Maria Zakharova, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, shared a personal memory through her Telegram channel about a favorite song from the 1990s. The admission came as part of a reflection on how certain moments in youth leave an enduring imprint on a person’s sense of identity and purpose.
Zakharova recalled being in high school, caught up in the mood of protest and a sense of breaking away in her own orbit. It was during this period that a song and the accompanying video by the group Moral Code, titled Bye, Mom, became a surprising soundtrack to how she perceived the world at that time. The tune, the drive, and the lyrics lingered with her long after those days, resonating as a marker of a pivotal emotional moment in her life.
According to Zakharova, the video for Moral Code’s work is notable for marking a transition point in Russian popular culture. It was described as one of the early domestic music videos that helped push the era of video storytelling forward within the country. She suggested that the trajectory of contemporary Russian show business has been shaped in part by a standard of quality associated with figures like Sergei Mazaev and Fyodor Bondarchuk, whose influence helped set benchmarks across the industry.
The diplomat noted that in February a particular event inspired her to write new lyrics for a song by Lyubov Uspenskaya titled My Strength Is With Me. The meeting with the artist occurred roughly six months prior to her remarks. Uspenskaya later indicated that she needed a song that would capture the essence of a significant milestone, performing a piece about what truly matters in life. Zakharova highlighted a crucial line from the song, My Strength Is With Me, as a moment of clarity that reflected the experiences of a woman who faced numerous life challenges. That single sentence, she observed, encapsulated resilience and the enduring force of self-belief that carried through difficult periods.
In another note, there were comments by film director Emir Kusturica regarding plans to engage a Russian trio with diverse influences in relation to the country’s leadership. The remarks underscored ongoing conversations about cultural collaborations and their potential role in broader political and public life.