Russians (song)

"Russians" is a song by Sting, from his debut solo album, The Dream of the Blue Turtles, released in June 1985, and released as a single in November. The song is a commentary and plea that criticises the then-dominant Cold War foreign policy and doctrine of mutual assured destruction (MAD) by the United States and the then existing Soviet Union.

"Russians"
Standard 7-inch vinyl artwork (UK single pictured)
Single by Sting
from the album The Dream of the Blue Turtles
B-side	"Gabriel's Message"
Released	November 1985
Recorded	1984
Genre	New wave, art rock
Length	3:58
Label	A&M
Songwriter(s)	Sting Sergei Prokofiev
Producer(s)	Sting and Peter Smith
Sting singles chronology
"Fortress Around Your Heart" (1985) "Russians" (1985) "Moon over Bourbon Street" (1986)

Background

In 2010, Sting explained that the song was inspired by watching Soviet TV via inventor Ken Schaffer's satellite receiver at Columbia University:[1][2]

"I had a friend at university who invented a way to steal the satellite signal from Russian TV. We'd have a few beers and climb this tiny staircase to watch Russian television... At that time of night we'd only get children's Russian television, like their 'Sesame Street'. I was impressed with the care and attention they gave to their children's programmes. I regret our current enemies haven't got the same ethics."

Sting performed the song at the 1986 Grammy Awards. His performance of the song was released on the 1994 album Grammy's Greatest Moments Volume I.[3]

Composition

The song uses the Romance theme from the Lieutenant Kijé Suite by Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev,[4] and its lead-in includes a snippet from the Soviet news program Vremya in which the famed Soviet news broadcaster Igor Kirillov says in Russian: "...The British Prime Minister described the talks with the head of the delegation, Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev, as a constructive, realistic, practical and friendly exchange of opinions...", referring to the meeting of Mikhail Gorbachev and Margaret Thatcher in 1984. The Soviet leader at the time was Konstantin Chernenko.

Also in the background, communications from the Apollo–Soyuz mission can be heard.

Track listings

7" single

1. "Russians" – 3:57
2. "Gabriel's Message" – 2:15

12" maxi

1. "Russians" – 3:57
2. "Gabriel's Message" – 2:10
3. "I Burn for You" (live) – 4:40

Personnel

Photography by Anton Corbijn Made in West Germany by Polygram "Russians" Written by Sting Engineered by Jim Scott Produced by Pete Smith

"Gabriel's Message" Written by Traditional Arranged by Sting Mixed and recorded by Pete Smith "I Burn for You" Written by Sting Mixed, recorded and produced by Pete Smith

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1985-1986) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report)[5] 11 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[6] 7 France (SNEP)[7] 2 Germany (GfK Entertainment Charts)[8] 4 Ireland (IRMA)[9] 11 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[10] 8 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[11] 25 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[12] 16 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[13] 13 UK Singles (OCC)[14] 12 U.S. Billboard Hot 100[15] 16 U.S. Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks[16] 34 Year-end charts Chart (1986) Rank Australia (Kent Music Report)[17] 53 Certifications Country Certification Date Sales certified Physical sales France[18] Gold 1986 500,000 476,000 See also Ronald Reagan in music Music and politics Nuclear strategy References "Sting's Russians was inspired by illegal satellite viewings". The Daily Express. 15 July 2010. Retrieved 14 August 2012. "Russians". Youtube. What struck me when I was watching these programs was how much care and attention and clearly love had gone into these programs. And these were our enemies, but they clearly love their children just like we love ours. "Grammy's Greatest Moments, Volume 1: Various Artists". Retrieved 21 November 2011. Gable, Christopher (2008). The words and music of Sting. ABC-CLIO. p. 25. ISBN 978-0-275-99360-3. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 295. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid-1983 and 12 June 1988. "Ultratop.be – Sting – Russians" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 21 December 2019. "Lescharts.com – Sting – Russians" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 21 December 2019. "Sting - Russians (song)" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 21 December 2019. "The Irish Charts - All there is to know > Search results for 'Sting' (from irishcharts.ie)". Fireball Media, via Imgur.com. Retrieved 21 December 2019. "Dutchcharts.nl – Sting – Russians" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 21 December 2019. "Charts.nz – Sting – Russians". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 21 December 2019. "Swedishcharts.com – Sting – Russians". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 21 December 2019. "Swisscharts.com – Sting – Russians". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 21 December 2019. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 December 2019. "Chart History: Sting". Billboard. Retrieved 21 December 2019. "Chart History: Sting > Mainstream Rock Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 21 December 2019. "Kent Music Report No 650 – 29 December 1986 > National Top 100 Singles for 1986". Kent Music Report, via Imgur.com. Retrieved 21 December 2019. French certifications See: "Les Ventes" => "Toutes les Certifications depuis 1973" => "STING" InfoDisc.fr (Retrieved March 24, 2009) External links - analysis of the song on Pop History Dig (Jack Doyle, "Sting: 'Russians', 1985," PopHistoryDig.com, 30 April 2009)