Nadezhda Kadysheva – Wide River

Надежда Кадышева (1959) is a bit like the Russian Dolly Parton. She hails from Tatarstan or Tatarstan, and was lucky enough to pose for a picture with Putin. In “Широка река” (Wide River), she sings about long nights, likely with someone else.

Lyrics “Широка река”

Широка река, глубока река – the river is wide and deep.

Не доплыть тебе с того бережка – you can’t swim from that shore.

Flying won’t work either. She would do it (Полететь бы мне), but alas, there are no wings (да вот крыльев нет).

The chorus, irresistibly stirring despite herself, like in the best sentimental country ballads:

   Постучалась в дом боль незваная,

   Вот она, любовь окаянная,

   Коротаем мы ночи длинные

   Нелюбимые с нелюбимыми.

   Uninvited pain knocked at the door,

   Here it is, cursed love,

   We while away the long nights,

   Unloved with the unloved.

(Full song lyrics here)

A visual spectacle: a 2016 edit by Татьяна Натяга.

DJ Timoha (2018) might have been better off leaving it alone. A fun attempt is the mix with 50 Cent (2014). There’s also a choir version (2018), a playback attempt for TV (2015), and a performance in traditional costume (2013).

Track on Spotify.
More about Nadezhda Kadysheva on Wikipedia English or Russian; bio and portrait on 24 СМИ and Узнай всё.

Most of the music here can also be found in an R1 playlist on YouTube (in order of posting).
Also check out Best Russian Music and Russian Song Lyrics.