Podcast: Fighting The Power -- Russia's Musical Uprising
Rapper Noize MC performs at a June 2006 concert in Moscow.
Just over two years ago, in March 2010, veteran Russian rocker Yury Shevchuk raised eyebrows -- and earned enthusiastic applause -- at a concert in Moscow when he took fellow musicians to task for cozying up to the Kremlin, participating in corporate-sponsored concerts, and performing frivolous songs at a time when the country was in crisis.
He called on musicians to lead what he called a "revolution of the soul."
Today, many of Russia's musicians look much less servile and obedient than they did at the time of Shevchuk's comments. Is the revolution of the soul he called for under way?
In the latest edition of "The Power Vertical Podcast," I talk with regular co-host Kirill Kobrin, managing editor of RFE/RL's Russian Service, about music and politics in today's Russia -- with some clips of our favorite bands mixed in for your enjoyment.
Also on the podcast, Kirill and I discuss yet another scandal surrounding Investigative Committee head Aleksandr Bastrykin, who was in the news this week for all the wrong reasons.
