WHAT IN THE? 🎵 Boney M. - Rasputin REACTION

[@gabrielcaldini]

A group formed in West Germany by Caribbean people of African descent playing a disco song led by a traditional Turkish melody, all the while singing about a Russian historical figure. Gotta love the sheer randomness of the whole thing.

[@BobSoltis1]

The most random part was that they were an invention of a German named Frank Farian who wrote the songs, produced the albums, promoted the band, and was also the only male vocalist on all the recordings. He invented a show band to lip-synch to this song and that is what you are seeing in this video - a bunch of people hired for their looks and dancing ability lip-synching to Frank Farian's voice. His other invention - Milli Vanilli - were not treated so kind when they were found to be just two pretty boys lip-synching as well to Frank Farian's studio recordings. The backlash was so bad one of them committed suicide.

[@paulqueripel3493]

@@BobSoltis1 two of the women sang on the recordings,the third couldn't sing. Although live on stage they probably all lip synched.

[@Music-tg5is]

Yeah, Boney M was really all just a front, comprised of various hired singers, lip-syncing performers and dancers for the legendary German producer and composer Frank Farian. Not too dissimilar in construct to some of his other projects, including the notorious Milli Vanilli. Personally, I never minded what he did, after all he was the true brains and creative talent behind these acts. However, fans who paid to watch them perform at 'live' gigs and believed they were the creative talent behind the music, have might felt a little cheated and betrayed if they had known the truth.

[@sergeb3158]

...led by a traditional JEWISH melody:)

[@BobSoltis1]

@@sergeb3158 Really? I didn't know the traditional Turkish folk song "Kâtibim" on which the melody of this song is based was written by a Jewish musician.

[@richardfeldkamp1707]

Rasputin was a Russian Orthodox monk of questionable religiosity. He advised Tsar Nicholas II and his family concentrating on the Tsarina. Plotters were envious of his power and decided to assassinate him. He was poisoned, shot and finally drowned before he died. Fascinating story. Back in the day, I used to put on my Best of Boney M. cassette tape and do my aerobics. Great workout.

[@keetahbrough]

they did so many things to him, to kill him, but he was the cat that kept coming back lolol

[@Der_LebendeNierenstein]

Orthodox Monk? I think i will give this award to my reformed orthodox Rabbi Bill Clinton.

[@jakedee4117]

Questionable authenticity too, he had some religious instruction as a youth, but I don't believe there's any proof he was a genuine monk. Psychopaths like Rasputin are great fakers and liars.

[@paulosergio-yi9jr]

Not to mention he has a huge item in a museum.... 😂

[@PMunkS]

The Tsar's son was a hemophiliac. The queen sought out Rasputin, who was led to believe that he could heal her ailing son. It is an interesting story. Less interesting, is that I too used to do the Cossack dance to this song and can still dance it to this day, though never with the same endurance as Bobby Farrell.

[@btj-oo8xc]

The genre is Disco. The group were German

[@kwc1138]

German producer .. the singers were not German .. main lead was UK/Caribbean

[@BobSoltis1]

@@kwc1138 Hilarious that people still think that the fake lip-synching dancer that Frank Farian promoted as the singer was actually the singer in this video! Frank Farian did ALL the male vocals on all of Boney M's songs in the studio and this video was shot with actors and dancers lip-synching. Do you still think that Milli Vanilli sang their own songs? That's another one of Farian's fakes. LOL!

[@steveo9683]

@@BobSoltis1 Nerd/Karen moment here.

[@NenadTrajkovic]

@@kwc1138 They were German band

[@kwc1138]

@@NenadTrajkovic With all non german members

[@jimarmstrong5820]

This song needs to be experienced on the dance floor. It is irresistible! I also love Ma Baker and Sunny from Boney M.

[@icecream9576]

daddy cool is good too

[@scaryspyce1713]

The dance is a variation of the Russian cassock dance. This is still a good groove.

[@jlr108]

(Cossack)

[@scaryspyce1713]

@@jlr108 Correct. Yes.

[@scaryspyce1713]

A cassock is a garment worn by traditionalist Catholic priests. :)

[@Ellen.G]

I remember everyone rushing to get to the dance floor every single time this was played in the clubs! Great memories!

[@Anonymous-qj3sf]

This song famous in the West?

