Critical voice: "Little Big" and their song "Generation Cancellation"

by André Schulz
7/7/2022 – The Russian rave band "Little Big" is known for provocative music videos. In June, the band released the video "Generation Cancellation", in which it takes a critical stance on Russia's war against Ukraine, using chess as a metaphor. | Photo: Little Big

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The Russian rave band "Little Big" was founded in 2013 by Ilya Prussikin, Sergei Makarov, Sofya Tajurskaya and Anton Lissov in St. Petersburg. In the following years, the band members changed a few times. In 2013, their first video "Every Day I'm Drinking" was released. In the following year, 2014, the first album "With Russia from Love" was released, which alludes to a James Bond novel and film. Soon after, the band successfully toured in Russia and in Europe. The second album "Funeral Rave" reached number eight in the Russian iTunes charts in 2015. In 2018, the track "Skibidi" was released and even reached number one in the Russian hit list.

In 2020, "Little Big" was scheduled to represent Russia at the Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam. However, due to the pandemic, the event was cancelled.

After Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, "Little Big" showed solidarity with Ukraine by posting a black picture on his Instagram channel with the words "No War".

In June 2022, the group also published "Generation Cancellation", which criticises the war in Ukraine as a war of old men. The consequences, however, would have to be borne by the young generation. The video ends with the gloomy vision of a return to the Stone Age, symbolised by Adam and Eve, after a nuclear war. The war itself is depicted as a chess game played by two old men. They treat their soldiers like chess pieces to be sacrificed at will.

The music video also contains many references to the current social situation in Russia.

"Little Big" is known for provocative music videos. In 2016, the band won prizes at the Berlin Music Video Awards for their videos for "Give Me Your Money" and "Big Dick" in the categories "Most Trashy" (Big Dick) and "Best Performer" (3rd place for "Give Me Your Money"). The raunchy video for "Big Dick" now has over 84 million views (July 2022) but the hit "Skibidi",  already has 620 million views.

Meanwhile, the band members have left Russia and now live in Los Angeles. They plan to tour the USA this summer.

Generation Cancellation (Lyrics)

My generation
Generation cancellation
My generation
Generation cancellation
My generation
Generation cancellation
I've got no, I've got no
I've got no voice
Die or leave, die or leave
I've got no choice
My generation
My generation
My generation is a new civilization
My generation
Generation cancellation
My generation
Generation cancellation
My generation
My generation
My generation is a new civilization
Can-cel-la-tion
Cancellation generation
Can-cel-la-tion
Cancellation generation
My generation
Generation cancellation
My generation
Generation cancellation
Can-cel-la-tion

Official website...


André Schulz started working for ChessBase in 1991 and is an editor of ChessBase News.