The Belarusian Chameleons: Pesniary’s Popularity and the Ambiguity of Soviet Identities

Claudia Lonkin

Europe-Asia Studies, 2024, vol. 76, issue 3, 388-410

Abstract: Formed in 1969 and active through the early 2000s, Pesniary were arguably the most popular band in the Soviet Union in the 1970s. Their music is distinctively Belarusian, but still fits neatly within a broader Soviet narrative. This article explores the extent to which Pesniary represent an independent Belarusian identity or Soviet kitsch. It considers both the group’s reception at home in the Soviet Union and abroad. Pesniary’s ability to repackage both Soviet cultural policy directives and Western popular music motifs as authentic folk material was key to their success in the 1970s Soviet music scene and beyond.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1080/09668136.2023.2233710

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