[@Ashimavi]

​@@Anonymous-qj3sf all around the world except the USA

[@timcliffsmith]

One of the best songs ever written. Disco with a history lesson.

[@mneugent7658]

Hahahahaaa.. a lesson doesn't make a song great. Interesting? Maybe. Sure. This is not one of the best songs ever written.

[@timcliffsmith]

@@mneugent7658 Loving how literal you are.

[@mneugent7658]

@@timcliffsmith I know, it's super fun isn't it? Hey, you're the one who literally said it's one of the best songs ever written. But you are entitled to your opinion. I don't think they even got the history right.

[@timcliffsmith]

@@mneugent7658 🤦‍♂

[@markad1998]

Every single song from Boney M tells a story so its very cool

[@bobbyshaftowenttosea5410]

" impeccable cardio health" was unfortunate. Bobby Farrell sadly died in dec 2010, aged 61, from heart failure. Ironically, in St Petersburg, where Rasputin was murdered.

[@chrisnorman1902]

Coincidence? That's what the Russians want you to think...

[@UnGranSaurio]

Nooo you ruined my day :(

[@CoffeeConnected]

Even stranger than that, he not only died in the same city where Rasputin was murdered, it was also on the same date.

[@vertigo10yearsago25]

@@CoffeeConnected 😳, surely He was murdered himself then , that’s too big a coincidence unless it was suicide and he drowned himself

[@Yvolve]

He also died penniless as he was screwed over by his manager. There was a documentary he featured in, by a Dutch channel (as Boney M. is Dutch) and it is quite heart breaking. He ended up with nothing despite being so famous.

[@batmanforpresident9655]

Great group, also check out: "Ma Baker", " Daddy Cool" and a great remake of Bob Marley's "No Woman, No Cry".

[@lucblanchard4116]

Sunny is a good one too!

[@EasyZee69]

The genre is disco. I was just a kid back then, but my parents listened to Boney M all the time. When my parents went out and left me alone, you could leave kids alone in the house back then, it was fine, I would sneak over to their record collection and play Boney M. It's a huge part of the soundtrack of my life. Brad, you cut the song off a bit too early, there was one last spoken line "Oh those Russians."

[@SilentBob731]

Brilliant song, amazing performance. This one is an absolute classic. 👍🤘

[@floresincometax9112]

I started liking this song once i listened who Rasputin was. And how they tried to kill him over and over again. I even played it to my daughters when they were old enough to tell them the tale of Rasputin. Lol

[@razor6552]

Never say die

[@daveborder7751]

It was actually a white producer/writer/vocalist who formed the group called Frank Farrian that did his voice-this guy just danced & mimed, but was clearly the inspiration for Prince's look & dance moves. A decade or so later he formed the Milli Vanilli act.

[@MrKeefy1967]

Yes, but to be clear, Frank Farrian formed Milli Vanilli, not the dancer guy from Boney M. I know that's what you meant but it could be misinterpreted from the way you've worded it.

[@BobSoltis1]

Farian also ripped off the drums and beat and and the "hey, hey, hey" chant from Cozy Powell's "Dance With the Devil". kzbin.info/www/bejne/bXrTl42kd9t1fJI&ab_channel=whiteisti

[@daveborder7751]

@@MrKeefy1967 Thanks. Can remember having a Boney M Xmas Advent Calendar circa 1979/1980.

[@AncientBriton1948]

Why point out that he was white! Does it matter? He was a man.

[@daveborder7751]

@@AncientBriton1948 Because nobody hearing it would think it was a white dude.

[@danw4490]

My wife is Russian. Her family goes bananas when they hear this song.

[@snarkhuntero]

Rasputin wasn't even lover of the Russian queen

[@Phantoma3]

Boney M was popular with Russians but the Soviet Govt banned this song from being sung when Boney M toured the Soviet Union.

