"For enemies, she will be an irritant": how in Russia reacted to the idea of ​​replacing the anthem with "Katyusha" at the World Cup and the Olympic Games

After the publication of the full text of the verdict of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), according to which the Russian national team was prohibited from using state symbols at major tournaments for two years, a meeting of the Commission of Athletes of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) was held.

At it, among other things, the question of what melody can replace the anthem in competitions was discussed.

As the head of the commission, the Olympic champion in saber fencing Sofia Velikaya, said in an interview with TASS, the majority voted for the song "Katyusha".

“We discussed the musical accompaniment.

We had different versions of the anthem, even modern ones, but settled on Katyusha.

This is a patriotic song that is known not only to Russians, but also to the international community, children love it.

So we proposed this song for consideration by the ROC Executive Committee, ”Velikaya said.

Show business: a visiting card of Russia

The loud initiative, as expected, provoked a resonance - and found wide support.

So, the representatives of the world of show business in the overwhelming majority spoke in favor of such a forced replacement of the anthem. 

“This is a symbolic song for all our people and for those people who love Russian music, love Russian folklore.

For 80 years now this song has been sounding like a visiting card of Russia all over the world, ”said People's Artist of Russia Lev Leshchenko in an interview with Zvezda TV channel.

Musician Alexander Pushnoy shares this point of view.

In his opinion, Katyusha is the right choice in terms of recognition.

“What does any foreigner associate with Russia?

If you catch a Japanese or a Chinese and start humming something to him, he will not recognize anything except "Katyusha".

This is a kind of showcase ... We have good songs related to sports, but for export it is unrecognizable.

They chose both music and a recognizable brand.

Nothing illogical, ”said Fur to the Championship.

The singer Pelageya, who offered her help in recording the track, was also pleased with the initiative of the athletes' commission.

“The song is wonderful, combative.

The main thing is what sounds in our hearts and in our athletes' hearts.

Of course, I am ready to record a song that would become an anthem for our athletes for the next two years, if the Motherland calls, ”the artist emphasized in an interview with Sport24.

The author and performer Yuri Loza supported colleagues in the workshop.

"Katyusha" will be sung with great pleasure.

This is a good initiative, ”the musician shared his confidence.

People's Artist of Russia Denis Matsuev also found it interesting to replace the anthem with "Katyusha", which, in his opinion, charges with optimism and encourages solidarity.

At the same time, he proposed several alternatives.

“If they asked me, I would choose something from classical music, because nothing brings athletes, and indeed people in general, together more than the music of Pyotr Tchaikovsky or Sergei Rachmaninoff.

We have a large repertoire: Tchaikovsky's symphonies Romeo and Juliet, 1812, Rachmaninoff's Bells or Sergei Prokofiev's cantata Alexander Nevsky.

After such music it is impossible to lose, ”Matsuev told RIA Novosti.

But People's Artist of Russia Oleg Basilashvili believes that the athletes themselves should decide this issue.

“I think it is necessary to do this: if the majority of athletes from Russia choose Katyusha, then this will be our conditional anthem at the Olympics.

In this case, it is necessary to ask them for their opinion, because they should go out to this music at the Olympic Games, they will perform, ”the actor is sure.

However, there are those for whom the idea of ​​using the Katyusha is not very close.

For example, actor and director Nikita Dzhigurda put forward his own version of the composition instead of the anthem.

“I understand the thoughts of those who suggested using Katyusha as an alternative anthem.

This is a worldwide hit.

But my opinion is that it is better to take the "Farewell of a Slav" march for this purpose.

"Katyusha" is a legendary song.

Dance, media, but lighter, it will not reflect the whole situation with the ban of the anthem.

Instead of a unique anthem, it's better to take a march.

There is power in this.

"The Farewell of a Slav" is a work that creeps to tears, to shiver.

A work behind which there is history, ”said Dzhigurda.

The famous actor and singer Mikhail Boyarsky also expressed disagreement with his colleagues.

“It doesn't fit at all.

I have completely different associations with this song.

I would hardly suggest anything, but it's better to take "Get up, Russian people!"

Prokofiev.

It seems to me that this is a more suitable option, "Boyarsky is sure.

Athletes: there is no person who does not know the words "Katyusha"

The idea of ​​using Katyusha instead of the anthem was also approved by the country's leading athletes.

So, the Olympic champion in high jump Anna Chicherova noted that many people love this composition and know the words of the song.

The fencer Yana Yegoryan is of the same opinion.

“I think this song is great, many people know it.

We shouldn't sing Morgenstern, right?

"Katyusha" is not a bad choice, "RBC quotes Yegoryan.

