Russian Red Army Choir - Song of the Volga Boatmen (1965)

Leonid Kharitonov & Russian Red Army Choir - The Song of the Volga Boatmen ("Эй, ухнем").
Leonid Kharitonov's channel -- / lharitonov
The Song of the Volga Boatmen is a well-known traditional Russian song collected by Mily Balakirev, and published in his book of folk songs. It is a genuine barge-haulers' shanty.
The song, also called The Volga Burlak's Song, was inspired by Repin's famous painting, Burlaks on the Volga, depicting the suffering of the people in the depth of misery in Tsarist Russia.
The song was popularised by Feodor Chaliapin, and has been a favourite concert piece of bass singers ever since. Glenn Miller took the song to #1 in the US charts in 1941.

[@bishopluther4191]

That moment When the choir starts singing together is Epic

[@steliosarvanitis5606]

+5.000.000.000 points of fortitude.;p

[@gregorydodwell3895]

Bishop Luther most powerful payoff in KZbin. Wild!

[@greyfishbed8774]

I know, its sounds powerful and ominous! It Gives out a giant tidal wave of tingles down your spine, it makes it sounds inevitable and intimidating!

[@itsgreca.actualmenteabando375]

It's funny because I am not russian and I feel this song in my heart. It's awesome.

[@user-zv9qh3sk6d]

It sounds right in the heart.

[@steveboshakis2751]

Because it is FROM the heart!

[@Andrey_K70]

Marianela Versalli I think that is normal. Greatest of Great Russian poets by Alexander Pushkin was grandson Africans man, Michael Andreas Barclay de Tolly, German, Bartolomeo Francesco Rastrelli - Italian Jose de Ribas, is Spagnan, Alexander-Louis de Lanzheron, from France and many, many other people, were foreign, but for the whole Russian people these people are great Russian people, becose all these "foreigners" had Russian souls Sorry for bad english

[@edwardcarberry1095]

Despite being told who my father is/was, I think that the other one has to be because of my love or Russian Musique! Sorry don't' remember the name of the movie but I have seen it since but it had the Russian dancing , it impressed me so much!

[@dominiori]

Same as me comadre

[@AlBundy310]

Grew a beard just by listening to this manly song.

[@AlexTheGamePlan]

I already have a beard. I guess I'm covered.

[@templarknight7041]

@@AlexTheGamePlan I also have a beard. So I get the man pass.

[@croatiaboy11]

@@AlexTheGamePlan unintentional dad joke?

[@fuatztrk6015]

there is no human word to describe how beautiful this song is.

[@biggerthanacadillac]

Like having ones heart torn out. Rest In Peace. So Very Sad.

[@dominiori]

Epic is too small Word to describe it

[@Troublingarcher7]

I am Russian, I am also German. (Not from either country, American born and bred) But I value my family's heritage and actually performed this song at my schools cultural festival and I got a standing ovation. My grandfather (Who was born in the USSR back in the 30s) Was crying because he used to sail up and down the Volga river.

[@sharpteeth17x929yw]

I love Russia and am from Scotland!

[@altaroux3163]

I wish I could speak Russian that I could congratulate you in your own language! Mr Kharotinov's voice is out of this world! What a production. Just beautiful!

[@seawolf7610]

Look up the Leonid Kharitonov yt channel. It's run by his son, and they post his songs with English subs.

[@indirasingh1580]

I too love Russia .. I was born in India and now live in Canada. I have been to Russia twice and loved the people, their culture, art , literature not to mention the food..

[@royg.scottymartin4055]

Very powerful song, moves the soul and spirit. Should make all Russians proud.

[@csdm1999]

Roy G. Scotty Martin I think it gives Russians a bitter sweet feeling at least it does with me if you know the history behind the Volga boatmen

[@bjradrian9176]

My Russian mother talked about the power of this music, this song.

[@ameurmustapha6942]

same here am not russian, i dont understand it but i fell depply this song !!!

[@GooglyEyedJoe]

1:55 onward, literal goosebumps.

[@steliosarvanitis5606]

Leonid Kharitonov has the best baritone voice!

[@gooddognigel4947]

Chills.

[@justforever96]

Incredible! The power of this song is overwhelming; Russian music is just Russian soul distilled into sounds. The mighty, majestic, deep and slightly sad nature of the Russian land, turned into music and lyrics. Greetings from the USA; there are those here who would be friends to Russia (we definitely don't think being your enemy is a good idea!).