[@joesmith8725]

Boney M! And the beautiful backup singers . One of the lighter skinned looks like Lex and Boney M (Bobby Farrell RIP) Looks like light skinned Brad. lol . They were a '70s, early '80s Eurodisco, funk band from Germany. I believe they have Caribbean heritage as well. They also mixed up some Russian and Turkey folk music into this song. Brad gots it. Bobby was an excellent dancer, good looking fella who the ladies liked. Rasputin was a historical figure, somewhat controversial ( a witch doctor, monk) , he was messing around with the Russian politican's wives. He was eventually assassinated and poisoned. Check out Boney M's other videos like "Daddy Cool", " Ma Baker", and "Children of Paradise"

[@theritchie2173]

I really hated Boney M as a kid at the time, you just couldn't escape them on the radio. I must be mellowing out in my old age because damn it's still catchy as hell.

[@scatton61]

I never liked them at all...... still don't and the Goombay Dance band...

[@TillyOrifice]

It's crap but fun crap.

[@theritchie2173]

@@scatton61 Well thanks for resurrecting that horrific memory.

[@theritchie2173]

@W I 93% of disco music is awful, much like 93% of everything is awful after enough time passes. I said it was catchy, I didn't say it was good. Herpes is catchy if you're not careful.

[@paulqueripel3493]

@W I Liz Mitchell and Marcia Barrett did sing on the recordings, and perform (not sure about sing live, though Wikipedia says they did) on stage.

[@kuku-eh5hm]

Boney M was cerated by Frank Farian, a genius german music producer (he also created Milly Vanilly back then, and many others). Frank sings himself the male parts on all Boney M songs. Boney M was HUGE in Europe.

[@stack_of_records]

Pop disco... Raspoetin was a historic figure, time of the Russian Tsars. A adviser that had great influence, dark figure.

[@sweetwilly]

This is as disco as disco gets. The Bones had a unique style, and sound. Disco with gospel and/or a history lesson. It’s like nothing else. 🕺🏼🕺🏼. You either love it, or you don’t.

[@Vinterfrid]

The group's name was 'Boney M' and nothing else. Stop spreading desinformation please!

[@jamielandis4308]

Nothing like a little history lesson with your disco! Rasputin was a fascinating dude. He was also practically unkillable. He was a confidant of the Czarina and worked his way through much of the women of the Russian Imperial Court. The nobles had enough and invited him to a party where they poisoned Rasputin’s wine. He didn’t die. Legend has it that they then beat and shot him. He didn’t die. They stabbed him and stuffed him under the ice of the Moskva River. It is said that when he was fished out the next day that evidence indicated that he finally died from drowning.

[@bellamonicucci]

You're almost right, I'm Russian and live nearby the place where he was killed. The river is called Moika and this story took place in Saint-Petersburg. And there is a funny fact that Rasputin had a quite mysterious life, and the main vocalist of Boney M died in the same city, at the same day but after 100 years had passed, and at the same street nearby Moika river

[@MrKeefy1967]

@@bellamonicucci Didn't know that, interesting. One correction - that guy never sang a word, he was just a dancer that looked good. He was miming.

[@johndunkelburg9495]

Rasputin supposedly made a prophecy before he died. He said that if he died a natural death then Imperial Russia would live on, but if he was murdered then Imperial Russia would fall and the Tsar would die.

[@StrongDreamsWaitHere]

@@MrKeefy1967He sang live in concert.

[@StrongDreamsWaitHere]

Partly myth. His autopsy showed three gunshots, no beating, no water in his lungs. Guy who killed him probably embellished the story.

[@notwokevikingrules401]

From the start until the Christmas album from 1981, Frank Farian, their producer, did all the male voices. It is his voice you hear on Daddy Cool and all of their biggest hits.

[@normankennith7919]

''vlad, vlad, vlad putin, he sure put the boot right in, he sure kicked zelensky up his fat arse! vlad vlad, vlad putin, there sure ain't no disputin, ukraine will be beat when it comes to pass''

[@BobSoltis1]

Yep...He was the guy who hired the lip-syncing dancer you see in this video that people thought was actually a singing talent. Farian is probably best known for his invention of the famous Milli Vanilli singing duo. Again - they were just pretty boy models with no singing talent at all. Unfortunately, when they were found out - one of them committed suicide. BTW - this song is a complete rip-off of the single released by drummer Cozy Powell called "Dance with The Devil". kzbin.info/www/bejne/bXrTl42kd9t1fJI&ab_channel=whiteisti

[@normankennith7919]

@@BobSoltis1 thanks for the info!!!

