With all of the YouTube incarnations of this song topping four million views, Eduard Khil finally got world-wide audience he always deserved.
The name of Eduard Khil is so closely intertwined with the Soviet pop-music of the second half of the 20th century that when I started compiling the list of his songs for this post I instantly recognized every one of them. These songs made up a huge part of the soundtrack of my childhood -- the time when many Soviet pop-stars had musical education, real voices, memorable melodies and easy to remember, censor-approved lyrics. Even the above song called “I am so happy I am returning home” was a byproduct of the Soviet censorship:
The list of Khil’s popular songs is long -- he had a long and productive career, there was little churn at the top of the Soviet pop-music pantheon. I don’t expect you to click on all the videos, they are more of a nostalgic mementos for me and are probably just a strange curiosity for you.
“Winter” -- 1971.
“Birch Juice” -- 1973.
“Let’s Go Home” -- the song about WWII.
“Saying good bye to departing ships”
“The Alder Catkin”
“Don’t Cry, Girl” -- this song was sung at every military parade and in countless military installations.
“A Joke” -- duet with another popular singer Lyudmila Senchina.
This is the new rendition of the very popular old song from 1966 “A man walked out of the house”.
These songs may sound simple and cheesy, but such was the time. Listening to the music of our childhoods lets us go back for a brief moment. Mine had Eduard Khil’s songs in it, songs I will probably never forget.
