Kennedy Center Honors -- December 1989

Russian Red Army Choir sings "God Bless America" (starts at the 4:00 minute mark) ... a real goosebump moment ...

[@catliftresearch]

I drove the equipment / wardrobe truck for the entire tour. They were so nice, I cried when it was over.

[@kstudt2000]

At 5:20 mark the United States Naval Academy Men's Glee Club joins the Red Army Choir on stage. I was lucky to be part of this performance. The most amazing event I have ever experienced.

[@larsorloff3393]

same for me....hey Kurt!

[@EvanLax95]

The part when the older woman gasps in shock at them starting to sing “God Bless America” kills me every time. Imagine, at that point nearly 5 decades of Cold War and the constant threat of thermonuclear annihilation, seeing these long time enemies singing such a patriotic American song (especially because of its mention of God- the Soviets were often seen as all atheists). I’m only 22 years old and the Cold War in that woman’s lifetime was more than double my time on this Earth. This must’ve been beyond surreal for them to witness. It goes to show that miracles do happen, and sometimes the decency of humanity does triumph. Thank you for sharing this beautiful moment in history.

[@wiklow22]

That was famed actress Maureen Stapleton.

[@MarioStahl1983]

@@wiklow22 Right! I recognize her.

[@roseclipper]

I remember this night. The Berlin Wall was being torn down and though President Reagan and PM Gorbachev seemed to be on good relations no one really took the end of the US vs. USSR rivalry seriously. It was at this very moment on national TV I believe that it truly became real. Nothing else could have come close to hitting home more so than the Red Army Choir singing "God Bless America".

[@MarioStahl1983]

Nicely described. Exept that at this time president Reagyn wasn't in office anymore. George Bush senior was president .

[@annershova7766]

Мы очень добрые . Многое готовы простить и поверить . Но это мы …(

[@dame56]

The reactions of the people in the room is amazing

[@brocksp]

Thank you all for sharing your great comments. I was 18 when I saw this and it still is one of the most amazing moments I have ever experienced. So much hope, so much that we can accomplish together . . .

[@angryrusski]

As a Soviet American, this makes me cry every time I watch it. I have such love for a country that lets me breathe freely, where there is no hunger, where one can sleep without the fear of knocks at the door and disappearing in the middle of the night. America and the world let forth a sigh of relief that finally, it was over. By far the best rendition I've ever heard.

[@ccaccord07]

welcome to the great land, my friend:)

[@IronPiedmont]

It is not that often that I find a pro-American comment on KZbin. I'm glad that you were able find the freedom you have sought for so long. God bless you.

[@ccaccord07]

our homeland security is fine, no attacks since 9/11, but we need to wipe out isis, ATTACK

[@EvanLax95]

+angryrusski God bless you, this video and this comment makes my American heart beam with pride

[@CourtlySeaDog]

welcome home friend. my family was Russians and moved here during the civil war

[@zuur303]

Ah yes, 1989. Such positivity and global relief. Then, the Balkans, war in the Gulf, countless political murders, 911, Afghanistan, Iraq, Russia under de-facto dictatorship... Why did we pass this up I'll never know.

[@ReformedSooner24]

Because a lot of people had false notions on how the world worked that were reinforced by the illusion it DID work in such ways, as they were still living on the capital gained from those who came before.

[@nixwut22]

I've waited 19 years and wondered if I would ever be able to see this again. I still think it is the most touching version ever. Thank you for allowing me to see it again (and cry my eyes out again.) A born on the 4th Patriot.

[@annershova7766]

Да, мы помним тоже … Мы вас благословили . Но вы не оправдали наше доверие

[@batmous]

Do ya think people might've thought "this is one giant step toward world peace in OUR lifetime" when they watched this performance?

[@rdfox76]

Watching this brought tears to the eyes of this child of the Cold War. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

[@chazmcm]

I was fortunate enough to be at the Kennedy Center Honors that year, and the feeling in the Opera House was unbelievable. Wish we could get those kind of moments now...there are sometimes good performances, but the quality of the shows has gone way down.

[@bobbydowns4730]

Very touching. God bless this choir. Thank you Russia.

[@karolynkelly-okeefe1944]

God Bless everyone on the "Fragile, Blue Planet" we share...

[@Martytoofree]

+Karolyn Kelly-O'Keefe planets are not fragile

[@ComradeDragon1957]

+Marty toofree Tell that to a 1 Km wide rock coming at it at Mach 5.

