Invincible and Legendary

The story

"Invincible and Legendary", also called the "Song about the Soviet Army", is a Soviet song created during the Second World War, known in Russia as the Great Patriotic War, by the composer Alexander Alexandrov to words by Osip Kolychev. It was written for the 25th anniversary of the Red Army (the RKKA).

It was first heard in February 1943 in a concert film made on the orders of the Soviet government for that anniversary, directed by S. Gerasimov, M. Kalatozov and E. Dzigan. It was recorded on gramophone records by the Aprelevka factory, and later opened each edition of the Soviet television programme "Sluzhu Sovetskomu Soyuzu" (I Serve the Soviet Union).

Many singers and ensembles performed it, and its words exist in several versions, among them those of 1943, 1945 and 1977. Besides the Russian original it has been sung in German, Hungarian and Chinese. It is the signature song of the Alexandrov Ensemble, the song and dance ensemble of the Russian Army, which traditionally opens all its performances with it.

What it says

A song in praise of the Soviet Army and its victories; proud, solemn and martial.

The words

The words of this song are still in copyright, so they are not printed here. “What it says” above gives their theme in our own words, and the performance below lets you hear them.