October 20, 2024

A Singer Diversifies


A Singer Diversifies
A rock star, coming to a store near you. The Russian Life files

Last week, pro-Kremlin singer Shaman filed two new trademark requests to Rospatent, Russia's intellectual property office. Accordingly, Russians could soon be consumers of Shaman-branded goods.

One request covers alcoholic beverages like vodka, whiskey, mead, and more. The other includes household items like air fresheners, soap, musical instruments, cosmetics... And sex toys and dolls.

Shaman has seen a spike in popularity since the release of his song "Ya Russky" ("I'm Russian") in 2022. It's a sappily patriotic ditty that dovetailed well with Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine. It was also teased mercilessly for its seriousness and over-the-top visuals.

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In this comprehensive, quixotic and addictive book, Edwin Trommelen explores all facets of the Russian obsession with vodka. Peering chiefly through the lenses of history and literature, Trommelen offers up an appropriately complex, rich and bittersweet portrait, based on great respect for Russian culture.
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Survival Russian is an intensely practical guide to conversational, colloquial and culture-rich Russian. It uses humor, current events and thematically-driven essays to deepen readers’ understanding of Russian language and culture. This enlarged Second Edition of Survival Russian includes over 90 essays and illuminates over 2000 invaluable Russian phrases and words.
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