[@mapearce1]

Mach 5? They come in between Mach 50 - 100!

[@Martytoofree]

TheCommunistDragon51 well that can't destroy planet, maybe just life on that planet, also atmosphere and everything was much different back then, there was definetly more oxigen etc... now if 1Km rock went to atmosphere lot of from it would burn, and rest woulden't kill all life, also matters on place of impact... but planet would be still planet even if all life died, so how are planets fragile again?

[@Rikki0]

I was born in 1950. I was raised during the Cold War. I went through the nuclear attack drills in grade school, and the civil defense drills on the radio, and all the fears that a child and young adult can have of a nuclear holocaust that could destroy the world. Then I went to Vietnam and came home with all those fears reinforced. I was watching this performance the night they gave it. I cried like a baby. I thought " My God. It's finally over."

[@EvanLax95]

Rikki0 God Bless you sir. Thank you for serving. We children of the 9/11 generation (I was only 6 when it happened) feel similar emotions, but thank almighty God the Cold War never went nuclear or World War. It was truly the greatest miracle of the end of the millennium. Because of the success of your generation, I never lived on an Earth with a Soviet Union or nuclear drills. Thank you.

[@bambino16]

He is 68 years old now. Who knows.

[@dstevenslsw]

This is the most awesome video I've ever witnessed. It's a shame politics has the power to alienate people. Thank God for this moment, the most powerful thing I've ever seen!!!

[@DDR53]

Inever saw it on TV, but hearing our former foe sing this just about made my heart pop out of my chest. GOD BLESS AMERICA

[@PAXperMortem]

It's awesome to see that kind of relation between those two nations!

[@rdfox76]

This video never fails to give me goosebumps, and make me all misty as I think back to those heady days, when this was all going down and it looked like the world was headed for a future of friendship and cooperation. It makes me sad to think that all it took was one or two comic-book supervillains being elected to high political office on each side is all it took for it all to go so wrong...

[@Great2C]

Just wonderful, what a strong symbol for the change which was in progress then. That performance would have been unthinkable just a couple of months earlier!

[@KansaiSamurai]

When the song began, I called to my mother in the other room, "Mom! The Cold War is definitely over!"

[@LindenwoodMusic]

Stunning performance. I have to admit, I’ve played, conducted, accompanied and arranged “God Bless” more than I like to admit, usually when the song is used as a pawn. This performance is really stellar. I love the passion, and when the U.S. chorus joins in, it’s pretty magical.

[@Great2C]

I think Barbara Bush was informed beforehand so she might not be overly surprised. But I asked myself: How did the director know that Maureen Stapleton would react that way and have a camera in place right beside her? Maybe it was only a coincidence -- or her reaction was not as spontaneous as it looked like. However, that doesn't diminish the greatness of the moment.

[@marypalmer00]

I can't be the not the only one whose eyes watered at this right? I know it's naive and everything, but just imagine... what could be... if we were partners, not passive aggressive foes on the opposite sides of the ocean. My respect goes to the woman, Lynne Cox, who literally swam across the Bering Strait during Gorbachev's time. Why did I not know about her before? She's literally a hero, a symbol, and nobody I know even knows about her. And paired with this song... so many emotions.

[@bobbydowns1432]

Fantastic job.

[@evocman06]

Certainly one of the great musical ensembles of the world.

[@LorreB]

Thanks for sharing that with us. It must've been even more goosebumpee in person. And I agree -- they just don't make 'em like they used.

[@dstevenslsw]

The most shocking and touching video I've ever viewed on KZbin. Thank you for sharing. . . God bless us everyone!

[@nathansimpson2363]

God damn, those dancers from the USSR are incredible.

[@Martina-Kosicanka]

I thought they were mixed- Russian and American

[@LorreB]

This segment is the only one that I saved.

[@macaroni352]

That woman is Academy Award winning actress Maureen Stapelton.

[@aramos3639]

Welp Whoever wrote that book saying that history was over just because the cold war ended was a complete knob

[@luknatu5446]

I can not imagine Americans doing the same in front of russian audience...🤔

[@LorreB]

I agree. Whenever I think of "goosebump" moments, this is what comes to mind. And why I wanted to share it with all of you. Too bad the camerapersons and / or editors missed the golden opportunity by not including Mrs. Bush's reaction to this moment in more detail. I appreciated seeing Maureen Stapleton's reaction, but seeing Mrs. Bush reaction would've been much more historic and poignant, IMO.

