# what's that iconic Russian riff/song? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 10, 2010, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-iconic-russian-riff-song/538948 "2010-05-10T18:43:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mo50](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@mo50](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mo50)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2010, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-iconic-russian-riff-song/538948/1 "2010-05-10T18:43:11Z")
Inspired by the “Turning Japanese” classic “Oriental” song. Anybody know what that piece of Russian music is where it goes in descending steps: Dum Dum Dum Dum Dumdumdum Dum Dumdumdumdum & ends with the (male) dancers yelling “Hey!”. I’m thinking maybe from a Bugs Bunny cartoon, among other places, where the dancers crouch down & kick thier legs out in time to it, while holding their arms folded accross thier chests & yelling “Hey!” at the end of each stanza, I guess its called. Thanks for any info 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2010, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-iconic-russian-riff-song/538948/2 "2010-05-10T18:48:08Z")
I think you mean [Korobeiniki](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korobeiniki). ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2010, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-iconic-russian-riff-song/538948/3 "2010-05-10T18:52:51Z")
FWIW, I asked [the same question](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=337025) some years ago. ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2010, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-iconic-russian-riff-song/538948/4 "2010-05-10T19:49:05Z")
When I saw the thread title I was put in mind of [this Bugs Bunny shtick](http://www.televisiontunes.com/Bugs_Bunny_-_Hare_Tonic_-_Russian_Dance.html), but it doesn’t quite match the OPs translation of “dum dum dums.” ---
**Author:** ![thirdname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@thirdname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdname)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2010, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-iconic-russian-riff-song/538948/5 "2010-05-10T21:15:37Z")
[Kalinka?](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_A7Hu0uKNw) ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2010, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-iconic-russian-riff-song/538948/6 "2010-05-10T23:05:02Z")
If you mean the Tetris music, that’s Korobeiniki. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-iconic-russian-riff-song/538948/7 "2010-05-11T00:06:28Z")
You mean the tune at 1:00 in [this clip](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8MbiAJY0Oo&feature=related) from Stalag 17? ---
**Author:** ![toodlepip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/97f17d/32.png) [@toodlepip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toodlepip)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-iconic-russian-riff-song/538948/8 "2010-05-11T00:15:30Z")
Or [I’ve Got No Strings](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4X1UEVGvwY) from Disney’s Pinocchio? (1:57-ish) ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-iconic-russian-riff-song/538948/9 "2010-05-11T00:15:59Z")
[Meadowlands](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7zqfaiWV6M)? That and [Volga Boatmen’s Song](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WD0WVL-HjE)are probably the two most associated with Russia. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-iconic-russian-riff-song/538948/10 "2010-05-11T03:18:17Z")
Would it be something to which Cossacks could dance the [Hopak!](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hopak) Hey! Hey! Maybe [this bit](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vvr8AjT0aD0&feature=related) from _Fiddler on the Roof_ (starting at 1:20). ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-iconic-russian-riff-song/538948/11 "2010-05-11T03:20:53Z")
Of course, [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yDrtNEr_5M) is an iconic Russian song! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-iconic-russian-riff-song/538948/12 "2010-05-11T05:08:53Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Of course, [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yDrtNEr_5M) is an iconic Russian song! 😉 And [this one](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eT8wH6iaOFk) is quickly gaining. ---
**Author:** ![Olentzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90ced4/32.png) [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-iconic-russian-riff-song/538948/13 "2010-05-11T06:49:51Z")
Is [this](http://www.televisiontunes.com/Bugs_Bunny_-_Hare_Tonic_-_Russian_Dance.html) the one you mean? ---
**Author:** ![asian\_riff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecccb3/32.png) [@asian\_riff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asian_riff)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-iconic-russian-riff-song/538948/14 "2010-05-11T07:03:05Z")
deleted ---
**Author:** ![mo50](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@mo50](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mo50)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-iconic-russian-riff-song/538948/15 "2010-05-11T19:13:22Z")
> [@Olentzero](#): > > Is [this](http://www.televisiontunes.com/Bugs_Bunny_-_Hare_Tonic_-_Russian_Dance.html) the one you mean? Yeah, that’s what I was thinking of, thanks for scratchin’ that itch for me! Anyone know what that piece of music’s called? ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-iconic-russian-riff-song/538948/16 "2010-05-11T19:57:19Z")
> [@Olentzero](#): > > Is [this](http://www.televisiontunes.com/Bugs_Bunny_-_Hare_Tonic_-_Russian_Dance.html) the one you mean? > [@mo50](#): > > Yeah, that’s what I was thinking of, thanks for scratchin’ that itch for me! Anyone know what that piece of music’s called Yo, I already posted that exact link. Not that I need kudos for it (I was wrong since I didn’t think it matched the OPs transcription), but the thread’s not very long, so it’s easy to read the whole thing. And I was just post #4! 🙂 The question’s apparently been asked over at [the Termite Terrace Trading Post](http://forums.goldenagecartoons.com/showthread.php?p=158501#post158501) forums, which is where Looney Tunes experts hang out, and unfortunately the only attempt at an answer was incorrect (the guy said that it’s related to “Song of the Volga Boatmen”). As they mention in that thread, it’s very possible that Carl Stilling, the music director of the Bugs Bunny cartoons in question, grabbed it from stock music. ---
**Author:** ![mo50](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@mo50](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mo50)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-iconic-russian-riff-song/538948/17 "2010-05-11T23:10:50Z")
> [@choie](#): > > Yo, I already posted that exact link. Not that I need kudos for it (I was wrong since I didn’t think it matched the OPs transcription), but the thread’s not very long, so it’s easy to read the whole thing. And I was just post #4! 🙂 > > The question’s apparently been asked over at [the Termite Terrace Trading Post](http://forums.goldenagecartoons.com/showthread.php?p=158501#post158501) forums, which is where Looney Tunes experts hang out, and unfortunately the only attempt at an answer was incorrect (the guy said that it’s related to “Song of the Volga Boatmen”). > > As they mention in that thread, it’s very possible that Carl Stilling, the music director of the Bugs Bunny cartoons in question, grabbed it from stock music. Sorry, Choie, I missed yours, you got it first, all credt to ya. I’m sorry, still not figuring out the name of it other than" Bugs Bunny Russian Music" I just didn’t recognize it in any of the other named clips provided. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![mr.jp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@mr.jp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr.jp)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-iconic-russian-riff-song/538948/18 "2010-05-12T00:31:26Z")
Based on the thread title, it can only be Gorky Park - Bang.