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Anna's revolution

by Puzzle King

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1.
1 - My name's Anatoli (6 mn 23) Preamble Anna Viktorovna Borodine Untamable rebel, you fascinate me You captivated me Anna, charming Anna How you charmed me How you enchanted me Anna, loving Anna How I loved you, How I have lov'd you. It was too late And I had not got it I was so late You paid the price, the price But I was a bastard I can still hear your cry. My boots squeak in the snow, I walk at a resign’d pace I walk the boulevard, the town is quiet in the early evening The wind is icy, although it's only autumn And I don't feel the cold, but I turn up my collar. I am Anatoli Mikhaïlovitch Lipovsky I'm called Tolik, I'm twenty-five Yes but I feel as if I had had several lives I've been a worker, a soldier, a farmer. As soon as everything collapses, I collapse But the second after, I’m reborn. The falling, heavy snow flakes coat the old Petrograd It’s at the street’s corner that I stop walking and meet all my comrades There's still not a lot, a lot of us So far there is no noise, no gunshot, no cry, no blood. I was born in the small village of Kotovski Thirty miles north of Novgorod And this is where I was conquered soul and body She spiced up my life, she was my electrode As soon as everything collapses, I collapse But the second after, I’m reborn. Anna Viktorovna Borodine Untamable rebel, you fascinate me You captivated me Anna, charming Anna How you charmed me How you enchanted me Anna, loving Anna How I loved you, How I have lov'd you. But it was another time, it was yesterday before... the … war. Copyright © 2010 Puzzle King
2.
2 - Along the river (8 mn 05) Act I Scene 1 it is late, I have to quickly end today's work Since morning It was scorching on the fields of Kotovski Now we are inearly spring nineteen thirteen And I run to pick flowers along the small river. I'm a bit scared. Anna and I have known each other since childhood We‘re attracted to each other without ever confessing it Tonight, I've decided to try my luck Tonight I've decided to declare... my love for her. And I wait, patiently, tenderly For her steps to tread on the ground, for her steps to clear the ferns And I wait, patiently, tenderly For her eyes to meet my eyes there on the river bank. Nowmy heart beats just like hail crashing on the roofs So we have arranged a date, and I'm here, waiting for her I squeeze my bunch too tightly in my hands I turn round, I hear a sound – yes, that's her, Anna is here. Oh then I rush and I hand her the bunch I don't let her say a word and I give her all my speech Now I stutter and I sweat, I am short of breath I shiver and I mumble, what a way to declare my love! D’you want to marry me, Anna? We will live quite simply D’you want to live with me, Anna? Humbly but happily d’you want to start a fam’ly, Anna? We will live modestly I love you ….. Anna, but together, Anna I love you ….. Anna, together you and I I love you … I had been preparing for so long for this challenge And I had hoped for that moment so much Was I to fail miserably? And then... Are my ears failing me? Anna answers « yes »!!! And I wait patiently, tenderly For her hand to take my hand, for our bodies to get closer And I wait patiently, tenderly For her lips to touch my lips, there on the river bank. Copyright © 2010 Puzzle King
3.
The soviet 05:51
3 - The soviet (5 mn 51) Act I Scene 2 Then we went for a walk Later we went for a talk Thereby we invented our beautiful future As lovers And after nightfall our steps le-ed us to the door of the house Where the Sovi-et's meeting Is being held. Anna takes part In all the discussions She's been in the party Since its creation For me it's the first time The soviet fills the room Many people are here And I know more than one. What urges these peasants To gather again and again? After a hard day's work They still find the will To talk politics They, some simple mujiks They smoke, they laugh, they drink They discuss and they debate They criticize the state Here in the small isba. The oppression of the Okhrana They've known that more than once They’re obviously disgusted Of living under the knout. They throw out solutions And ideas galore Excitement is here Something's created here Among all the noise The geniality With the smell of soil Deep in poverty And Anna whispers to me This is occuring Everywhere in the country. Then Anna stands up and gives her opinion Her tone is assured, just like a schoolteacher's Her enthusiasm spreads on the audience She speaks to all, and each one in particular And I take off, I fly My feet don't touch the ground I am fascinated Fully captivated by Anna Everybody’s under the Spell of this little woman So persuasive Impossible not to follow her Anna I love... and who loves me. And I take off, I fly ... Copyright © 2010 Puzzle King
