Total Balalaika Show (1993)

Funny memories

The Leningrad Cowboys are a throwback to the Elvis time, with costumes and all. The combination of the Russian Military Choir with this Rock Band is entertaining, if you like good oldies and traditional Rock. I enjoy it truly. May 28, 2008

The Greatest Rock Band EVER

This DVD, as you know from the other reviews features the "Cowboys" and the Red Army Choir.

The satire of western rock music is absolutley wonderful. The way the band dresses is absolutely hysterical. The 'Cowboys' have 50's and early 60's American teenage boys style down dead perfect. Of course, the "Cowboy's" are over-the-top. Wouldn't be satire otherwise.

The band itself, consists of some truly capable musicians. The drummer couldn't lose the beat if you held a gun to his head. They work flawlessly withe Red Army Choir and Ensemble. The arrangements for the 'Red Army' play off the 'Cowboys' satire perfectly on the pop numbers. The Red Army Choirs 'hallelujahs' on Dylan's 'Knocking on Heavens Door' couldn't be funnier.

The band's stage antics are a dead-on parody of every rock band that has ever existed. Except the "Cowboys" don't do it quite right. Wouldn't be satire otherwise.

The most amazing thing is with each performance you think the band can't get any more over-the-top. But somehow they amaze and go even further. I laughed until I couldn't breath. A friend that watched this at my house actually stopped breathing for several minutes from laughing. After he got out of the hospital,he bought his sister and himself a copy. I'm buying a second copy for another friend. What better review can you have then multiple word of mouth sales.

P.S. the "Cowboys" have a web site. Get your Leningrad Cowboys gear!

May 17, 2008

Irony at its Best

The Leningrad Cowboys: Total Balalaika Show constitutes wonderful irony. I served as a US Air Force officer from 1969 to 1990, much of that time as a Soviet specialist and nuclear targeting officer. The Cold War was America's longest war, (1946 to 1991) and our third most costly with 100,000 American service personnel giving their lives on battlefields from Greece and Yugoslavia to Korea, the Congo, Cuba, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and scores of other places you may never hear about. As students in my college class in "Russia under the Tsars" was filing in for the first day of classes, they were greeted by the Leningrad Cowboys and the Red Army Chorus hamming it up with "Sweet Home Alabama," I began class by saying, "Russia, what we think we know about that riddle wrapped in an enigma usually is wrong. Welcome to the history of Russia."

Five star fun!

Earl H. Tilford, Jr., PhD
Professor of History
Grove City College
September 12, 2007

Helsinki

I enjoyed the show but felt there was too much editing between the musical items July 30, 2007

The Cold War is over, and Rock won...

I agree with the other reviewers about this. It's an eye-popper. I had seen "Leningrad Cowboys Do America" a dozen years ago and enjoyed it; then in 2006 my work took me on a trip to Eastern Europe where I flipped on the TV and saw the Leningrad cowboys being interviewed--couldn't understand a word, but if you know the Leningrad Cowboys, well, you know the Leningrad Cowboys. "What the heck?" I thought,"Are these guys still around?" I googled around and found that they've done a few movies. All I could find in the NTSC US (region 1) format was their first movie and this documentary of the concert they performed with the Red Army Ensemble.
By the end of five minutes it really sinks in that the cold war is over--in case you hadn't already noticed. There is something surreal (you'll wear that word out while watching) about the concert. First of all, it is a straight-up concert. The Red Army is a great all-male choir, the Leningrad Cowboys, errr, they are a third-rate rock band with a lot of heart, and a very dry sense of humor. The juxtaposition of the Red Army pouring all their soul into either a. Russian Folk standards (like Kalinka) or b. 60's Rock and Roll standards while the Cowboys flounce around in front of them is unforgettable. The first time the visuals are so jarring that it's hard to pay attention to some rather good music. The second and third time it is easier to laugh and to appreciate some nicely done Russian folk music and golden oldies rock 'n' roll.
April 10, 2007

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