the historical center of Moscow, and it has become a remarkable sight.

“Blood Type” is a deeply metaphorical song. On the surface, it is about a soldier who leaves the safety of his home to go to war. He asks for luck in order to survive the battle, and a blood type mark on his sleeve could save his life in case of injury. We could take this song at face value, were it not for the fact that the Soviet Army did not use blood type marks at the time. Moreover, no army in the world had a tradition of putting them on sleeves, as the chances of losing a limb were not slight. Certain other details draw our attention. Twice, stars are mentioned: “Звездная пыль, на сапогах” (Star-dusted boots) and “Но высокая в небе звезда, зовет меня в путь” (But a star which is high in the skies, still gives me the route). The song is not about war, but about a quest for meaning, about finding one's purpose and reaching for the stars. If not for the call of that star, the man would stay with his love. But even love is no reason to betray his way. “Я хотел бы остаться с тобой, просто остаться с тобой, но высокая в небе звезда, зовет меня в путь” (I would rather stay here with you, just to stay here with you, but a star which is high in the skies, still gives me the route).

"Tsoy has become the backbone of his generation, a rebellious spirit that keeps on living in his songs, which are still loved and appreciated."

Tsoy was no stranger to martial arts, so Eastern traditions and the teachings of the Tao apparently played their part in his lyrics. Another noticeable symbol is the blood type mark itself. We can see it as a code in which a warrior’s way is encrypted, including information about his identity and life’s purpose. However, from a different perspective, the mark is an attempt to categorize, to rob the warrior of his individuality. Another guiding motif in the song is the fear of a pointless life. When it is too late for anything, when people are no longer capable of walking along the path of courage, when they can only seek refuge in the comfort of home, when they are left alone to delude themselves with colorful dreams, then death is a preferable option. Tsoy did not live to experience the despair of old age, but he certainly showed bravery in his own way, because striving for the stars was not encouraged in the Soviet Union. He has become the backbone of his generation, a rebellious spirit that keeps on living in his songs, which are still loved and appreciated.

Lyrics in Russian:

Теплое место,
На улице ждут отпечатков наших ног.
Звездная пыль, на сапогах.
Мягкое кресло, клетчатый плед,
Не нажатый вовремя курок.
Солнечный день, в ослепительных снах.
Группа крови на рукаве, -
Мой порядковый номер, - на рукаве.
Пожелай мне удачи в бою,
Пожелай мне...
Не остаться в этой траве,
Не остаться в этой траве,
Пожелай мне удачи,
Пожелай мне удачи...
И есть чем платить,
Но я не хочу, победы любой ценой.
Я никому не хочу ставить ногу на грудь.
Я хотел бы остаться с тобой, -
Просто остаться с тобой,
Но высокая в небе звезда, зовет меня в путь.

Lyrics in English:

It's such a warm place,
But there on the street,
Where our footprints are waited for,
Stardusted boots Sparkle and shine.
Here are the shepherds and upholstered chair,
Dazzling dreams below the bright sun, orb,
The trigger untouched
When it was the right time.

CHORUS: My blood type mark is on the sleeve,
There's my ordinal number marked on the sleeve,
Wish me now some luck in the fight,
Sayin' now, sayin'!
I won't stay in this field of green,
I won't stay in this field of green,
Wish me now to be lucky,
Sayin' now, sayin'!
Be lucky!
I am able to pay, but I never want
A triumph at any price,
I never want
Someone's chest lying under my foot.
I would rather stay here with you,
Just to stay here with you,
But the star which is high in the skies
Still gives me the route.