{
  "id": 3601174,
  "title": "Zemfira wrote one of Russian pop’s most devastating songs about the war. She turned 50 this week in Paris, where her 2025 setlists had room for the newer songs, never ‘It’s midnight in Mariupol.’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/zemfira-wrote-one-of-russian-pops-most-devastating-songs-about-the",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-26T21:37:14.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Meduza (English)",
    "slug": "meduza-english",
    "url": "https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/08/27/zemfira-wrote-one-of-russian-pop-s-most-devastating-songs-about-the-war-she-turned-50-this-week-in-paris-where-her-2025-setlists-had-room-for-the-newer-songs-never-it-s-midnight-in-mariupol"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Zemfira, the renowned Russian pop singer, celebrated her 50th birthday on August 26. Her recent musical focus has been shaped by the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which began in 2022. This prompted her to release the powerful song \"Myaso\" (\"Meat\") and subsequently move from Moscow to Paris. Zemfira has since composed additional songs about the war and even garnered Russia's \"foreign agent\" status. However, despite her political stance, she has declined an interview request from Meduza in 2026.\n\nOne of her most impactful songs, \"Myaso,\" released in 2022, stands out as a profound and unambiguous commentary on the war within Russian-language pop music over the past four years. The track employs a halting recitative and strained whispering, breaking its pattern twice, notably at \"It's midnight in Mariupol,\" where Zemfira shifts to a frenzied scream and again when the song deviates from its meter with the mention of \"high-precision long-range missiles.\" In contrast to \"Myaso,\" the EP \"Zemfira According to Luka,\" released in 2022, consists of four songs co-written with Zemfira's nephew Artur Ramazanov-Ostapenko. While the war is mentioned directly in several songs, this time it appears to be something that can be escaped, primarily through love for one's family. Lyrics like \"I have you, you have me, the two of us against everyone\" and \"we'll be together till death do us part\" demonstrate Zemfira's signature melodic style. \"Cactus,\" co-written with Dmitry Yemelyanov for a stage production by Renata Litvinova, is a more personal ballad. While the 90% instrumental soundtrack gives the impression of emotional closure, the song still holds two contrasting halves. \"Colette,\" penned in 2024, is the lightest and most tender composition in Zemfira's wartime discography. Although its lyrics are somewhat mannered, the catchy tune and French charm make it stand out. \"Dramatique,\" another track from \"Zemfira According to Luka,\" is a forceful heavy alternative piece. With its frantic rhythm and metal-like riffs, it opens with the demand \"cut off my head\" and concludes with a mantra of \"there's no happiness.\" Finally, \"Jim Beam,\" released in 2025, is an updated version of a song from Zemfira's 2005 album Vendetta. The new version retains the charm of the original and adds a more polished sound, but it lacks the urgency of Zemfira's more recent works.",
  "summary": "Zemfira turned 50 on August 26. The current chapter of her work is best dated from the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine: in 2022, she released the uncompromising song “Myaso” (“Meat”) and left Moscow for Paris. Zemfira has recorded several more songs about the war since then, and she’s even earned Russia’s “foreign agent” designation. At Meduza’s request, music critic Lev Gankin…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}