Russian Songs

Welcome to Russian Lyrics

Russian music carries a lot of soul. From deep emotional ballads and poetic rock to hard-hitting rap, classic pop, and heartfelt chanson, these lyrics often tell stories about love, life struggles, rebellion, nostalgia, and everything in between. The language itself is rich and expressive, which makes singing along feel personal — whether you’re a native speaker, learning Russian, or just drawn to the intensity.

Our collection includes thousands of songs: timeless classics that Russians still sing at gatherings, underground favorites, and the hits that never really fade. Browse by genre, artist, or mood to find what speaks to you.

Top Genres & Artists (Timeless Favorites)

Russian music spans generations. Here are the scenes that always stay strong, with artists who shaped them and keep getting streams:

• Pop (Popsa) – Catchy melodies, big emotions, and stadium energy. Alla Pugacheva (the absolute queen — her ballads like “Million Alyh Roz” are eternal), Philipp Kirkorov (flamboyant hits and showmanship), Dima Bilan (Eurovision winner with powerful vocals), Grigory Leps (deep, soulful voice that crushes ballads), Polina Gagarina, Nyusha, Zivert.
• Rap / Hip-Hop – Raw bars, battle energy, and social commentary. Oxxxymiron (legendary lyrical battles and wordplay), Basta (storytelling king), Morgenshtern (viral energy and controversy), Face, Kizaru, Scriptonite (from Kazakhstan but huge in Russian-speaking world), Big Baby Tape, Pharaoh.
• Rock / Alternative – Poetic lyrics, rebellion, and atmosphere. Kino (Viktor Tsoi — “Gruppa Krovi” and “Zvezda po Imeni Solntse” still inspire generations), DDT (Yuri Shevchuk’s thoughtful rock), Zemfira (modern indie rock queen with raw emotion), Aquarium (Boris Grebenshchikov’s poetic style), Mashina Vremeni, Bi-2.
• Chanson / Bard – Heartfelt stories of life, love, and the streets. Mikhail Krug (the king of Russian chanson — tracks like “Vladimirskiy Tsentral” are classics), Mikhail Shufutinsky, Alexander Rosenbaum.
• Other Strong Scenes – Indie and experimental (Monetochka, Shortparis), electronic influences, and nostalgic 90s/2000s pop (t.A.T.u. for that global breakthrough).

Russian music has always been huge in the post-Soviet space and beyond — Alla Pugacheva sold millions, Viktor Tsoi’s songs became anthems of change, and modern rap battles on platforms like Versus drew millions of views. The lyrics often mix personal stories with bigger cultural moments, which is why they stick around for decades.

If you’re new, try our “Most Iconic Russian Songs” or “Best Lyrics for Learning Russian” sections. Found a line that hits hard? Share it in the comments or help add romanizations/translations.