4.
4 - Anna, me and the war (5 mn 53) Act I Scene 3 And it’s already September Anna and I live together Tilling the land is so exhausting We don’t have a lot of money But we love each other tenderly And this mysteri-ous feeling comforts me, helps me be-ar The worst difficulties. Yes but Anna does not accept This situation and she fights Day after day just to improve it She wishes I were less resigned But we love each other tenderly And this mysteri-ous feeling Comforts us, helps us be-ar The worst difficulties. Then war broke out… Life is becoming very hard And she doesn’t spare our idyll So that, sometimes, some high tensions mount Burst out and leave us dispirited But we love each other tenderly And this mysterious feeling Comforts me, helps me bear The worst difficulties. Then war goes on… I want to start a family and I want some children What else to expect from a couple of twenty-two ? Anna answers me « wrong time my darling» I can’t see any future in Russia for our children Then she shows me the papers displaying the defeats Of a Russian army no more counting its retreats Factories unable to produce enough And Russian leaders cut off from reality I tell her I still believe in our motherland I flare up and I claim I want to leave Kotowski Join a factory, support my country She cries « The door is here : wide open, come on, go ahead! » What came over me ? I left her I left it all behind me Anger triumphed And I wept Yes, I wept. Copyright © 2010 Puzzle King
5.
5 - Live together (6 mn 45) Act II Scene 1 I’ve been in Petrograd for more than a year There I’m working in an armament factory Time has done its work and I miss Anna If only we could live again together ? As before, together, once again, you and me. Summer 1916, late afternoon 1916 ça se dit : nineteen sixteen ? At last I’m in my village of Kotowski With a lump in my throat, I push the door of her isba But the house is empty, nobody’s waiting for me. Will we love each other as before ? Will she just accept me as before ? I run to her parents’, they have a letter for me Anna explains she still loves me as in the past But the time is wrong to start a family Uprising is brewing, the monarchy’s shaken. She wants to take part in the fight right now And she can no more stay passive in Kotowski She’s gone to Petrograd for the revolution Our love must wait for the end of the insurrection. Will we love each other as before ? Will she just accept me as before ? Together, as before, together, once again, you and me. I lost patience once more. Her letter, I tore. I volunteered in the army And ended up at the front I simply wanted it all over I saw no more future for me I don’t understand Anna and she doesn’t understand me I don’t understand Anna and she doesn’t understand me Copyright © 2010 Puzzle King
6.
6 - Blind and deaf (5 mn 06) Act II Scene 2 It’s winter, at the front, poverty, I’m afraid, this is war Feel stupid, we are all, cannon fodder, this is war. Now new year passed without rejoicing The year is 1917 (nineteen seventeen ?) And sometimes I receive letters Bringing me a semblance of well-being You describe clearly all the events In Petrograd where’s blowing the wind Of revolution, it’s imminent Winter is rough, famine spreads. Winter is rough, famine spreads. Each day spontaneous strikes appear Always Anna lends her support She militates for the uprising We see her in all the gatherings But the tsar is blind and deaf To all the poverty around Then he sends his troops at the crowd And the blood of his people sheds. So Anna and a few comrades Are sent by a dark and cold night To fraternize with all the soldiers : Then the regiments join the rebels The revolution triumphs And a millenary regime Collapses the tsar abdicates A new government takes over It’s winter, at the front, poverty, I’m afraid, this is war Feel stupid, we are all, cannon fodder, this is war. Anna regularly writes to me I read her again and again That’s my only entertainment And all her sweet words echo in my head She writes she loves me tenderly But after the tsar’s