Boney M - Rasputin (cover)

This is one of my favorite covers. Not just because I love crossovers (when a band covers another band from another genre), but also because it's plain genius as it is, and it's again another great chance to see the talent and creativity of these 4 wonderful musicians.

And this time it's not 4 but 5 wonderful musicians!

Yes, we have a guest here - a well-known guest for Cygnus fans! -, we'll talk about it later.

The original song is well-known and needs no introduction at all. If you ever had a radio in the house and switched it on at a random point, sooner or later you surely bumped into this band and this song. It was a world hit, it made people dance from Colombia through the Soviet Union to Japan. Yes, Boney M was one of those very few foreign (not just foreign, but from the west!) bands that were allowed behind the Iron Curtain. They could even perform at the famous Sopot Festival in Poland in 1979, and that was really a huge thing. I'm guessing only, but probably the party leaders also liked their music, that's why they could visit the communist block.

The famous intro in Cygnus's version kicks into you right there. They start right into the spot, 

I'm not sure if they mentioned why they decided to cut of the first section of the intro off their version - if they did, then I forgot it since then - but this way it's much more "metal", it tears your face off right there, without that "hey hey hey"-part. And believe me, dear Reader, this way it's much better!

and stomp into your chest with the first beats without apologizing. 

Not that you'd need any apologizing words or gestures, because you FKIN love it and you're already jumping.

Yes, you are.

No questions allowed, you ARE jumping. Wherever you are.

The guitars' roar is deep and serious, while Reny adds brasses. They are brand new and the original version does not contain any. We're just a few seconds into this cover, but we already got a HUGE load of freshness and creativity... and there's still a lot to come!!!

Because at this point enters something that is completely unique and gives the already heavy, raw, metal and radioactivity-loaded song a totally extraordinary flavor: a violin.

Yes, a violin, played by none else than Diana "Dianita" Figueroa, Cygnus's long-time ally and guest musician, who appeared in a lot of other covers as well as on their albums (sometimes alone, sometimes along with the members of the Morgan String Octet) and this way the song gets a pinchful of folk taste as well. This is amazing. This idea, adding brasses, adding an actual, real, live violin to a 70's disco hit while turning it into a metal mosh pit piece is a pure sign of creativity and talent. And Reny playing a harpsichord-sounding theme to support the violin, while the totally nuclear rhythm section is carrying them on their massive, strong shoulders.

And the song still has a lot of things to offer!

Blu starts to sing.

Yes, it's him, the Mexican guitarist, who appeared with his vocals in numerous Cygnus-covers, and who has a surprisingly pleasant, slightly diabolical voice. He sings the parts that were originally performed by Bobby Farrel, while our two beloved Colombians have the "reply section". 

This is huge by the way. I remember, in the live session on IG before releasing this cover Ruxx and Deneb shared some details with us about the recording of this cover. If I'm not wrong, they told that they had the idea at first to invite a female singer to sing those parts that were originally sung by Liz Mitchell, Marcia Barrett and Maizie Williams, but I don't remember anymore why they dropped this plan. Eventually they decided to sing these sections themselves, but since originally these were written for female voices and sung by female singers, they had to train their vocal chords and prepare for the recording. And again if I remember well, when we asked them how they could finally achieve these high notes, it was Deneb who just shrugged, laughed a little and said "Imitating!".

That's how professionals do it, dear everyone. 😎

There's a humble but characteristic groove under the vocals, only those can hear it, whose ears and heart are open enough. It's a funky-styled groove that was very typical in the 70's disco music. I'm guessing, but it's probably Blu himself with the guitar, being in charge for this theme. Very creative, it adds this typical "disco party era"-feeling to the song, yet it doesn't drive the attention away from the metal and folk soaked, heavy sound. Whoever came up with this idea for this groove deserves a hug. And for the whole time Reny carries the day, bringing this very typical 70's orchestra-alike sound for the cover.

It's worth watching these two Colombian wolves as they sing their parts. Not only because they are eye candies by default, but you can see on them how much they enjoy and have fun while singing. You will get rid of your depression, anxiety and sadness just by seeing their smiles! 💓

The chorus brings back the heavy guitars, the enriched-uranium-soaked rhythm section along with some mellow, deep and rich male vocals in the background (humble but powerful!). Reny's musical fringes at the end of the lines (following the original song, just with much more character) give a very tasty contrast to the metal sound, as this way the guitars get an even greater emphasis here. 

Cygnus is by default the band of musical contrasts and complements

one of the many reasons for which I'm in love with their music

and the chorus of this cover is an excellent example to see how refined these contrasts are, how wonderfully they complete each other and what a harmony they make together. It's not obvious for the first listening, often one has to listen to their songs many times to catch a glimpse and to find a hidden gem that has been waiting there since the release to be discovered. The original song's - for my ears - cheesy roulades turn into upbeat and fresh here, thanks to Reny's talent and enthusiasm, and they are paired with the rusty sound of the guitars, the heavy rumble of the bass and the drums. These two musical contrasts merge in a wonderful harmony here that makes the entire cover lovable and unforgettable.

The small bridge between the chorus and the 2nd stanza brings back the duet of Dianita's violin and the harpsichord sound brought to you by Reny. And despite these delicate sounds these two very talented musicians bring you, the weight of this bridge is heavier than an AT-AT unit marching through your chest. And here comes the duet of humane voices, with Blu on one side and our beloved Colombians

and their sunshine-bright smiles

on the other. Listen to them, dear Reader, soak up their voices, their smiles, the light that shines from them, watch them how they enjoy making music together, watch them and let their light into your heart. And just let things go, let them flow and believe them, even if just for these few minutes of this cover that life isn't that tragic, doomed and dark that a little laughter, some nice music and your most beloved people couldn't help making you feel better. 

The chorus returns to make it all sure, to sweep away the remaining morsels of doubt in your heart. The contrast of the heavy guitars and rhythm section paired with Reny's magic and the voices of Deneb and Ruxx pump another load of antidepressant into your veins.

And then comes the magical part.

Blu takes it back with the spoken part. Reny and Dianita are leading the instruments with their duet, the guitar, the bass and the drums fire up to make a small catharsis altogether before the main theme returns.

And it does return with a deep, rough, manly chorus of Deneb, Blu and Ruxx, the constantly dancing duet of the violin and the keyboard, while the metal section pours fuel to this part with a load of kickdrums and Ruxx's improvisations, as the bass keeps the entire song up with stamina, beating heart and power. Then the 3rd stanza arrives, again with the musical/vocal dialogue of the Mexican guitarist and the Colombian magicians. Devilish, deep voice along with charming smiles, pure energy, the love of life and music. 

Tell me, dear Reader, how can anyone just not love them?...

And they all keep singing, with their smiles, playfulness and with all the beauty they can offer, telling the story of the legendary Russian mystic's downfall. And you can't help but get carried away by their energy, their spirit and the joy that's so contagiously flowing from them. Grab it, dear Reader, it's yours, put it in your heart and wear it always. It's their light, their enthusiasm and their love. Believe them, have faith in what they brought you with this 4-minute-long happiness. It's really, really not that tragic until you have music in your life as well as people to love.

And at the end Blu puts the maraschino cherry on the top of the whipped cream by sighing "ah, those Russians!...".

Enjoy, on loop!