“Influencing people is a dangerous business” – Newspaper Kommersant No. 187 (7388) dated 10/08/2022

English producer and creator of the Eurythmics group Dave Stewart, leader of the Aquarium group Boris Grebenshchikov, Ukrainian musician, member of the 5’Nizza group Sergey Babkin and American singer Stevie Nicks (Fleetwood Mac) released the song “Face-to- face”. This is the first case in a long time of the appearance of Russian and Ukrainian musicians in the same creative context. Tells Boris Barabanov.

The new site, entitled Collaborate for Peace, released a song with a chorus in Ukrainian “Vich-na-vich” (“face to face” or “tete-a-tete”). Musicians took part in her recording, some of whom had already worked together. Dave Stewart was the producer and guitarist on Boris Grebenshchikov’s English-language album Radio Silence (1989), and also worked with Stevie Nicks on her last two records, In Your Dreams (2011) and 24 Karat Gold: Songs from the Vault ( 2014).

The history of “Face-to-Face” began with the fact that Boris Grebenshchikov decided to release a collection of songs in support of those who suffered during the military operations on the territory of Ukraine. The idea was that musicians known all over the world would publish previously unpublished songs in this collection as a sign of solidarity with Ukraine. Joining the project are Jethro Tull, Marianne Faithfull, Rufus Wainwright, Lisa Gerrard (Dead Can Dance), JJ Johanson, Clannad, Devendra Banhart, Mgzavrebi and other artists the Aquarium leader is familiar with through his long musical career. The collection was called “We Stand Together”. The list of project participants is growing.

In response to a request to join the project, Dave Stewart offered to write a completely new song and sent Boris Grebenshchikov his part. Then a part of his Russian colleague appeared. Boris Grebenshchikov invited Sergey Babkin to take part in the creation of the song. He met the Ukrainian musician “in the old “Friday” times.” They had been planning to record something together for a long time, and finally such an opportunity presented itself.

The group 5’Nizza last got together for big concerts in the mid-2010s, and also took part in festivals from time to time. Since then Sergey Babkin and Andrey Zaporozhets have been working separately, with their own projects. On February 25, 2022, Sergei Babkin’s new album Kosmotato was supposed to be released, but its release was delayed due to the start of a military operation on the territory of Ukraine. In May 2022, Sergey Babkin released a new version of 5’Nizza’s most famous hit “I am a soldier” – with harsh Ukrainian lyrics that correspond to new realities.

In fact, work on the song began in April. Everyone recorded their part and then Dave Stewart put them together. In August, a video was filmed, which is footage of the recording participants performing the song. Dave Stewart sings in English at the window of his house, Sergey Babkin – in Ukrainian in the studio, Boris Grebenshchikov – in Russian against the backdrop of a brick wall in London. Stevie Nicks is not in the frame, the vocal harmonies she recorded are playing in the speakers. Handwritten lines of songs appear on the screen. On the website of the Collaborate for Peace project, there is an opportunity to donate funds for medical care to victims of hostilities on the territory of Ukraine.

Melodically the song is solved in the spirit of classical acoustic ballads of Bob Dylan. Dave Stewart’s verse is performed from the point of view of a soldier leaving for the war and saying goodbye to his parents. Boris Grebenshchikov’s verse is full of hope that “the war will become a dream and there will be light again in the sky.” In the part of Sergei Babkin, it is sung that “those who died will find a new life.”

The Kommersant correspondent asked Boris Grebenshchikov to comment on the release and asked the question: “We know many songs in which the authors preached the ideas of peace. However, judging by what is happening now, artists, poets, musicians are not able to influence anything. What meaning do you see in songs like this now?”

“The artist’s job is not to ‘preach’, not to ‘influence’, but simply to show that one can live differently; to remind of the truths of Heaven on earth,” says the musician. “In general, to influence people, to influence their thoughts, is a dangerous business. Each person should have the opportunity to choose, without any pressure. For me, a good song is more than any meaning; it naturally tunes the soul to the tone of truth. Songs are written because we need them; they remind us that we are not animals, but people; remind that there is something in the world higher than power, glory and profit.