[@rdfox76]

@dstevenslsw Politics has the power to alienate. Music has the power to unify people.

[@BadBonsai1]

Wunderschön

[@BlindandGore]

If theres truly a god. God bless the world, the planet earth and the future generations.

[@user-om9pf4vp6n]

❤👏

[@shadowhunter388]

I am having so much trouble believing my eyes right now...

[@NOOBZcc]

In December 1989, after seeing this show, all Laibach staff was called in for a crisis meeting.

[@pimpedpope]

Happy Independence day

[@barrytuch6945]

Yes I know I am naive, but if you listen to the music and forget all the politics just for a moment, maybe there is a better nature in all of us.

[@dellotti]

Please re-wind the world, since this looked so promising, but somehow we screwed it up, as always.

[@sam1344t5y7i98]

US army, Soviet army, God Bless America=Goosebumb moment

[@darkflower2]

Poignant, despite the trouble the orchestra and choir had in staying together.

[@fgldnglbs]

Do you have the rest of the broadcast? One of the lesser known inductees that evening was William Shuman, who was likely inducted for his all-round contributions as a composer and educator. He's best known for his Symphony No. 3, an orchestration of Charles Ives' Variations on America and a setting of "Casey at the Bat." I think his works are easier to get into as we basically know the sounds from movies and television.

[@vwsmusic]

@comet1951 There is one posted for Mary Martin; I just discovered it last night.

[@themanthemyththelegend55555]

And the Soviet Union would collapse 2 years later, this is the most extreme metaphor

[@cossack207]

I wonder if the younger people today knew what this meant when they sang this?

[@noahlonaker2668]

cossack207 I do and it's so sad that after this we went right back to hating each other hopefully we can broker some kind of peace with the russians again in the near future

[@justanamericandoggo6725]

@@noahlonaker2668 sad to say but it seems to just have worsened

[@ReformedSooner24]

I think some of us do better than older folks in Washington do. This was a cultural olive branch and a sign that Russia and America could be friends. But our American political establishment didn’t really want to be friends with Russia. The CIA, for one, needed a reason to continue to exist. We had to have an enemy still and that enemy was Russia. Especially as the Western governments moved towards their globalist liberal projects and Russia, still very much nationalist, refused to go with them. I am ashamed to say it, but in this case America and the West have been absolutely horrible with this opportunity. It was squandered, ruined, forever lost because of pride. Greed. A refusal to give up power. A refusal to accept a truly new age. A refusal to accept or cultivate peace. Because the military industrial complex, the intelligence agencies, and a few others all need reason to exist, to exist at the same size and funding levels, and damn the consequences.

[@VGerring]

LorreB, Would you also have the clip of the choir that did We Are the World in this same program? I've been looking for it for years now. It would be cool if you could upload that part as well.

[@listentothebutter]

bizaare

[@JoanneMcConnellBarnes]

In honor of Flag Day tomorrow. Put up your flags! I love how the Russians pronounce "Ghoawed"!

[@johnjordan8449]

The day I was convinced I would not die in the Fulda Gap. Damn shame bout ATS since then.

[@gestaposantaclaus]

Now we both have Half-Life, and both lack Half-Life 3. Our hatred of Gaben unites our people.

[@allenvergara1291]

What is the title of the music at 3:35 where all the guests clap their hands? Before the Red Army Choir sings God Bless America? Thanks.

[@easein]

And this for a bit of difference: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gp7Eg2Oea5Kan6c Peace

[@ZachsSanity]

Eduardo Vergara "The Stars and Stripes Forever"

[@Darkerio]

3:00

[@NotNibrasakhi]

2:34 is that frank sinatra?))

[@salehbinjasseral-aulaqi-2n296]

0:00 Walter Cronkite

[@Phistagon]

sad sad sad, to see the red army choir singing such a song, sad times

[@noahlonaker2668]

beautiful

[@MrBharanish]

coldwar 2.0 already on phase

[@MrJimmyboy1972]

@joeocho88 dont shout son. 2 yrs since you got a reply. i am not surprised. chill!

[@dzigimk]

god bless Ameriga

[@laspigroup2974]

Хаха) перехитрили американцев)

[@TM-qd5zf]

Putin is not to be liking this...

[@CrissTRG]

nice propaganda