[@BobSoltis1]

@@normankennith7919 You're welcome! I'm well known as a fountain of useless information. ;)

[@normankennith7919]

@@BobSoltis1 no! thank you! i'm a former dj who likes all kinds of music, including boney m's terrific version of neil young's 'heart of gold'!!! just to say, althoughi'm a heavy rock/metal fan, i also like the cowsills, miley cyrus & 24yo opera singer, patricia janeckova & not forgetting doris day & the foo fighters!! all the best!!!

[@eggy1962]

Boney M 's greatest hits cd is actually well worth having

[@mikedignum1868]

Their album Night Flight to Venus isn't bad...Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin was a Russian mystic and self-proclaimed holy man who befriended the family of Nicholas II, the last Emperor of Russia.

[@lumpyfishgravy]

Along with Bohemian Rhapsody, this is a song every English person knows the words to.

[@johnp8131]

Speak for yourself?

[@bugsby4663]

True enough and probably a Madness song too

[@EbonyMaw874]

I say thee naaaaaaayyyyy

[@lumpyfishgravy]

@@bugsby4663 Probably several LOL

[@jasondilworth2767]

I've never heard bohemian rhapsody

[@Steffe]

We all listened to Boney M. But no one I knew, growing up would ever admit to liking them. They had several big hits, and this is one of them. Good guess about Rasputin! Made me smile just a little.

[@SilentBob731]

Everyone you hung out with were weaselly poseurs. Good job rising above. 👍

[@just2coolkk]

as a european i would say.. plz more Boney M. hits plz :))

[@dieterdodel835]

@_BRADANDLEX_ You are Fake!

[@just2coolkk]

@@dieterdodel835 du willst sagen ich habe nicht gewonnen ? ;)

[@dieterdodel835]

@@just2coolkk 😁👍

[@tessasnow]

Rasputin was real…a complete rascal…they just sang about a true piece of history 🖖🏻🇨🇦

[@coktoe4487]

Favorite from my childhood I still listen to today. There are at least 2, maybe 3 different versions of it. I have 2 of them on record and digitally. The extended single version has an epic intro.

[@ForgottenHonor0]

Boney's energy may come from the lines of Peruvian marching-powder he did before their performances.

[@barbarae-b507]

It is based upon the actual historical events that led up to the assignation of Rasputin and the Russian Royal Family at the beginning of the Russian Revolution. Rasputin was very hard to kill. They tried poison first, then shooting and finally drowned him in the cold river. The books about the Romanov family and Rasputin are very interesting. The body of one of the Romanov children was missing but, I think that they found it and all were eventually taken out of their burial place in the woods and put in proper coffins and buried as royals under Brezhnev.

[@GaemerJosh]

I listen to this all the time!!!! Love their stuff. Ma baker is another great one along with daddy cool!

[@prestige35able]

Ive always loved their Christmas album as well as daddy cool, listen to it every Christmas!

[@randyinvancouver]

OMG, I saw Boney M live in Vancouver in Dec 2019! They were awesome! They got the audience participating in refrains, they sang their hits and a bunch of songs from their legendary Christmas album. We were apparently sitting right behind their family who live here, because they all got up on stage at the end! Uniquely memorable show.

[@niklasjohansson6921]

So 40 years after this concert in Sopot, Poland! Impressive.....

[@JakobFischer60]

Rasputin was a wild looking priest with long hair and a long beard. He was a fortune teller and got lot of influence on the former russian empress or tsarina. He helped her to treat her sick child that suffered from hemophilia. When his influence got too strong, some politicians bought some killers to murder him. They shot him on a bridge and when he did not die, they stabbed him and tried to drown him in a river. He survived for some time but finally died.

[@christianoazzuro6711]

They were mainly German-Carribean based with lots of Funky Disco orientation.Not big in USA but very big in Europe through the Disco years.This one was particularly massive at the time you could almost breath its vibes everywhere.

[@beriandavies2111]

Straight up 70's disco. A classic, along with other hits, Rivers of Babylon, Daddy Cool, Ma Baker, Sunny and Mary's Boy Child/Oh My Lord (a Christmas number). Bobby Farrell, the energiser bunny, was more the Hype man in the band, I think he mimed his part in the songs. Grigori Rasputin. He was a self professed holy man /healer who befriended Tsar Nicholas II family and became 'healer' to their sick son. He gained considerable influence in the Palace, later to be assassinated.

