If I were the prime minister of Russia, I’d want an awesome pop song devoted to me. I’d want it played everywhere I went, and I’d want my young “in-crowd” supporters to scream whenever they heard it.
And clearly Vladimir Putin agrees. His own private propaganda song is blasted at rallies and played pretty much anywhere the prime minister goes. Here’s a stanza of the lyrics, translated:
“I want a man like Putin, who’s full of strength. I want a man like Putin, who doesn’t drink. I want a man like Putin, who won’t make me sad.”
PBS profiled the artist, Alexander Yelin, who initially wrote the song as a joke. It ended up catching the eye (or ear, rather) of Putin. I’m not surprised…it’s really catchy.