Юлий Ким: От студенческой самодеятельности к политическому протесту

The bard song (“author song”) is the most democratic genre in the Soviet art of singing. To a great extent the genesis of Iulii Kim's work goes back to the amateur artistic activities of students, which were not very severely controlled by censorship. Kim paved the way for his career as a bard, though he had the chance to sing on the official youth stages. Nonconformist criticism of Soviet politics is heard in his uncensored songs. After 1968 Kim's works had two statuses: semiofficial, pseudonymous songs for the stage and the film, and unofficial songs for a narrow circle of people who shared his ideas. Some of the songs of the first category are known throughout the country, with other, no less brilliant songs, he earned a reputation as a dissident singer.