[@adamdonovan4071]

Rasputin may be one of the most fascinating characters in history. On the musical front, check out Rasputina, threes cellos on heavy electronic distortion with a drummer….also quite fascinating like their namesake.

[@wcgcapone]

I got to see them in the early 2000s. Very costumey crowd but a fun show.

[@adamdonovan4071]

@@wcgcapone same here. They were openers for garbage and Kule Shakur in the late 90s. Utterly bizarre.

[@wcgcapone]

@@adamdonovan4071 I saw them headline their own show at a small theater with Hazard County Girls opening for them.

[@teromattila72]

Funny that the camera concentrates totally on Bobby. Is there a single frame of the ladies of the group?

[@matsv201]

At least the person survived the most number of 7.62mm pistol rounds... well.. untill he didn't.

[@jeffreekoch9298]

Boney M! 🕺 They were Eurodisco and funk, listen to that funky bass guitar and beat! Pretty obvious its disco and funk lol. They were from Europe. They were gig overseas. Fun band during the '70s and early '80s. You hear a hint of Middle Eastern or Russian music in this song, too. See the video for "Ma Maker" too. Funny, cool dance moves and great song. My mom listen to their records when I was a kid in the '80s 😆

[@izzonj]

This song was pretty unknown in the US but was popular in discos around the world in the late 70s, early 80s. I only know it because in 1980 my girlfriend worked in Thailand for 6 months and people kept playing this "American" song for her. She brought him a cassette of it. I may still have it, lol.

[@anglosaxon5874]

The end was missing: "Ooooh, those Russians". lol I think this concert was 'make it up as you go along' [dancing and 'singing' and miming to a track [as you did in those days]. Boney M had many catchy hits in the 70's [1978 was their best year]m was a teenager then and remember them well.

[@danielbullock1019]

Another fun Boney M song to check out is "Brown Girl in the Ring". I had it on 45rpm vinyl when I was a kid.

[@alcockell]

B side of rivers of Babylon. Had the same 45

[@AutomanicJack]

love the confusion on their faces. as a european, yes its boney m. we still play their numbers on a rave after a hard night of raving just for fun.

[@b-six-twelve]

If you remember the animated movie of Anastasia from the 1990s, Rasputin was the evil wizard who is the villain. Fictionalized of course but speaks to the widespread belief he had some kind of supernatural influence over people.

[@Schudulaba]

This has really grown on me over the years since I first heard it.

[@johnrobinson3905]

I keep watching you on our smart TV, where I can't leave a comment, so I thought I'd emerge from my musty closet of anonymity and say, thanks! I like your channel, and it's fun to see your reactions to so many different songs. I'm old enough to have bought this track on 45 RPM vinyl, and I think I still have it somewhere. It's really just a clever novelty number, but none the worse for that!

[@dreadtrain2846]

Not only a catchy song, but a history lesson to boot.

[@dreadtrain2846]

Rasputin was known as the "Mad Monk". The Russian Queen legit thought he could heal her son. He was the reason the Romanov's were murdered and the reason the Bolshevik revolution happened, by way of his influence on the monarchy. Everything in the song happened. They poisoned him, he didn't die, they shot him like 6 times, he didn't die. They tied him up and threw him in a sack and into a freezing river. They found his dead body washed up later, out of the sack and hands untied. lol.

[@Radiant2419]

stop cappin bro

[@inzanity812]

It's crazy how much young folks love this and daddy cool lol

[@stephendebrou784]

Knowing who Rasputin was might help a little, but not to understand why anyone would write a pop song about him. However, like a lot of Boney M, it's genius. Definitely worth doing 'Rivers of Babylon' as a Christmas song reaction. This group were huge in The UK and Europe, but maybe not in The US?

[@Kaddywompous]

Not in the US. Had never even heard of them until recently.

[@scottvanhille5688]

I really like this song. This was on one of those Just Dance video games.

[@BoondockRoberts]

Their Christmas album was an absolute staple of my childhood. Every Christmas Eve that and Nat King Cole would be heard

[@mikephillips8810]

Fantastic melody, infectious song that used to get everyone up dancing. This is pop/disco genre 1970s style. Great band.

