I was amazed by the song of the banned commercial in the previous post and I did a little research.
Thanks to Shazam i found out that the song is a well-known traditional Russian song collected by Mily Balakirev, and published in his book of folk songs. It is a genuine barge-haulers’ shanty. Balakirev published it with only one verse (the first). The other two verses were added at a later date. The song, also called The Volga Burlak’s Song, was inspired by Repin’s famous painting, Burlaks on the Volga, depicting the suffering of the people in the depth of misery in Tsarist Russia.
From traditional Russian song to #1 in the US charts in 1941.
The song was popularised by Feodor Chaliapin (one of the most powerful and flexible russian bass voice in of the 20th Century), and has been a favourite concert piece of bass singers ever since. Glenn Miller took the song to #1 in the US charts in 1941.
Though I couldn’t find the Choir of St. Nicholas’ interpretation (which I find to be the greatest) I give you both the Chaliapin and Miller versions right here:
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