[@aur485]

:) cheers

[@dimanetov1807]

procreate, please.

[@FreddoX1]

Whenever I feel weak, feel beaten down and defeated by life's trails, I listen to this song and my courage and spirit is lifted up and I can feel that I can fight through another day, week or even month even. This song is all about pushing through, drag those heavy boats!

[@harrisn3693]

Yes comrade! )

[@watershipdown2008]

Outstanding. Their voices bring tears to my eyes.

[@QUK_DDCT]

This isn't Music for me. It's art. Russian Music is always the best.

[@Raptor501st]

communist strogg is real

[@QUK_DDCT]

lmao i'm done

[@quxfer9415]

yes, this is art

[@akaneh1989]

Music is a form of art

[@Jem12345kor]

Eternal memory to our grand Red Army Choir, which falled victim to an insidious terror attack!!!! In 25.12.2016 nearly all of the Red Army Choir where killed by an airplane crash by an evident terror attack near to Sochi over the Black Sea on the way to front in Syria. Rest in peace!!!

[@entelexia3]

I remember hearing about that. It had deeply moved me!

[@reginaltedbrown]

The love of beautiful music has no nationality .

[@yurimarciniak6011]

the essence Of Slavic's Soul.

[@JohnSmith-ou2mn]

This is a song of laborers called "burlaki," not of boatmen. Those were people who did the job of beasts of burden - they would pull the ropes from a boat stranded in a Volga shoal, dragging it to clear water. Why horses or oxen could not be used beats me. But then sometimes something beautiful comes even out of sheer misery...

[@BrotherFox2]

They were hired workers who pulled ships in the way of the river current. It was hard work but it was highly paid and they certainly did not suffer because they themselves were hired(google translate)

[@ZarviroffSerge]

Correct, but burlaki did a somewhat different job. Back then, before the steamboats were a thing, the inland merchants were moving their merchandise by the means of sailing the rivers. Traveling downstream wasn't a problem - the ship'd just go with the current. But traveling back - upstream that is - without an external aid was impossible. So burlaki (it's a plural, btw; a singular form is "burlak") were the folks you'd hire to get your ship back where it came from. They walked the shore tugging the ship upstream using ropes. Sometimes, when the wind direction was right, the ship crew would deploy the sails. That somewhat helped. Horses were expensive af. They probably were used sometimes, like to tug a ship for a royal family or something...

[@user-ve8jk6td1e]

Не просто мощщь,а даже ярость!Пробирает до костей.

[@spartaknumerouno]

I just received a substantial bonus to my stamina and fortitude.

[@justforever96]

Damn it, it's not fair that you can only give one "like" to a video; I want so badly to click "like" every time I hear this, but I already did, and I can't do it more than once! Drives me crazy.

[@wg390]

Very Powerful. Centuries old Russian's songs still make me think that I'm still RUSSIAN!

[@vladispassov]

This is a pure piece of art - communist or not! So my hat is down to the people who have created and performed it. This song in particular has inspired a lot of good and no evil whatsoever. So nothing remains to me but admire it.

[@bringamac]

To all my Russian brothers!!! I thank you comrades for your bravery and existence and I hope one day to have the opportunity to see your beautiful country long,...live mother Russia!!!!!!!

[@Pan472]

Just a correction in the description: The song is hundreds of years old. It was sung by the burlaks in the Volga for hundreds of years during Tsarist Russia. It reached its today's form in 1866, when Balakirev included it in his list of Russian folk songs. And almost all of the songs in Balakirev's list were preexisting 1866, the year the list was made.

[@BlossomFlowerGirl]

I remember this from my teens. A very stirring song, this is the best version.

[@margeywyrick3874]

My mom said her first husband and dozens of her friends played this a lot in the 1980s US Army,. when they were studying. She fell in love with the music, and can't speak more than 5 words because she was learning German.

[@c_planka]

This song not communism's song. It's russian song and was written before communism come in our land. But this song sometime use for revolution mood.

[@davidolie8392]

+Георгий Толокольников Georgi, I agree, but the song became much more familiar to people outside Russia during the GPW, when it was associated with the efforts to supply the Red Army forces in Stalingrad. For that reason it is still the best-known Russian song in the West.

