A French anti-militarist anthem adapted to the Russo-Ukrainian conflict. the deserter, a song written in 1954 by Boris Vian, is covered in Russian by singer Daria Nelson. As a direct response to the “partial mobilization” of Russian citizens announced by Vladimir Putin to send them to the front.
“I just received / My military papers / To go to war / Before Wednesday night / Mr. President / I don’t want to do it / I’m not on Earth / To kill poor people,” Boris Vian sang at the end of the War of IndoChina.
This letter from a citizen addressed to a Head of State, to inform him of his refusal to go to fight, caused a lot of ink to spill when it came out. Considered unpatriotic, he had even been banned from broadcasting on the radio.
A sensitive text, even today
That is also why the French musician and journalist Benjamin Sire wanted to rework it, at a time when the Russian population is worried about having to go to fight. He made the arrangements and found a Russian-speaking artist to cover it. And “that’s where the problems started,” as he told BFMTV:
“Everyone refused. The Russians, of course, for understandable security reasons. But also the Ukrainians, because they refused to sing in Russian.”
The solution came when Benjamin Sire contacted the French group Dionysos, who whispered the name of Ukrainian-born singer Daria Nelson. In one take, the song was on the box.
“We are only addressing the youth who are going to fight against a brother country without having a real reason,” said Benjamín Sire. “There is an intention to show the song, to try to get it to Russia.”
And to conclude: “I know that a song is not going to change the face of the world. But it is a message that is strong.”
Source: BFM TV
