History
The Anthem of the Soviet Union was played for the first time on the Soviet radio at midnight of the 1 January 1944. The 1944 lyrics had three different refrains following three different stanzas; in each refrain, the second line was consequently modified with references to friendship, then happiness and finally to glory. Later on, in 1977, these refrains were replaced by a uniform refrain following all stanzas. Joseph Stalin and the Soviet Union's war against Nazi Germany were originally invoked in the lyrics. After the process of de-Stalinization was inaugurated after Stalin's death, the lyrics referring to Stalin were considered unacceptable and the anthem was performed without lyrics until 1977, when revised lyrics without references to Stalin and the war were adopted.
Read more about this topic: National Anthem Of The Soviet Union
Famous quotes containing the word history:
“Racism is an ism to which everyone in the world today is exposed; for or against, we must take sides. And the history of the future will differ according to the decision which we make.”
—Ruth Benedict (1887–1948)
“One classic American landscape haunts all of American literature. It is a picture of Eden, perceived at the instant of history when corruption has just begun to set in. The serpent has shown his scaly head in the undergrowth. The apple gleams on the tree. The old drama of the Fall is ready to start all over again.”
—Jonathan Raban (b. 1942)
“Tell me of the height of the mountains of the moon, or of the diameter of space, and I may believe you, but of the secret history of the Almighty, and I shall pronounce thee mad.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)