[@josef1836]

+Георгий Толокольников ,do you love capitalism better,have you got a better life,communism is the peoples right,you love imperialist swines,mickey mouse

[@davidolie8392]

helene matz On the contrary, sister. I am a socialist. I believe that all the workers of the world got a better deal following the Second World War, based on the great sacrifices of the Soviet people, and on their own demands for social justice, based on their own efforts in the war against fascism. Sadly, this social contract has been burned away over the past 30 years, and the working classes must force a new contract, or a revolution.

[@c_planka]

+helene matz To what here communism or capitalism? This song reflects Russians spirit.

[@WhatAHorribleNight]

Heart of Russia is in the Slav.

[@iansarmy1]

Definitely the best version of this song out there. Leonid Kharitonov is the man.

[@enricoprimomartelli]

Great song, powerful choir! Leonid Haritonov looks like the Russian version of John Travolta. Greetings from Italy.

[@mihadvsamara7267]

Ухнем, братцы!!!

[@RyanColby1984]

Glorious. I think it's awesome how the soloist stops singing and just stands there looking macho after the initial bit. He's got loads of stage presence and talent to match.

[@rosaliaquequezana2394]

La música de Rusia 🇷🇺, la mejor expresión de amor a la madre patria

[@MrCristoforoantonio]

Great song! Очень красивая!

[@milenarajevic8280]

Izuzetna pesma, odlična interpretacija. Pesmu sam slušala u izvodenju Hora.

[@THORMYN1]

This song has always moved me, I love Russian folklore and literature, sadly today the entire ensemble of this choir perished in a plane crash, very sad!

[@reymohammed7040]

Leonid Leonidovich Kharitonov, the lead singer, did not, nor in all likelihood did any of these singers. This was filmed in 1965. Kharitonov died of heart disease in 2017, about two months before Dmitri Hvorostovsky, another magnificent Siberian bass baritone. I hope the taiga will have more such voices to offer one day!

[@patriciaoreilly8907]

That's really sad 😔 RIP.

[@DeHustlendeMoruk]

In soviet russia this is boyband.

[@castor3084]

much better than western gay band, main singer killed arond 15 Nazzi at age 10 at same place as in song - why do y think hes main- cose hes pretty????? long live glory ---- SOL INVICTUS

[@allo_privet]

Cihan Hustlende Moruk ахахахахахахахахаха

[@LordDavid04]

Is not "boyband" Is Manband!

[@dominiori]

@@LordDavid04 i agree towarzyszu

[@bomiko5232]

Nicht alle Boy Bands dieser Welt zusammen haben diese Stimme und die Kraft Wahnsinn 👍

[@jordianme1441]

That is what you call a great bass baritone...

[@alexd7579]

keep your heads up russian brothers, you can be proud to keep your traditions. here in europe is everything betrayed what stands for man, honor, family and nation. it´s a catastrophe what "our leaders" have done to us

[@stuartsmith8220]

No one embodies the Heart of Europa more than the 1000 year old Russian culture of music, dance, poetry and literature.

[@LiradeTerpsichore]

Oh yes. I agree with you :))!. But The Portuguese also do the same, with their more than a 1000-year-old culture, music, poetry, and literature. Unfortunately, they are still at the phase of stabbing each other in the back. :( They have been taught not to unite. They are always arguing with each other, and they throw the best among themselves into prisons and "madhouses-full-of-the-healthiest-best-people", as if we were in Stalin time, (in Russia). Russians on the contrary, unite. So it is hard to do something for Portugal - besides taking advantage and exploiting it, which is what most people do. They literally want to throw a person in prison who never did anything wrong - after decades of protecting and supporting some people doing terribly wrong things!!! They are kind of frozen. Nothing seems to make them see this, and give it up, even if the truth seems to be right in front of their eyes. The country has been sold out since years of so-called "Democracy". They keep on doing the same. Why? They do nothing to keep the people here who are good for the country and necessary. They forbid all the best from starting small enterprises, they break their backs. If a person is a patriot and truly wants to do something for the country, as I do, they support a wave of defamation and character assassination of the person. They trash everything of more value which could help them. And support and pay fortunes to the low things and that which is actually genocide. Once I was abroad, and I talked with a Portuguese. I said I would like to do this and that for Portugal. She immediately said: "Do it here, abroad. In Portugal itself, they will let you do nothing!!! - not a thing". This is strange, isn't it? And indeed I came here! Ready to try different things - and they only forced me to only deal with complete nonsense and rubbish, spending all my resources and energy. They took all my freedom away and did a lot of other terrible things to me!!!! And they threaten every day, to do even worst!!!! To put me in prison for 5 years. While I never did anything wrong. Not at all. And I wouldn't be facing any of this if I could betray Portugal, as Portugal or Portuguese have betrayed me. Which I will not, anyway. I liked your comment, BTW.