fall, the town is jubilant And at times like that, how she misses me.. I wish you were here by my side, my love. I wish you were here by my side, my love. But she also knows that her fight Has not yet fully reached its goal The revolution is not complete The power is much too liberal The provisional government Is not able to foresee That Russian people are fed up With the war, with that damn slaughter So demonstrations start again And strikes break out every week Now every day there are still more New rebels screaming in the street But the state is blind and deaf To all the poverty around Then he sends the troops at the crowd And the blood of his people sheds. Copyright © 2010 Puzzle King
7.
At the front 06:04
7 - At the front (6 mn 04) Act II Scene 3 But this war still goes on This morning I fought again We were told to charge My comrades fell Then we withdrew Many died there And this war still goes on This morning I fought again. But I still endure the war and the fights And I hope, like most of the soldiers For the quick end of that huge slaughter To save what is left of Russia But the war still goes on, This morning I fought again We obey the officers’orders We put up with their incompetence, their cruelty The hierarchy can’t count the dead and the defeats More and more numerous, the soldiers desert But the war still goes on, This morning I fought again Anna regularly sends letters She wants me to join her, to desert I worry for Anna, shall I join her fight ? Will she survive long ? I miss her so, so ! But the war still goes on, This morning I fought again But this war still goes on This morning I fought again We were told to charge My comrades fell Then we withdrew Many died there And this war still goes on This morning I fought again. It’s winter, at the front, poverty, I’m afraid, this is war Feel stupid, we are all, cannon fodder, this is war. Copyright © 2010 Puzzle King
8.
8 - A beautiful morning (7 mn 00) Act II Scène 4 The sun darts its first rays in the trench they light my face, the weather is nice It would be a pleasant morning Had we not been ordered to attack. The sun darts its first rays in the trench That’s good this warms up my face, how nice it is it would be a such a nice morning If we were not to attack once again. Now general Kornilov Sends us to disaster again Yes it will be only once more Yes we know the process too well. What am I doing ? And will I stay long here ? I will die here What am I doing ? Will I survive long here ? I will die here! I'll snuff it here ! And that’s it we charge once again As one man, we are the brave Russian soldiers But the assault is a failure again Our officers are not worth a brass farthing the ennemy, under cover Forces us to yield ground And we have but one solution We must withdraw and must protect our position. What am I doing ? And will I stay long here ? I will die here What am I doing ? Will I survive long here ? I will die here! I'll snuff it here ! But I think I’m going insane Even far from the enn’my lines And out of their firing range my companions collapse, their bodies in shreds. I do think I have got it right By order of the general Our machine-guns, our own bullets Are shooting down our scared soldiers Every reason for one to feel betrayed! And I dunno how or why But I went unharmed once again I am disheartened, disgusted I decide to try my best to desert When the opportunity Arises but it will not. And my unit being destroyed In one day I was transferred to the cavalry What am I doing ? And will I stay long here ? I will die here What am I doing ? Will I survive long here ? I will die here! I'll snuff it here ! The sun darted its first rays in the trench they lit my face, the weather was nice It would have been a pleasant morning Had we not been ordered to attack. Copyright © 2010 Puzzle King
9.