[@cheryla7480]

Rasputin was a Serbian born self proclaimed priest and healer. He became close with the Romanov family, especially tzar Nickolas and tsarina Alexander because he was able to stop the bleeding episodes of their son Alexei who was a hemophiliac This was around 1908 ( no treatment at this time for the disease ). He began to get more powerful and became a problem because of his influence. Some powerful influential people decided he had to die. The thing that makes him famous is HE WAS HARD TO KILL!. First they put cyanide in tea and cakes that he ate…..no effect. He requested wine ( again with the cyanide ) again nothing. They shot him in the chest and left to give themselves an alibi. When they came back, he jumped up and attacked them. They shot him again at least one of the shots was to the head. Then they wrapped him in a sheet, cut a hole in the ice and dropped him in to drown him. We learned about him in school and I never forgot how bizarre the whole thing was.

[@JohnRed]

I looked up what the Boney M members are up to now and found out that their singer Bobby Farrell died in Russia in the same city where Rasputin died on the same date. Crazy stuff.

[@richardsmith1161]

5 stars for that bass line

[@shiftymenno]

listened to this on 8 track in my 1978 Oldsmobile Cutlass! Damn I was cool. 😂

[@TexasGreed]

You're still ice cold playa 🥶

[@pinzgauerbelgium]

Bobby Farrel was a unique guy....he kept dancing in his unique style until his 60

[@kevin982]

The crazy dance he was doing was a rough estimate of Russian dancing

[@MRoyClark]

Genre-wise, this was EuroDisco. The opening of this version is evocative of 70s UK Glam Rock songs like "Dance with the Devil" by Cozy Powell, so it's not easy to guess that it would evolve into a fairly straightforward Disco beat. The chords and melody are reminiscent of classic Russian Folk music (think Tetris) for this particular track, which is indeed a story song about the historical Russian figure, Rasputin. Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin was a religious charlatan who charmed his way into the inner circles of Russian high society around the turn of the 20th century. There are countless mysteries and myths surrounding his life and death, but a rational reading through a modern lens suggests he was simply a charismatic con-man. As for Boney M, they were one of the most commercially successful Pop acts in the world, during the 1970s. Despite their lavish sets and the remarkable dancing of Bobby Farrell, the act was the studio creation of German producer/songwriter, Frank Farian (who would become famous again a decade later with Milli Vanilli). Much like Milli Vanilli, the people we see weren't the people we were hearing. The beautiful singers and dancers onstage were models and dancers, not musicians. All of the live shows were lip-synced, and all of the male vocals were done by Farian himself. In the 70s, nobody cared. When Milli Vanilli did the same think a decade later, they were (sadly) pilloried as frauds. The practice of having models lip-sync for promotional appearances by studio Pop acts was nothing new or controversial in Europe. It was standard practice. It was also common practice for TV and club dates for US and UK acts to lip-sync their own material. Boney M was a really huge act around the world, though. They did okay in the US, but they outsold almost everyone but ABBA everywhere else on the globe. I highly recommend checking out a few more of their classics, including "Daddy Cool", "Sunny", "Ma Baker", "Belfast", "Rivers of Babylon" (their biggest worldwide hit), "Mary's Boy Child" (their xmas jam), and "Gotta Go Home" (which became the basis for the 2010 Duck Sauce song, "Barbra Streisand").

[@musicworldvision802]

They all were talented and they gave live concerts with their band The Black Beauty Circus.

[@davidblauyoutube]

Ra-Ra-Rasputin! Russia's greatest love machine! Based (loosely) on the real Grigori Rasputin, advisor to Tsar Nicholas II of Russia and (allegedly) lover of his wife and several other women in his family.

[@garymcatear822]

Not suprised in the least that Americans have no idea who Rasputin was lolol

[@Ozzy_2014]

To put it in a way the young may understand. Rasputin would be down with O.P.P. Rasputin was known as the Mad Monk. In court of Czarina Catherine. The story is true enough. And it is pronounced Razz-spU-tin. The song changed it for a better rhyme scheme. You missed the last line " Oh those crazy Russians!" 😂 Rasputin claimed he could cure Catherine's sick son. Well he did take him off the aspirin which was killing him. Rumoured to be her lover. Amongst other leading ladies. The husbands none to pleaded created a plot. They did poison his wine when he was with them. But survived. So he was hunted down and shot dead. He fell into the river and ultimately drowned. So the legend grew. Poisoned, shot and drowned. December 29/30, 2016 was the night/morning that he died. Shortly before the Soviet revolution overthrew the royal family and Vladimir Lenin formed the Soviet Union. The revolution happened in October 1917, the USSR was born over the next 10 years. Lasted until 1992. Some of remember that. I was 16 then so I remember the USSR and the fall of it.

