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The Bizarre History of Russia’s Unofficial Gay Anthem

Boris Moiseev’s provocative hit ‘Blue Moon’ broke cultural taboos in post-Soviet Russia and became an unlikely LGBTQ anthem.

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We all have songs that can instantly bring a smile to our faces, even during our grimmest hours — for me, “Голубая луна” (or “Blue Moon”) is one of those classics. During renditions of this ballad, the now-late Renaissance man and Honored Artist of the Russian Federation Boris Moiseev’s attitude, meaning the refined flair for drama defining his dancerly presence, perfectly captures a fundamental truth about the Russian spirit, in my interpretation. In post-Soviet society, “Голубая луна” became a taboo-smashing pop hit. In fact, this gem has long been regarded as Russia’s unofficial gay anthem.

This “scandalous” and irresistibly catchy gem won a Golden Gramophone in 1998 and dazzled audiences during the annual TV festival “Song of the Year.” The lyrics to “Голубая луна” proved highly provocative at the time, given odd stances on homosexuality within Russia. The text was actually penned by a straight man, the now-Honored Artist of Ukraine Nikolay Trubach, a singer and trumpeter whose fans have........

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