babushkas: brave, bold singing grannies from the wilds of Russia

In Russian culture, one iconic image is the elderly woman — in Russian, she's called a "babushka" — sitting on a roadside, selling vegetables from her garden.

One group of babushkas from the village of Buranovo, 600 miles east of Moscow, is blowing up that stereotype.

The dozen or so women — mostly in their 70s and 80s — have become a musical sensation, charming audiences across Russia. They sing Beatles tunes and songs by iconic Russian rocker Viktor Tsoi. They fly around the country for concerts. They made it to the Russian finals of the Eurovision music contest. And they have a Facebook page.

Via NPR

These women have suffered the fates of many elderly women in the Russia, losing their husbands to accidents and alcoholism, or in one case leaving an alcoholic husband. But despite the hardships, music sustains them, and they convey their joy and zest for living in their singing. Click on the link above and read the whole article. It's heart-warming and inspiring.

[image error]

Filed under: Uplifting Tagged: Babushkas sing