[@donaldb1]

No, nothing to do with Catherine. He was part of the court of Nicholas II. The Russian queen in question was Nicholas' wife Alexandra. The scandal of his life was part of the events leading up to the Russian Revolution in 1917.

[@iainweller452]

Great childhood song, I believe when Boney M played Russia in the 70s they performed the music without the lyrics

[@gillesmorin9439]

The girls behind are so beautiful! This is a real story you should look it up!

[@Evan056]

I love this song, and knowing what the real Rasputin looked like makes it even more funny. lol

[@terjeolsen489]

Boney M is a rabbithole you def. should explore.

[@rossdownes4240]

Love this song from this Jamaican German band.Their biggest hit was Rivers Of Babylon.

[@BobSoltis1]

All the recordings were done in the studio with none of the "show band" present. Frank Farian - the producer/promoter/songwriter, did all the male vocals that the guy was lip-synching to in this video. Farian's later group - the infamous duo Milli Vanilli - was done and marketed the same way. Two pretty boys with minimal talent lip-synching. Unfortunately, when they were found out - the public back-lash was so great that one of them committed suicide.

[@musicworldvision802]

@@BobSoltis1 Educate yourself. 2 super female singers who always were on the recordings after baby do you wanna bump and the guy did the vocals himself on stage....and there are still Boney M. concerts and they really exist end 2024 50 years with performances in every year. Bobby sang live till his last night, end 2010. Milli Vanilli only existed 2 years

[@peterbuckingham5866]

My childhood was in the UK 70s… Boney M, Bee Gees we’re just disco genius

[@sierra6936]

Classic disco hit 👏👏👏✨✨✨✨✨💃🤣👏👏👏👏✨✨✨✨🥰🤗💖 hey it's the original hammer time pants 💃🙌🙌☺️

[@sambeckingsale2542]

Wicked song. Yeah, Brad worked it out..

[@UnspecifiedHandle]

You HAVE to follow this up with AURORA's live version of this song. Very different. And from then on, you have to react to AURORA's live versions of her songs. Totally captivating and I'm not sure I've heard a modern singer affect me the way she has. Truly not of this world. I suggest this song, "Murder Song" and "Runaway" live from the Nobel Peace Prize concert, "Through the Eyes of a Child" live from Nidarosdomen, "It Happened Quiet" live at The Current, and Aurora X Pomme "Everything Matters."

[@garykeogh180]

At school....if you didn't study for Russian History about Rasputin, you just listened to this song. A+

[@JulioLeonFandinho]

The genre is called Eurodisco, some big artists had hits based on this particular Disco variation, ABBA for example... Boney M were very well-known and hugely succesful all over Europe during the late 70s and early 80s, to the point that they are pop culture icons already. Coming to mind right now a variation of Eurodisco sometimes called Italo Disco, because it came from Italy, no better example than the late great Raffaella Carra

[@Rowlph8888]

Apparently Rasputin lives to this day, he survived the shooting as well- He is immortal

[@smoovjazz8029]

Oh man the looks on Brad & Lex's faces for this video made it so worth the watch

[@badvoc]

I grew up in the UK listening to Bony M amongst other artists, music back then was amazing

[@blue-sc1se]

Bwahahaha.. the look on your faces when this kicked in was priceless!! I t's Disco baby, all bets are off!

[@blue-sc1se]

@_BRADANDLEX_ Is this a scam or what?

[@richardlawrence6619]

Saw a current incarnation of boney m a couple of years back at a festival, great fun. You could give "Mary's boy child" by them a listen; as it's Christmas.

[@yosifpetrov3087]

Please watch a documentary on Grigori Rasputin.....one of nthe most enigmatic people to have ever lived....

[@incensejunkie7516]

I was a kid when Boney M were current, loved them and especially this song. So fun to dance to. I miss the creativity of 70s and 80s music. There was a cut off at the end, should have been a male voice saying "Oh Those Russians".

