To whom Katya and to whom Ekaterina Nikolaevna, people’s artist of Chechnya and Kabardino-Balkaria!
Photo: Svetlana MAKOVEEVA
In 2003, composer and producer Max Fadeev wrote the song “My Marmalade” for 29-year-old singer Katya Lel, which was later included in the album “Jaga-Jaga.” Katya became a star and the expression “jaga-jaga” took root in the Russian language. 20 years have passed, new songs have appeared. And suddenly…
At the end of November, the hit “My Marmalade” ranked third on the Viral 50 list (that is, “viral” songs that are rapidly gaining popularity) of the world’s largest music streaming service, Spotify (like our Yandex .Music). The number of views reached almost 12 million and in some countries (Czech Republic, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, Bulgaria, Finland, Mexico and others) the song even reached first place.
A similar image is found on the chart of the mobile application Shazam, which helps determine the name of a song by its sound: the song ranks from first to fifth in Poland, Estonia, Denmark, Greece, Lithuania, Maldives, Peru and Qatar. … Below the video for “My Jam” comments appeared on YouTube in English and other languages: “I don’t speak or understand Russian, but this is great!” It seems like the whole world is going crazy for Katya Lel! Even though there is nothing like it in our charts. Why suddenly?! Yes, Fadeev is a pop genius, but it’s been 20 years… Maybe it’s fake?
Frame from the video “My Jam”.
You are welcome. The great global success of the song that we have forgotten is pure truth. It all came from TikTok. In August, Russian-speaking TikTokers began recording “My Marmalade” videos. The idea became popular (as they say on TikTok, “it became a trend”) and in the fall it was adopted by foreign users. And we go. Foreigners added creativity and put on fur hats and coats, believing that this made them especially similar to Russians (apparently, there were no bears or balalaikas). There are about half a million home videos on Tik Tok, where young people from all over the world open their mouths and dance with our Katya Lel.
In the comments, foreign users begged to translate the text into English. Several people responded and moved. And they began to argue about who could translate more accurately: the task is not easy, since even in Russian it is not very clear what Katya is singing about exactly… What is jaga-jaga?!
This fun “jam fever” is unlikely to last long. Network “viruses,” which have exploited the information space, tend to suddenly disappear just as quickly. But it is worth noting the fact that the abolition of everything Russian abroad is nothing more than a myth. Young people around the world simply did not notice the anti-Russian statements. Good and bad nations and the exclusion zone between them only exist in the heads of politicians.
Inspired by the Russian success, foreigners en masse dress up as “Russians” and sing as best they can.
IMMORTAL LINES
Lyrics of the song “My jam”
Words and music: M. Fadeev
He didn’t knock, he didn’t open and he didn’t sleep.
Almost drowned, but scored.
to your words.
Again it seems to me
that my head is spinning.
My jam, I’m wrong.
Kissed, hugged,
Then I divorced him.
Almost loved, but forgotten.
about your words.
Again it seems to me
that my head is spinning.
My jam, I’m wrong.
Chorus.
Try muah-muah
try jaga-jaga.
Try it ooh, I need it, I need it.
Again it seems to me
that my head is spinning.
My jam, I’m wrong.
I’m completely cold, I haven’t forgiven
and he didn’t take care of it.
So I decided and marked
to your words;
Again it seems to me
that my head is spinning.
My jam, I’m wrong.
She whispered and hissed at him:
and called again.
And I kissed you, but I forgot your words.
Again it seems to me
that my head is spinning.
My jam, I’m wrong.
QUESTION – RIB
Why did our TikTokers remember this song?
It is common for younger generations to be fascinated by the songs their parents listened to in their youth. For example, the hit of the Alliance group “At Dawn” (1987), the song “You Will Leave” by the group “Commissar” (1994), etc. They experienced a renaissance: videos are recorded for them, remixes are made. Sometimes the new versions sound even more interesting than the original, like Viktor Saltykov’s “White Night” (1986), performed by young Belarusian singer Alina Selyakh and DJ LVNX.
And when the computer game Atomic Heart by the Russian studio Mundfish was released in February last year, where everything happens in an alternative USSR with angry robots, the song rushed to the top of the charts… “Komarovo” by Igor Sklyar from 1985! Because it’s on the game’s soundtrack.
As a rule, they are not bad songs. After all, “My Marmalade”, despite its apparent primitiveness, is a 100% European hit with a precise melody. In 2003, YouTube and social media did not yet exist; otherwise the world would have heard Katya Lel much sooner. By the way, Europe has already danced to Max Fadeev’s songs; For example, the English version of “Mama Lyuba” by the group Serebro swept foreign charts in 2012.
DIRECT SPEECH
Max Fadeev, author of music and text, director of the video:
– I have always said that one day, thanks to our culture, many confused people will look at Russia again. People don’t want Russian culture to be cancelled, they love it, as evidenced by the success of the song “My Marmalade” 20 years after its release.
Katya Lel, singer:
– When I heard that the song hit the world charts, I almost went crazy with happiness. Why did the song become famous in Russian? Yes, because the future belongs to Russia!
Maria Zakharova, official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia:
– It sounds like a slap in the face to Russia’s “cancellers.” And why all? Because Max Fadeev is a talent whose songs will be heard, performed and sung regardless of any nomenklatura thinking attitude. Because canceling culture is like trying to drink the sea or sweep the desert. Everyone who plans to cancel us next time will try our jaga-jaga.
THE NAIS IS OFFICIAL EDITOR ON NAIS NEWS