The end of the seventies and the beginning of the eighties of the last century - the heyday of not only stagnation in our country, but also rock music. Of course, these two factors are inextricably linked, because the driving force of this trend in music, especially in those years, was social protest. Russian rock has always been distinguished by the dominant role of texts, it is in its meaning that the listeners of records and reel records delved into it. During this period, a “golden reserve” of bands and artists of this genre appeared, which became the foundation, support and standard of rock music, first in the USSR and then in Russia: “Time Machine”, “Bravo”, “Team S”, “Alice” "," Cinema "," DDT "," Aquarium "," Chayf "," Nautilus Pompilius "and many others. Representatives of the more "heavy" direction of heavy metal were the groups "Aria", "Cruise", "Metal Corrosion" and, of course, "Black Coffee" ("Cheka").
Each artist has songs by which he is always recognized, what is called a “visiting card”. The Black Coffee group also has such songs - Leaves, Wooden Churches of Russia, Vladimirskaya Rus, Black Coffee. In this article we want to focus on the composition “Leaves”, which was especially loved by the audience, but first a few words about the group itself.
The history of the Black Coffee group dates back to 1979, when its permanent leader, songwriter, guitarist and vocalist Dmitry Varshavsky wrote the first song to the words of Andrei Voznesensky's "Country". Dmitry studied at the Gnesinsky school in the class of electric guitar.
The first recording of the group was made by a professional sound engineer (Yuri Bogdanov) in 1981, it became the song "Flight of the Bird."
In 1982, the classical composition was formed - Fedor Vasilyev (bass) and Andrei Shatunovsky (drums). In 1984, the band's first “solo album” was held, and the magnetic album “Cheka '84” was recorded. Then the "Chekists" began to actively tour the country.
In 1985, the Ministry of Culture compiled a “black list”, which included the most prominent representatives of the rock movement, including the Black Coffee group. "Amateur rock groups" from this list were forbidden to give concerts in Moscow and other large cities (Leningrad, Kiev, etc.), as well as record their songs in discos.
This ban caused some inconvenience for the members of the list, but did not prove to be something fatal for their creative self-realization, because the country was large, and in addition to Moscow, there were still many cities in which full halls and stadiums were packed to listen to the songs of loved ones performers. In addition, they could work in record studios.
In 1987, musicians recorded a new album - "Cross the threshold." It appears one of the most beloved fans of the songs of the Black Coffee group - Leaves. The album also included compositions "Black Coffee", "Vladimir Rus", "My Home" and others. Almost all of it became hit, but the listeners of the ballad of the Black Coffee group, Leaves, were especially fond of it.
The lyrics were written by the then-young poet Alexander Shaganov, and music by Dmitry Varshavsky. This is a typical rock ballad, which begins with quiet voice singing with a bust of guitars, gradually gaining volume and strength of sound, and at the end of the first couplet, percussion and other instruments are connected, connecting with the famous Warsaw vocals on high notes and a virtuoso guitar “soloda” ( solo part). It was the high professionalism of the musicians that played an important role in gaining lasting fame by the Black Coffee group. The song Leaves is a great example of their style. Despite the fact that this is a classic fatal “lull”, the meaning of the text is not lyrical, but metaphorical. The leaf breaks away from its "brothers", peacefully hanging on a branch, and flies down, enjoying the moments of freedom that this flight gives him. And then he "lay lying under his feet and in the dust." Would he fly if he knew that would be so? “If only they could know the leaves ...” The last couplet, performed with a special expression, says that to every person, like this sheet, freedom is dear, even if it lasts one hour, and during this hour it is not a pity to give one's life. “Black Coffee” “Leaves” was performed at all concerts at the request of their fans. They still perform it.
Since the beginning of the nineties, “Chekists” spend a lot of time in the USA, where they successfully perform in clubs and work on recording new songs. In 2000, Warsaw with his comrades returned to Russia and continued to work here. Participates in the recording of the rock opera “Word and Deed”, re-releases his old albums on MP3 discs, including “Cross the Threshold”. Favorite songs sounded from new carriers, but it was still Black Coffee. “Leaves”, “Vladimir Rus” and other songs were included in it the same way as in the vinyl album, but the compositions “Light Metal” and “Banner of Peace” were added to them, which then, in 1987, was not missed by censorship.