No more parties”: Russian pop music in the context of self-isolation

Abstract

The article analyzes how Russian pop music has responded to the coronavirus pandemic and its attendant quarantine and self-isolation. The songs that appeared under the quarantine restrictions and directly devoted to the issue could be divided into three theme blocks: politics, romance, and everyday life. In each of these areas, the author finds plot and music patterns that are consistent with the extreme situation or, conversely, attempt to ignore it. The article also deals with the features of video clips that have emerged under the new conditions. In particular, it discusses the contexts involving material quarantine symbols (mask, toilet paper), as well as different ways of incorporating the image of a doctor in the video clips. The article also specifies what distinguishes home-video clips shot by pop stars. In addition, the author analyzes the reasons for the phenomenal success of the song "Crying at a Techno Party" (performed by "Khleb" and "Cream coda"), which was written long before the pandemic, but suddenly became its music symbol.