[@LiradeTerpsichore]

I would like to meet more people who think like you, but unfortunately, your channel is empty. Russian Culture is European, much more then what it admits, and much more then what it teaches to Russians and others. :) We need to fight for and protect all the good of European culture - and not excluding Russia, of course. Even... you have no idea how the music is similar to Portuguese music, in many senses. :)

[@nguyenhuunghia691]

Я люблю эту песню!

[@digi2931]

ДыктЪ, не совсем Шаляпин, но шерсть встаёт и так. Эх ухнем

[@Vigor1998_]

Мощно !

[@user-rh7tg7jo6r]

when you look into the eyes of that person you know that would not like to be his enemy

[@wg390]

Russians never were an enemy to anyone! Russia is defense of humans quality and families.

[@user-rh7tg7jo6r]

***** yes,but everyone want to be the enemy of Russia.

[@KhZina]

Кончайте тупить! Совсем вам мозги забили, что ли?

[@user-rh7tg7jo6r]

KhZina конечно забили. На самом то деле все просто великолепно. Все люди на нашей планете взявшись за руки водят хороводы и поют о любви.

[@THORMYN1]

If you learn about Russian history you will find how much suffering the people endured throughout time. This is a song about that suffering and obviously the performer acted as such!

[@TheAldanunes]

Tenho essa linda música em disco ha muitos anos. Fiquei emocionada quando vi o vídeo. Agradeço a quem colocou.

[@pauljackowacko552]

Part of the USN here. We don't feel like the world's strongest Navy without this song XD.

[@SkilledKill]

US Sailors sing this? in English though? where are yall stationed

[@MrPalos74]

What a beutiful song and voice. No matter what language it is sung, music is universal. Greetings from Mexico.

[@TheLoyalOfficer]

My God what a beautiful song! Someday I will sing it with beers and drop it down real. This is Russia's greatest artistic gift to the world. God Bless from America.

[@bhaktiyoga5661]

Голосище! Обалдеть!

[@Shroomov]

This Man Song is for Man

[@koosloop]

Leonid Mikhailovich Kharitonov (Russian: Леонид Михайлович Харитонов; 18 September 1933 - 19 September 2017) was a Russian bass-baritone (баритональный бас) singer. He was honoured with People's Artist of the RSFSR and Honored Artist of RSFSR. In the West he was noted for his 1965 video of the Song of the Volga Boatmen.

[@HGS1988]

Uma das músicas mais lindas que já ouvi!

[@alexsam9618]

Слушаешь эту песню, аж слезы рекой Сильная песня)

[@AVENGERX51]

This song has the best chorus, so good that it brings tears to my eyes. This is a powerful song, slow, but powerful.

[@dearmalika]

Maravilloso! Wonderful! Thank you so much for posting!

[@19jan45nagy]

Leonid Charitonov je naprosto bezkonkurenční, úžasný hla, hlas ruského lidu. Fandím PROSTÉMU ruskému lidu!

[@user-xm9en2fb6d]

Гимн тяжелого, коллективного труда. Эта песня вполне бы могла стать гимном России.

[@aur485]

У нас и так лучший гимн в Мире.

[@user-hg8hs3cl2j]

И рабского труда надо заметить. Современной России самый замечательный был бы гимн, тяжелый, рабский, бессмысленный и не приносящий пользы труд

[@AlGoulIbnAtomi]

Слова человека в жизни палку не поднявшего.

[@andrewwizard1577]

Была б луче

[@highenergy2516]

В чем это выражается? Аргументы пожалуйста и конкретное сравнение нашего и других гимнов......

[@barrettcarr9421]

Lovely song, lovely rendition, lovely voice, lovely video

[@D14VEO]

Just beautiful. Truly the most amazing voice!! Fantastic...

[@dmytriy_dmitriy]

HARITONOV RESPECT!

[@franklinblankenship8991]

makes sense it is a Russian song...the notes used sound of toil and struggle...

[@user-op8tr4be6q]

upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7a/Ilya_Repin_-_Barge_Haulers_on_the_Volga_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg/400px-Ilya_Repin_-_Barge_Haulers_on_the_Volga_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg

[@kerumku]

Wonderfull ! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@TheMinjaAssassin]

So good, I wanna cry

[@bronsongt]

I'm a red white and blue blooded American, but this shit is fucking bad ass!!!

