Shanson

Russian Shanson grew out of a folk-influenced musical tradition developed by Russian serfs. Originally, the genre was very wide and touched on all aspects of life. Under the USSR, shanson became most associated with prison culture and documenting the darkest parts of life. Developed mostly by the uneducated for the uneducated, its poetry tends to be simple and musical accompaniment basic and somewhat repetitive. Today, the genre is still widely popular, with oft-cited influences on Russian rap and hip-hop. However, it’s also controversial due to its often rough language and basic themes – see this Short History of Russian Shanson on our site for more information.

Languages: Search for shanson performed in Russian or Ukrainian.

September 25, 2025

Shanson: Music From Gulag to Mainstream

Shanson, especially as known in Russia, is full of contradictions and notoriously hard to define. Encompassing a range of musical styles, it incorporates bardic tradition and pop, with influences from rock, jazz, Slavic and gypsy folk traditions, vaudeville, cabaret, and “romance” – a Tsarist-era genre that loosely evolved from folk and opera. An important part […]