[@LordEriolTolkien]

You haven't had the full 70's experience until you've heard Boney M. They were a German band, and the guy was from, I think, Aruba

[@jkbezo1]

Have to do more Boney M!

[@jonbauman457]

Try "Nightlight to Venus" off this album. Weird, cool, disco dance tune.

[@nashvillemusicfan8709]

Hey Brad & Lex, I've not seen too many reactions and analytical breakdowns for the band Bloc Party . . . and they're HUGE!!! (Go figure). They have tons of great music. I'd suggest the 2009 Glastonbury performance of "Helicopter" would be an excellent introduction if you've not heard them before. It's this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r4WsaZmOm5ySoq8 Thanks!

[@KCSpaceship]

Yesssss! Bloc Party's great! Kill City Spaceship is pretty good 2.

[@aaronbarlow4376]

Rasputin was basically a vampire, he as said to have powers of hypnotism. He entranced the Czarina and claimed to be able to heal her son who was sick with a strange anemia (maybe blood loss?)He became the target of jealous rivals angry at his hold over the Czarina and was beaten with clubs, poisoned and shot. Still he would not die, he was encased in a sack chained up and drowned in a river. Eventually he was said to have died, although it was said he survived the drowning to die of hypothermia.

[@samolevski1119]

It never ceases to amaze me how younger reactors seem to know almost zero history, or is it only over there in the USA ? Seriously, when this was released most of my friends and I knew exactly who Rasputin was. Not from history lessons at school but maybe watching old films re-run on normal television before home video recorders became popular, so we had no other choice

[@notwokevikingrules401]

its an act 😁 from same producer that created Milli Vanilli the black dude does not sing its a white guy singing

[@tonymorris2071]

They have a great song called Painter Man , oh yes and Belfast

[@waxmonkeys3841]

Excellent song. His energy comes from white fairy nose dust.

[@boristheanimal4you]

Lex's Shirt! 💜💜

[@cheesyrider6914]

Some would say this is a 2 part song,you missed the first song Nightflight to Venus

[@lumpyfishgravy]

Also a top track. Best on the album.

[@chrislc35]

lack of knowledge on Rasputin...by americans especially, always amazes me. do wonder what u learn in school over there, or even on tv, libraries etc.

[@mournblade1066]

He was a "healer" to one of the tsar's children. Hardly worth teaching about. It would be like me complaining that people from Europe don't know anything about the Secretary of the Interior during the Jimmy Carter Administration.

[@bellamonicucci]

The main vocalist of this band died at the same day, and in the same city, and at the same street as Rasputin but after 100 years had passed. Rasputin was a really mysterious guy. And it's an interesting story to read

[@BobSoltis1]

Frank Farian is still alive. The person you see in this video was lip-synching to Frank's vocals.

[@ChiliConCarnage]

Okay, so now that you've heard the original, you have to hear the cover by Aurora: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fojHkIFjbtNqhK8 Aurora is a Norwegian singer and this clip is from a radio show on the Norwegian National Broadcasting (NRK) channel P3 called Christine Live (or something like that). When an artist visits this show they're given a song and one hour to compose a cover of it, and this time Aurora was given this song.

[@quietkrys2705]

This song never fails to entertain me.

[@marvlouslie2053]

Boney M is severely underrated.

[@Ellen.G]

Oh, those Russians!

[@MeriBadger]

you should react to an explanation of Rasputin

[@1andOnlyTotality]

It’s like disco with an eastern twist

[@nguyenhuyhoang1010]

Boney M - Daddy Cool. Modern Talking - You're My Heart, You're My Soul" " Cheri, Cheri Lady" " Brother Louie" " Give Me Peace On Earth" " No Face, No Name, No Number. 🎹🎸

[@NandR]

Rasputin was a Russian priest/healer/mystic that became close to the Russian Royal family after helping their sick son. He gained influence from this position while the King was away during the war. Eventually people close to the family schemed to assassinate him and it failed the first time. He was fond of women and full of himself. A strange man all around until his death.

[@ethanmac639]

Grigori Rasputin, he neutralized the nobles power and was the darling of the Romanov Royal family......they killed him....barely, his middle name was rumored to be *Terminator* ...lol 😂