Leningrad Cowboys
The Leningrad Cowboys are a thirteen -piece band from Helsinki, Finland, which has become known ( an Elvis Presley Parody) and extremely long, pointed shoes especially through their musikparodistischen pieces as well as by their unusual appearance with " unicorn " hairstyles.
- 5.1 Movies
- 5.2 concert films
- 5.3 Short Films
Formation
Originally, the Leningrad Cowboys were a fictional band that invented the Finnish director Aki Kaurismäki for his film Leningrad Cowboys Go America ( 1989). The ensemble he sat mainly composed of the members of an existing band, the since 1975 existing, well-known in Finland Sleepy Sleepers, the musical were close the punk rock. The nine musicians to film the beginning are Sakke Järvenpää, Heikki Keskinen, Pimme Korhonen, Sakari Kuosmanen, Puka Oinonen, Silu Seppälä, Mauri Šumen, Mato Valtonen and Pekka Virtanen. In the course of the film plot comes as the tenth musicians of the "lost cousin " added, played by Nicky Tesco, the founder of the former punk band The Members.
The geographical allocation of the band remains unclear in the film. By the name and for example, the appearance of a " Siberian party functionary " with red badge as well as the presentation of Russian folk songs is interpreted on a Russian music group. However, all " Russians " speak Finnish in the original film, as long as they are in their country of origin.
Following the international success of the film, the film band developed a life of its own, appeared as " Leningrad Cowboys " brought out albums and turned videos. Aki Kaurismäki turned 1992 two music videos for the band, " Those Were the Days " and " Through The Wire" (again with Nicky Tesco ). Also in the follow-up feature film Leningrad Cowboys Meet Moses (1994 ) he left them again to take the lead role.
Music style and appearance
The Leningrad Cowboys playing a mix of cover versions of famous pop and rock songs and Russian folk songs. Some original compositions deal thematically with stereotypes of the Soviet Union.
The instrumentation is also a mixture of typical rock music instruments like drums, guitar and electric bass guitar as well as traditional musical instruments such as accordion, tuba, trumpet, clarinet, violin and ukulele. Many band members play multiple instruments, so that various combinations are used. The arrangements are deliberately willful, the band plays with a variety of styles and tempos, they often provide targeted against the traditional way of playing the pieces. Alone in the film alongside other the very different styles of polka, rock and roll, country and mariachi are mixed. Often, the genres are caricatured here, the Leningrad Cowboys operate substantially as music parodist. This also correspond to the film and stage performances: Some of the musicians stand stoically there, without distorting the slightest attempt, hop partial and silly it wildly.
Also a mixture of homage and parody was the engagement of two go-go dancers, under the name " Baikonur Girls" complemented the performances later. Your clothes and hairstyle should remember the Soviet fashion of the 1960s.
Cooperation with the Alexandrov Ensemble
Caused a sensation in the cooperation between the Leningrad Cowboys with the Chorus and Dance Ensemble of the Soviet Army, which they interpreted numerous rock classics such as Stairway to Heaven and Yellow Submarine. From the common open-air concert Total Balalaika Show in front of 70,000 spectators on the Senate Square in Helsinki on June 12, 1993 turned Aki Kaurismäki, in a reversal of the original conditions now documentary of the band, a 54 - minute film. The members of the Leningrad Cowboys in this film are given as Twist -Twist Erkinharju, Ben Granfelt, Sakke Järvenpää, Sakari Kuosmanen, Jore Marjaranta, Ekkehard Niiva, Pemo Ojala, Silu Seppälä, Mauri Šumen and Mato Valtonen. Originally designed only for the concert show has been associated with the financial support of Finnish companies even on tour.