Written by: Frank Farian
Released: 1978
US Charts: N/A
UK Charts: #2
Other Charts: #1 (Germany), #1 (Austria), #3 (Ireland), #8 (The Netherlands)
Addictive. Simply addictive. As I write this down, “Rasputin” by Boney M is the only thing that’s going through my head. I’ve just come back from a family friend’s party and this song really got people moving. And when I say moving, I mean going crazy over the dance floor. Ok, maybe the old folks recalled their younger days when this song started playing but even I couldn’t resist getting on the dance floor and doing my thing. It’s such a catchy and addictive disco song that I cannot comprehend how it did not become a hit in the US in 1978, the height of the disco phenomenon.
Tonight wasn’t the first time I’d heard the song either. However, this time, I decided to investigate the exact title of the song. Normally, I would find the title in the chorus somewhere, however, the chorus is not easy to understand at first. All I could hear was “Ra Ra Ras…followed by some other word.” So I decided to go through Boney M’s discography and there I found it: Rasputin!
Rasputin is about Russian mystic Grigori Rasputin who was the friend and advisor of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia. Rasputin also allegedly healed the son of the Tzar’s son and this allegedly endeared him to the boy’s mother, Alexandra, the Tsaritsa of Russia. Even though this has not been confirmed to be true, “Rasputin” describes him as a mystic, playboy and having a lot of political power in Russia given his close relationship with the Tzar. The whole song covers Rasputin’s life, his actions, his influence and finally his death. Strange, yet interesting for a disco song.
The beginning of the song is a sample from Turkish folk song, while the rest of the song has a Slavic, Russian feel, which is appropriate given the subject matter. The rhythm is simply addictive once you get into it and you wish that the song would go on for much longer. The song became Boney M’s 6th consecutive number 1 song in Germany while reaching number 2 in the UK.
“Rasputin” will have to rate as one of the top 5 or even top 3 disco songs. That’s my opinion. What do you think?
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