When Sting first released the song “Russians” in 1985, the Cold War had been raging for nearly 40 years, and the song aimed to strike a humanizing tone on the people actually behind that Iron Curtain. Just weeks earlier, the Soviet Union had gotten a young new leader named Mikhail Gorbachev who ultimately would end that war and change the world in the process, for the better, it seemed at the time.
Sadly, four decades later, Russia has launched the most devastating ground war in Europe since World War II with its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, and it’s necessary to strike a humanizing tone again, and Sting has released a re-recorded version of the song to benefit www.helpukraine.center — a volunteer storage center established by Ukrainian business owners where humanitarian and medical aid can be sent from all over the world – with funds being processed through the German charity foundation, Ernst Prost, People for Peace – Peace for People.
Sting comments,“I’ve only rarely sung this song in the many years since it was written, because I never thought it would be relevant again. But, in the light of one man’s bloody and woefully misguided decision to invade a peaceful, unthreatening neighbor, the song is, once again, a plea for our common humanity. For the brave Ukrainians fighting against this brutal tyranny and also the manyRussianswho are protesting this outrage despite the threat of arrest and imprisonment – We, all of us, love our children. Stop the war.”
Accompanied by cellist, Ramiro Belgardt with Sting on vocals and guitar, the new rendition, “Russians(Guitar/Cello Version),” was produced by Martin Kierszenbaum, engineered by Kaleb Allen, mixed by Robert “Hitmixer” Orton and mastered by Gene Grimaldi at Oasis Mastering.
Hear the song here.
