Rasputin by Boney M

Rasputin was a massive disco hit for the British-German Caribbean group Boney M in 1978. Nearly fifty years later it remains a much loved symbol of happiness and freedom for a truly global audience. This edition of Soul Music features stories from Iran, Cameroon, India and of course Russia.
Anahita Tishtar says it represents the golden age in Iran before the Islamic Revolution and reminds subsequent generations of happier times.
Famil Ismailov recollects wild dancing at teenage discos in the former Soviet Union and says Boney M's music was some of the first Western music to become available.

Eric Ngalle Charles heard the song on his sister's cassette player as a small child in Cameroon. The song became significant to him a decade later when he was trafficked to Russia and ended up dancing on stage with Boney M at one of their many Russian concerts.

Sweta Amit danced to it as toddler at her parents' dinner parties in Thailand. As a child from a conservative Indian family the song represents freedom and a way to banish stress.

The Scottish-Egyptian classical duo The Ayoub Sisters first heard the song in the back of their surgeon father's car as he drove to the hospital to do his ward rounds. Later on they released a classical version of the song.

The original lead singer of Boney M, Liz Mitchell, says Rasputin has a sound that incorporates so many different styles of music that people all around the world can identify with, and that it just makes people feel free and happy.

Producer: Maggie Ayre