9 - The mad warrior (6 mn 05) Act II Scene 5 I stroke my young horse and give it an apple It is worth a lot more than many men In this regiment : the cossacks of St George Who, at the least thing, with no reason, slit throats And here comes from hell the worst of us all Serguei : mad warrior with no conscience He thinks one is his friend if one dreads him Everybody distrusts him, he’s unwholesome. He enjoys telling ‘bout his exploits How, being about to freeze to death He had disemboweled his horse with his knife And heartless he had warmed up in its guts. Summer 1917, I am on the road, on the road to ruin. I know I must desert. Summer 1917, I am on the road, on the road to ruin. I know I must desert. I stroke my young horse and give it an apple We are all cramped in huge carriages We were given arms and some ammunitions Serguei has it that we’re on a big mission What is it ? We just don’t know Where are we headed ? We don’t know Complete mystery surrounds our mission The officers don’t answer our questions The train takes us at full speed Serguei is impatient so it doesn’t bode well I escape thinking of Anna : where is she ? Suddenly all is black. We’re in a tunnel. Summer 1917, I am on the road, on the road to ruin. I know I must desert. Summer 1917, I am on the road, on the road to ruin. I know I must desert. Copyright © 2010 Puzzle King
10.
In Petrograd 02:47
10 - In Petrograd (2 mn 47) Act III Scene 1 In Petrograd, the drafted Soldiers don’t want To be sent to the front To be used as cannon fodder. They have joined the demonstrators Workers and peasants They hold red flags with pride The capital has rebelled. Lenine’s party takes advantage Of this illimited weariness The provisional government Wants to restore its power They have decided to send The Cossacks to crush the insurgents And wipe out at the same time Some influent Bolsheviks. The answer to the people’s helplessness Is repression, over and over again. Copyright © 2010 Puzzle King
11.
The assault 06:54
11 - The assault (6 mn 54) Act III Scene 2 A heavy rain lashes the capital’s pavings Out of the carriages, we get on our horses Serguei harangues us : we’re going to charge Blindly, cruelly, swords in our hands and no quarter It’s raining on the city, It’s raining on my life I know today I will be wrecked, It will be over. A heavy rain lashes the capital’s pavings We gallop in the streets, vandals like I can’t get out of the stream Of horsemen charging the demonstrators It’s raining on the city, It’s raining on my life I know today I will be wrecked, It will be over The assault’s bloody, barbarian, inhuman, deadly Stabs are given, guns are shot, stabs are given, guns are shot, I get panicked at such fury then I settle down At last I manage to get away from this bestial fight I dunno if they are tears flowing on my face I’m despondent, totally worn o-ut That’s too much, my tired brain censored itself It doesn’t want to face that reality. Rain on the city And rain on my life This premonition This apprehension I know that today I just will be wrecked I know that today It will be over. Copyright © 2010 Puzzle King
12.
12 - The drenched pavings (5 mn 41) Act III Scene 3 A cry wakes me from my coma I think I know that sceaming voice I spur my horse with emotion Now my heart beats like hail striking the roofs. At the street’s corner, I make out Face down on the ground, her arms outstretched Here on the drenched pavings A young woman, lying in her blood. Serguei is standing next to her Wipes his sword, looking satisfied I jump from my mount, I’m anguished Now I approach in a feverish state Next to the corpse, I sit down Under the rain, I upturn this cold body That I held too rarely in my arms Anna ! Hou Anna ! Anna… I draw my knife in a fury I am no more Anatoli I am a Cossack of Saint George I just pounce on Serguei and slit his throat I collapse next to you, Anna Face down on the ground, my arms outstretched Here on the drenched pavings Anna, I lie in your blood. Copyright © 2010 Puzzle King
13.
13 - The great evening (4 mn 58) Epilogue My boots squeak in the snow, I walk at a resign’d pace I walk on boulevard, the town is quiet in this early evening. The wind is icy, although it’s only autumn And I don’t feel the cold but I turn up my collar. I’m walking in Anna’s steps To the winter palace She is there as she used to be On the riverbank She is right next to me There’s nothing I can do She will always be there When our bodies get closer I join Antonov and all my comrades Tonight, a decisive leaf is turned in Petrograd Anna had grasped the meaning of History And I had failed to understand, I was a bastard. I’m walking in Anna’s steps To the winter palace She is there as she used to be On the riverbank. She is right next to me, There’s nothing I can do She will always be there When out bodies get closer. I have never had children I’ve never started a family. I’m wolking in Anna’s steps to the winter palace. She is there as she used to be, there on the riverbank. She is right next to me, there’s nothing I can do. She will always be there when our bodies get closer. Copyright © 2010 Puzzle King

