The "State Anthem of the Soviet Union" ("Государственный Гимн Советского Союза") was first composed in 1944 by Alexander Alexandrov, with lyrics written by Sergey Mikhailkov and Gabriel El-Registan. It served as the national anthem of the USSR, replacing the Bolshevik anthem "The Internationale."
In 1977, during de-Stalinization, the lyrics were replaced, removing any mentions of the late Stalin, to distance the nation from the former leader.
After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the song was rewritten again for the Russian Federation, keeping the same melody but using new lyrics without any Communist symbolism. It was renamed to the "State Anthem of the Russian Federation" ("Государственный Гимн Российской Федерации").
| Song Version | Key | Performed By | Link | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1944 | D | Alexandrov Ensemble [1] | Web Archive | |
| 1977 | C | Unknown | YouTube | Remasted on YouTube by user Wessen |
| 1977 | C | Bolshoi Theatre | Web Archive | |
| 1977 | C | Unknown, possibly Alexandrov Ensemble | YouTube Archive | Only source is YouTube, so cannot verify performer |
| 1977 | D♭ | Unknown | YouTube | TV sign-off |
| 1977 | D | Unknown, possibly Alexandrov Ensemble | YouTube Archive | Only source is YouTube, so cannot verify performer |
| 1977 | E | Alexandrov Ensemble | Web Archive | |
| 1977 (combines with 1944) | Multiple, starts in C | Igor Ugolnikov | YouTube | Jazz/Rock remix |
| 1991 | C | Moscow Kremlin Choir | Web Archive | |
| 1991 | D | Russian Interior Ministry | Web Archive | |
| 1991 | E♭ | Alexandrov Ensemble | Web Archive | |
| 1991 | E♭ | Bolshoi Theatre | Web Archive | |
| 1991 | E | Bolshoi Theatre | Web Archive | |
| 1991 | E | Lyube/Lubeh (Любэ) | YouTube | Rock version |
[1] Also known as the Red Army Choir
| Song Name | Country | Key | Link | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auferstanden aus Ruinen (Risen from Ruins) |
East Germany | A | YouTube | Not Slavic, but still a beautiful song from a country devastated by war |
| Auferstanden aus Ruinen | East Germany | B♭ | YouTube | |
| Poland Is Not Yet Lost [2] | Poland | F | YouTube | A strong patriotic song standing up to Russian tyranny |
| State Anthem of Ukraine [3] | Ukraine | F♯m | YouTube | A blunt, practical song for a nation of survivors |
| State Anthem of Ukraine | Ukraine | Gm | YouTube |
[2] Also known as Mazurek Dąbrowskiego (Dąbrowski's Mazurka)
[3] Also known as Ще не вмерла Україна (Ukraine Has Not Yet Perished)