Psoy Korolenko

Psoy Korolenko

Psoy Galaktionovich Korolenko (Russian: Псой Галактионович Короленко; born April 26, 1967) is a pseudonym of a Russian Jewish songwriter and performer by the name of Pavel Eduardovich Lion (Russian: Павел Эдуардович Лион). Pavel Lion is also a slavist with a Ph.D. in Russian literature.

His pseudonym comes from Vladimir Korolenko, Russian writer (1853–1921), whose works are subject of Pavel's research. In university, Korolenko studied under Russian literature historian Nikolai Liban, among others.

Psoy performs his own and others' songs, accompanying himself to keyboard instruments, mainly a Casio synthesizer in accordion timbre. Experimenting with quite various song traditions he sings in about six or seven languages, most frequently in Russian, Yiddish, English and French.

For example, one of Psoy's songs, Buratino, is an a capella rhythmic recitation of the same phrase – "Buratino byl tupoy" ("Buratino was dumb") – which after several repetitions starts to morph into other phrases, eventually shifting into Italian through syllable rearrangement. More phrases are then introduced and "mixed" vocally with it. The song is something of a parody of rap and trance music.

Psoy tours extensively beyond Russian borders, particularly in the United States, Europe and Israel. His music is popular both with adults (especially linguists) and teenagers. He rewrites many songs, and also has translated some songs from Russian to Yiddish. He has collaborated with such musicians as Julian Kytasty, Michael Alpert, and Daniel Kahn & The Painted Bird.

Discography

Original name	English name/translation	Year	Co-producers
Песня про Бога	A Song about God	2000
Fioretti	Fioretti	2001
Песнь песней Псоя Короленко	Psoy Korolenko's Song of Songs	2003
Шлягер века	Schlagers of the Century	2003
Гонки	Races	2004	Neoangin
C чего начинается Родина (Un Vu Iz Der Onheyb Fun Foterland)	From What the Homeland Starts	2006	All Stars Klezmer Band
Русское богатство. Том I.	Russian Treasure. Volume I.	2007	Alyona Alenkova
The Unternationale	The First Unternational	2008	Daniel Kahn and Oy Division
На лестнице дворца	On the Steps of the Palace	2008	Olga Chikina, Alyona Arenkova and others
Под покровом нощи	Under Cover of Night	2010	Opa!
Shloyme	Shloyme	2011	Timofeev Ensemble
Русское богатство. Том II.	Russian Treasure. Volume II.	2013	Alyona Alenkova
Dicunt	Dicunt	2013	Oy Division
Жить не по лжи	To Live Not Under a Lie	2013	Opa!
ИМАРМЕНИЯ	Imarmenia	2015
НННН № 2 ПППП	NNNN #2 PPPP	2015	Igor Krutogolov
סוּס, כּלבֿ, חייל און אַ זונה	Equine, Canine, Soldier, Whore	2017	Israelifts

• Yiddish Glory, various artists, Six Degrees Records, 2018, nominated for the Grammy

See also

• List of multilingual bands and artists

References

• Psoy's bio
• Rokhl Kafrissen. Psoy Korolenko's 21st Century Humor. The Forward, February 28, 2012.

External links

• Psoy Korolenko at IMDb
• Official website of the Dust film