about

This text aims to present my first concept album Anna’s revolution : a progressive rock that plunges its roots in the 70's and spreads its foliage in the third millennium. As for the theme, it is set at the beginning of the twentieth century, during the Russian Revolution : Anna and Anatoli are struggling at a time favourable to extremist situations, behaviors and feelings. They try to preserve their love in spite of the war, in spite of the revolution.
Why did I choose the Revolution of 1917, a polemic topic, as a background to the story of Anna’s revolution ? Well, : in 1917, My paternal grandfather was 13 years old and was already a young worker. My maternal grandfather was a modest 18-year-old farmer. From France, they experienced the Russian Revolution as a great hope for all peoples. They supported with sincerity this fragment of humankind in search of dignity. Today, the revolution of 1917 has fallen into disgrace. It is easily condemned without further ado. To put the balance right and to distinguish myself from a musical sphere too often conformist and sanitized, I’ve decided to write Anna’s revolution.

Musical style :

Progressive rock. What's more difficult than to describe objectively one’s own music ? That's why I will not ... More specifically, I'll describe it all the same (you are reading these lines for that), but not impartially, this is not possible. You have been warned, let's go.
To enjoy my music, you must accept the loss of our traditional musical models (the famous "song" format). You must put a lot of youself in the listening and devote yourself to it exclusively for an hour and a quarter. And, ultimately, what a trip !
The freedom of compositions allows a successful combination of various musical genres (progressive rock, hard-rock, classical music, song), between calm passages and slamming sequences. They jump within each title without monotony or systematization and surprise the listener with their originality constantly renewed.
Despite these rhythm changes, the puzzle that is offered comes together seamlessly thanks to a captivating and intense story. It's a potential movie that keeps us in suspense in an atmosphere filled with emotion. And you find yourself enjoying a French text (for the French version of course), poetic and narrative, on a punchy rock music. Then, a decompression stage is needed, just after the last note of the album : a moment where one remains troubled and thoughtful, it's a sure sign that the challenge has been met.
To sum up, my music is free, saturated with emotion and with enchanting sensitivity. This is a “shivering music”. It can be described as cinematographic, progressive rock. However, for sure, it is away from fashions, it is not trendy. If you love Justin Bieber’s « positive attitude », this album is probably not for you. If your goal is to have fun on the dancefloor, this is probably not the right option. For all the others, listen !

Influences :

Progressive rock bands :
Genesis, Yes, Anathema, Pain of Salvation, Pink Floyd, King Crimson, Sylvan, Moongarden, Mars Volta, Dream Theater, Saga, Galahad, Rush, Marillion, Kaïpa, Riverside, The Flower Kings, Lazuli, Nemo, Gazpacho, Blind Ego, Eureka, Unitopia.

Hard-rock or pop bands but always with a light background of prog :
Queen, Supertramp, AC-CD, Barclay James Harvest, Queensrÿche, Muse, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Faith No More, Journey, Boston, Kansas, Toto, Thin Lizzy, King’s X, Status Quo, Van Halen, Scorpions (with Uli Jon Roth), Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Fishbone, Foreigner, Maroon 5.

French music and more :
Jacques Brel, Georges Brassens, Jean Ferrat, Daniel Balavoine, Francis Cabrel, Jean-Jacques Goldman, Renaud, Téléphone.

Classical :
Erik Satie, Edvard Grieg.

credits

released May 20, 2012

Nathalie Prost : Bass
Pierre Fournier : Clarinet
Yannick Thinon : Trombone
François Puzenat : Vocals, guitars, keyboards, programming, songwriter.

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Puzzle King Roanne, France

Le projet Puzzle King est né en 2009. L'album "Anna" est prévu pour le printemps 2012. 3 ans de gestation, c'est déjà un beau bébé et on a déjà trouver le prénom ! Ce qui vous attend avec "Anna" c'est du rock progressif (Genesis période Peter Gabriel, ça vous parle ?) sur les thèmes de la guerre, de la révolution et de l'amour : l'histoire se déroule en Russie de 1913 à 1917. ... more

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