official text:

Ogon’ki (Lights) is one of the most beautiful and lyrical songs in Lyapis Trubetskoy history. In 2007, soon after the release of the album Capital where this track was included, the group decided to make a music video with this song. Alexey Terexov, the author of such classic Lyapis' music videos as Au, Rozochka and Capital, became the director of Ogon’ki.

"I've had an idea for a long time to make a pseudo 3D, to animate photos, - Terexov recollects. - I worked on this project for five years, I studied the essential methods and tested the graphics. And when I heard Ogon’ki - I recognized that my project will be released as a Soviet retro video for this song!".

At first Terexov searched for some old soviet shots in his family photo-archives. Then Alexey asked his friend to find some Soviet private snaps in their albums - they began to bring him old black-and-white and rough color photos. Soon Nashe Radio (the main Russian rock station) took part in search process: after the announcement on the radiowave and on the site Nashe.ru thousands of photos were sent to Alexey from all the country. "I watched tons of photos and I understood one strange thing, - director recollects. - Originally I wanted to make a strict black-and-white music video. But then I recognised: my childhood was very bright and colorful. That's why I finally decided to paint almost every shot... ". As the result the final version of the Ogon’ki music video was released after 12 months of hard work - in Autumn 2008.

But expectation was not vain: one more small masterpiece has turned out, and the international recognition of a clip became the first proof of it. Before the Russian premiere of Ogon’ki this music video was included in the competitive program of the prestiogious video festival ViMus (Portugal) and won the award for the best animation - having left behind a board such works as Salmon Dance by Chemical Brothers etc.

The official premiere of Ogon’ki video was on November 7 - the Birthday of the Soviet Union. "I don't feel nostalgia for the Soviet time, - Sergey Mikhalok, the frontman of Lyapis Trubetskoy, says. - But the Soviet family traditions, domestic games, slang, the fashion of the Soviet era is the "oldshool" of my generation! And elements of tradition is an important part of any author's outlook … Gojko Mitic, Odra jeans, Zita and Gita, Kharlamov, Verhovina moped, Ural guitar – all this things from Socialist Era are no more than symbols, but they are very significant for my generation. And we won't forget, that Ogon’ki is first of all the New Year's song. I have noticed, that when you become more and more senior, mature - you feel melancholy and sadness instead of happiness when you see all those Christmas Trees and garlands... Everybody is happy and you want to cry.... But you are the cheerful snowman and you shoud entertain everyone around...".

So, have good Holidays, amigos! It doesn't matter, which holiday you're going to celebrate.

Просто дадим слово лидеру «Ляписов» Сергею Михалку:

«Я не ностальгирую по СССР. Но советские семейные обычаи, дворовые игры, слэнг, мода советской эпохи – это «олдскул» моего поколения! А элементы традиции (пусть даже в рамках постмодернизма) – это важная часть любого авторского мировоззрения… Гойко Митич, джинсы «Одра», Зита и Гита, Харламов, мопед «Верховина», гитара «Урал» – все это не больше чем символы, но они очень значимы для моих ровесников».


А еще не будем забывать, что «Огоньки» – это, в первую очередь, новогодняя песня. И опять послушаем Михалка:

«Я заметил, что чем старше становишься, тем чаще, когда смотришь на празднично украшенные елки, гирлянды, предновогоднюю суету, вместо радости и веселья подкатывает тоска какая-то. Глаза слезятся, и мир превращается в огоньки. Кругом фейерверки, а тебе плакать хочется. Но ты веселый снеговичок и должен всех развлекать».