The world hurdler champion Sergei Shubenkov, in turn, recalled that the question of getting the track and field team to the Olympics remains open.

However, in case of admission to Tokyo, he is ready to rehearse the performance of "Katyusha".

“We have athletics half a step behind everyone else.

In general, we first need to understand whether we can get to the Olympics or not.

When everything becomes clear, then there will be time to learn Katyusha and rehearse the performance, ”Shubenkov shared his opinion.

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Publication from Sergey Shubenkov (@ sergey.shubenkov)

But there were those who suggested continuing the search for an alternative for the anthem.

In particular, the ex-footballer of the Russian national team Alexander Mostovoy said that in such a situation it is better to write a new composition.

“This is the first time we come across such a thing.

If they were banned, then they were banned.

You can also compose a new hymn, as it was done before.

Some kind of patriotic.

Plus there are many patriotic songs, there are sports songs.

"Katyusha" is about wartime, and we are not at war, "Mostovoy emphasized.

And the four-time Olympic champion in biathlon Alexander Tikhonov took the idea with hostility.

“This generation has no time for Katyusha.

What kind of Katyusha?

For us, this song is sacred - this is 1941-1945.

When we were expelled from everywhere because of doping, what kind of Katyusha can we talk about?

This is a victory song.

And they need to sing the funeral ... "- Tikhonov sharply commented on the initiative for News.ru.

Officials: there are melodies that are strongly associated with Russia and Russians

Olympic champion in speed skating, State Duma deputy Svetlana Zhurova is confident that Katyusha will be sung in arenas, even if the IOC does not agree on the choice of the ROC.

“I don't think the IOC will agree on this option.

The anthem of Russia is the anthem of Russia.

But no one forbids fans to sing it!

Katyusha is a great song, but not a hymn.

I think, let the fans sing the anthem in the stands, "Zhurova said.

Mikhail Mamiashvili, President of the Russian Wrestling Federation, also supported the choice of Katyusha as an alternative anthem.

“I think this song speaks one hundred percent of the recognition of Russian athletes all over the world.

And everything else should be confirmed by our results and the desire to win, ”the leader explained his position.

Dmitry Svishchev, a member of the State Duma Committee on Physical Culture and Sports, President of the Russian Curling Federation, considers Katyusha as an “irritant for the country's enemies”.

“My opinion is that we should perform to the national anthem of Russia.

But there is a CAS solution, and you need to implement it.

The song "Katyusha", it seems to me, is a kind of visiting card, this melody is known throughout the world.

And for our enemies it will be a kind of irritant, ”Svishchev is sure.

Former ROC president Alexander Zhukov also has no doubts about the correctness of the choice.

“I think no one will confuse our athletes when they hear Katyusha.

In my opinion, this is a recognizable and wonderful melody.

There is also "Kalinka", there are melodies that are strongly associated with Russia and Russians ... Patriotic song of Glinka?

It cannot be used - everything that was associated with state symbols cannot be used.

And a song associated with Russia - please, ”Zhukov said.

In turn, the three-time Olympic champion in figure skating, State Duma deputy Irina Rodnina spoke out against the Katyusha.

“I would suggest staging Victory Day instead of our anthem.

This music will be played in honor of our victories!

This is symbolic, "she told Sport-Express.

A more classic version for the Olympics is advised to look for the honored coach of the USSR in figure skating Tatyana Tarasova.

“I can say that the first concert of Tchaikovsky will also suit the anthem, or Glinka -“ Glory ”.

If you want a bit easier, then this is Dunaevsky's “March of Enthusiasts”.

For the Olympic Games, I think this is the very thing.

Of course, Katyusha is not bad either, but there are also classic options for such a colossal event like the Olympic Games, "Tarasova said.

An interesting idea was expressed by the President of the Russian Tennis Federation (RTR) Shamil Tarpishchev.

“Maybe a tender is needed, I don't know what the decision will be, but the song should be presentable for the country and inspiring.

There must be a well-known thing, recognizable even by children.

“Katyusha” is still more associated with victory in the war, in my opinion.

My first thought was - there should be Vladimir Vysotsky.

He wrote a lot about sports, and the way he sang, the West does not understand.

For example, the song “Run, push - and ashamed to get up” is untranslatable, for foreigners just a set of words.

But the main thing is that the song is folk, ”TASS quotes Tarpishchev as saying.

The most radical critic of the idea was State Duma deputy Igor Lebedev.

"Katyusha" was a song of the Great Patriotic War, people who liberated the country from fascism died under it!

And now the OCD offers it as a hymn instead of defending the interests of Russian athletes ... They came up with some kind of nonsense.

To use a great song of the times of the war for such a thing, ”Lebedev complained.