Top 6 foreign compositions in Soviet cartoons

From old Soviet cartoons and films most often remembered not only the main characters and the situations in which they get into, but also the accompanying all the action music. In a closed country as a soundtracks usually used records domestic artists, but were their songs the only ones Soviet moviegoers heard in their favourite films?

Foreign music, despite the ban, still reached the USSR in an unusual way: Soviet citizens were introduced to it cartoons. On how the most adored animated films appeared in the most adored of animated films unexpected compositions, who authored them, and why the original performers unlisted in the credits, will be the subject of this article.

House Of Horrors in "The Kid And Carlson".

Perhaps the most frightening in the cartoon about Little Boy and Carlson is still considered to be the scene with the ghost chasing thieves through Stockholm at night. It seemed to many viewers that all the sounds that Carlson, who was hiding under a sheet, was making were separately recorded and overlaid with an upbeat and slightly creepy melody, but the singer of "House Of Horrors". Merv Griffin reproduced them himself.

Talented showman and TV presenter Merv Griffin loved making music in his spare time, and in the early 1960s recorded the "House Of Horrors" for his new project. To give the composition a special charm, the presenter glued together excerpts of Camille Saint-Saëns' Dance of Death and Chopin's Funeral March. Despite the expressiveness of the track, it was included in the Soviet animated film fragmentsthanks to sound engineer Boris Filchikov. The authorship of the bright melody in the credits of "Little Boy and Carlson" was given to the composer of the film Gennady Gladkovas the rights to use the song by Soviet film makers were not purchased.

Vizisi in "Well, Wait!"

Legendary animated film "Well, wait a minute!" is full of memorable melodies. Although Alla Pugacheva, Vladimir Vysotsky and the Pesnyary ensemble can be heard in it, the less prominent, but no less commemorative compositions came to film from other countries.

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The story of the title song "Well, wait!" originates in Hungary, where the musician Tamás Deákwithout realising it, wrote one of the most iconic cartoon tunes imaginable. The composition "Vizisí"which means "water ski", was recorded in 1968 by a Hungarian dance orchestra and radio ensemble, and was soon featured in "Well, Wait!". Cartoonists again unspecified The author in the credits, attributing the melody to Georgi Firtich and Vyacheslav Meshcherin's ensemble.

Trompeten Muckel in "Well, Wait!"

This song is known to fans of "Well, Wait!" from the first episode of the cartoon and the scene with the performance in the circus. Trompeten Muckel" is written by the composer and arranger of the "Trompeten Muckel" song James Lastwho began his musical career in the late '40s. From 1964, Last wrote music for popular artists, and his works can also be heard in many foreign films.

One of Last's most famous tunes is considered to be "Der einsame Hirte"or "The Lonely Shepherd", released in 1977 after the musician's visit to the USSR. This composition, as well as a number of other works by James, has been included in the iconic for the film industry, including being included in the film "Kill Bill." and brought a new wave of popularity to the German composer.

Green Grass Of Texas in "Well, Wait!"

The original Green Grass Of Texas country song Bennett Brothers, recorded in 1959 and released two years later on Infinity Records by The Texans. However, the cartoon uses a very different version of the track, belonging to the Bill Vaughn and his orchestra.

Vaughn's version is contained in the episode with a karate hare training on a birch log. The authors of "Well, Wait!" have skilfully presented calming a tune by a prominent multi-instrumentalist who started out as a member of The Hilltoppers quartet and recorded his first hit song "Trying." back in 1952.

Caravan in "Well, Wait!"

Soviet viewers were slowly becoming familiar not only with American folk music, but also with the jazz. The composition "Caravan" belongs to Bill Haley and The Comets, also known for the 1954 song "Rock Around the Clock".

After their hit, Haley and his ensemble gained a lot of fame, and became one of the groups that popularised the rock 'n' roll. In the late '80s, the musician was honoured with a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The Comets and Haley's version of The Comets opened with a scene in a circus, when the Cat descended into the arena on steps appearing out of thin air. Unobtrusively, the authors of "Well, Wait!" revealed to Soviet children origins rock music and indirectly introduced the audience to a genre of music that was forbidden at the time.

Speak Softly Love to "Contact"

In 1990, the film premiered "The Godfather." in Russia, but the main song from this legendary film appeared in the former Soviet Union as early as 1978, when Vladimir Tarasov's cartoon appeared on TV screens "Contact.". According to the plot, the protagonist meets an alien, with whom he has to find the very contact. From the very first minutes of the film, we hear the well-known to many "Speak Softly, Love.".

Composer Nino Rota was to create the first part of The Godfather. truly Italian melody to highlight the origins of the main characters and immerse the viewer in the atmosphere of the country. The musician turned to his past work, namely the film by Federico Fellini "Fortunella.". From the cheerful and kind composition came a great harsh and slightly oppressive melody for a film about the mafia, and for director Tarasov this gloominess became a true inspiration.