Russian artists express anti-war sentiments through music, but are largely disregarded by many

In the face of ongoing conflict, artists from Russia and Ukraine have taken a stand against war with powerful music and visuals. Here are some of the notable contributions that have resonated with audiences on both sides of the border.

Roman Liberov, a renowned producer, filmed the concert "We Exist," uniting various anti-war artists. The concert, titled "Wir Existieren" in December 2023, featured a lineup of musicians who used their platform to express their opposition to the war. However, specific details about the participating artists and the anti-war songs presented are not yet available.

Monetochka, a popular Russian musician, released the song "I'll Survive," which includes video clips from civilians who survived the siege in the east of Ukraine. Her music video for "Burn, Burn" reflects the horrors of the invasion with an animated visual.

Zemfira, a rockstar from Russia, released the sorrowful tune "Meat," a song that speaks to the horrors of the war. Manizha Sangin, a civil rights activist and singer, released "Soldier," emphasizing the tragedy of mothers losing their children in the war. The video for the song consists of videos sent by her listeners from Ukraine and Russia.

Dmitry Emelyanov, a score composer, and Yuri Shevchuk, the front man of the rock band DDT, co-wrote the album "Wolves at a Shooting Ground." The album includes tracks like "Motherland, Return Home" and "The Funeral of the War."

Vladi, a Russian rapper, expressed the shock of the aggression from an anti-war Russian perspective in the song "How the F*** Is It Possible?" Shaman's song "I'm Russian" became popular in Russia but was also ridiculed on various social media platforms.

The supergroup Noize MC, Liza Monetochka, and Vitya Isayev's song "People with Guns" has sarcastic lyrics about war and is popular among listeners. Russian rapper Oxxxymiron's song "Oyda" calls for the decolonization of Russian heritage and uses the white-blue-white flag as a symbol against bloodshed. Maxim Pokrovsky, the front man of the rock band "Nogu Svelo," released the protest song "Anthem of the Doomed or Goyda, Orcs!"

In a separate development, Alla Pugacheva, a Soviet superstar, faced a terrible fake news campaign after her husband opposed the war and their family left the country.

A notable AI-resurrected performance is Viktor Tsoi, a popular rock singer who died in 1990, singing the critical anthem "A Train on Fire."

Finally, the YouTube video titled "Voices of Peace" by Monetochka features animated videos connected to Soviet and post-Soviet Russian history, emphasizing the need for peace and unity. These artists and their music serve as a testament to the power of art as a form of resistance and a call for peace in these troubled times.

Russian artists express anti-war sentiments through music, but are largely disregarded by many