[@dizzythedragonite1480]

R.I.P earbud users X3

[@AbuGuroza]

thanks comrade this song gave me spirit while i feel down

[@numbers_and_more]

Da brividi. La migliore interpretazione di questo pezzo che abbia mai sentito. Grandissimo Leonid Kharitonov.

[@Atemporalacab]

This is Badass it makes you proud even if you are not.part.of Russia

[@beastiecappadonna8247]

You can forever start to be!

[@koumbouras1]

Episch !!! Einzigartige Schönheit !!!!!!!!!!**********

[@dimethaltryptamine1]

My mum played this in the early 60's when I was a kid. Loved it then & still do now 1

[@Hitman47grim]

I would like to thank both of you for being so much more civilized and understanding than most of the comments that I see on youtube. So На здоровье and Gruß!

[@600_letni]

Bravo,piłem i śpiewałem z wami ja Polak,ej,uhniem..

[@GamingRelaxation2044]

Greetings from Iceland To Russia!

[@Vinctia2]

No wonder it sends unexplainable shivers down my spine. It's so powerful! It's so strong and powerful and just BEGS to be sung. So beautiful ;w;

[@user-op8tr4be6q]

Потрясающее исполнение! Great execution!

[@user-sz5zi1bl1u]

This song defeated Nazi !

[@petermeier6425]

in diesem Lied wird die russische Seele deutlich. Wer dieses Lied in sich aufnimmt, wird das heutige Russland verstehen. PM/Rügen

[@user-me6hh2mw3j]

verstehts du den Text des Liedes?

[@GretaGlass]

Awesome! I had the exact same feeling!

[@MkarezTakrizA97ab]

C'est magnifique!

[@lucytupper69]

This is SOUL,

[@lieselgeib5154]

Ich liebe das Alexandrow Ansambl .Höre gern Leonid Charitonow ,Jewgeni Bilajev .Lisa .

[@lieselgeib5154]

Ich kann alle Lider mitsingen als ich von der Stadt nach Hause fuhr steh auf du grosses La d auf dem Fahrrad gesungen. Auf Russisch .Was dienste wie die geklont haben ,die Kinnladen sind runter gefallen .

[@thomasey2]

Again a great performance, and a great music indeed

[@SmittyHeWasNumber1]

All jokes aside, this is awesome song and video. Breathtaking and ominous.

[@gidrovitamin]

эх братушки ухнем! если не будет справедливого мира ухнем! да так что весь мир в труху!че у нас за воспитание? почему мы вечно ищем правду!?обьясните мне !?когда и где это вбилось в мозг каждого руского человека..или же это литература и искуство война и мир зделала наши гены такими ! слава РИ слава СССР слава РФ все вместе эххх навались!)

[@droritkuris2525]

גם אני לא רוסיה. רק צאצאית של סבא וסבתא שהגיען מרוסיה וכול השירים הרוסים עושים לי את זה. 💞 💞 💞

[@ingvarz7468]

yesh li krovey mishpaha she bau la arets be shnat 1920. ani yahudi Rusi me kanada ve af paam lo aiti ba arets.

[@javakot]

очень круто, спасибо :)

[@Allkzn]

Очень хорошо спел исполнитель!!! Великая песня!!!

[@whitespanish11]

Those soviet dudes are bears

[@digi2931]

Не Шаляпин, но песня его .. эх красава. . молодцы, ухнем.. Хорош там, эй ухнем

[@Staszu13]

Leonid Mikhailovich is still with us, though quite old. He's been involved in trying to get an icon of St. Nicolas returned to his hometown of Golumet, Siberia

[@damour5]

Beautiful!

[@danielyangarush1073]

Я представляю эту песню как гимн России

[@baji1443]

When the chorus joins in I want to go to war

[@ainhoaaparicio3729]

...and a prodigious technique. The long high notes notes are epic!

[@denfer2000]

Quel chef-d'oeuvre!

[@drugoRusskyjDurachok]

Ещё ухнем!

[@dragonraopen2604]

СРБИЈА ПОЗДРАВ !!!

[@jillianhailey8335]

its a shock to see a guy as dark sounding and who sounds so evil but yet he could be as nice and small but with a large deep voice. its sooo beautiful

[@TR4R]

So beautiful, nature and choir!