Little Big — Russia’s Eurovision 2020 act — have explicitly come out against the war in Ukraine with their new single “Generation Cancellation.” Writing in the description of the music video, they say: “War is not over. Stop war in Ukraine. Stop wars worldwide. No one deserves war.”
The video sees an evil political figure literally using soldiers as chess pieces, who die depending on his whims. Later, said leader serves a child a hot dog bun stuffed with a missile, and relaxes as an IV keeps him alive with crude oil.
Another evocative scene takes a swipe at the state’s propaganda machine, which attempts to justify the war at every turn. A newscaster broadcasts in front of a sign that says “FAKE NEWS”. As the camera pans away you see he’s sitting on a toilet — someone literally full of sh*t, which is pumped into the minds of people at home.
In another poignant scene we see the church acting on behalf of the state with a member of the security forces “blessing” someone with a cross made of batons.
The song’s lyrics very clearly express the helplessness that many opposed to the war feel: “I’ve got no voice, die or leave, die or leave, I’ve got no choice.”
In a statement, quoted by Newsweek, the band’s frontman Ilya Prusikin said: “We adore our country, but we completely disagree with the war in Ukraine. Moreover, we believe that any war is unacceptable.”
“We condemn the actions of the Russian government, and we are so disgusted by the Russian military propaganda machine that we decided to drop everything and leave the country.”
Meduza reports that the group are currently living in Los Angeles, though it didn’t say how long they’ve been there.
Working with Little Big
Christopher Matthew Spencer, the actor who portrays the news anchor, told us a little more about the project and what it was like to work with the band and its team. Here’s what he had to say:
I was invited by Alina Pasok, Ilia Prusikin and team to portray the “fake news” anchorman in the latest music video by Little Big. “Generation Cancellation” is a profound and sentimental anti-war crusade. The anchorman is sh*tting propaganda into the minds of citizens. Only by watching the music video will you fully understand the genius of Little Big’s vision. Little Big applies metaphors in extraordinary ways to shock the conscience and bring clarity to gravely important social issues….My greatest problems in life pale by comparison to the human pain and suffering going on in Ukraine.
From the moment I walked onto the set of “Generation Cancellation”, I realized that everyone involved with Little Big is deeply dedicated to bring forward a message of concern and call for resolution and peace.
I am honored to have been asked to work with Little Big and their team. I was naked from the waist down and wore a little patch to cover my jewels. The costume assistant Ksenia Sharonova assisted me with my outfit and whispered to me just before the first take, “You’ll be remembering this for a very long time!” I’m not shy about my body, I was in the Navy and we had zero privacy. With hope, things will resolve and the world will come together in peace. I have committed 10% of my time and 10% of my money to helping people in need. I hope others will make a similar commitment.
Generation Cancellation lyrics — Little Big
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
Holy…$#!+. They always say hindsight is 20/20; but I would have never expected this statement now! In 2020 “Uno” was in my top 10 (Gjon’s Tears’ “Répondez-Moi” was my #1).
Shady “moneyperson” feeding a hot dog missile to a clueless boy with a blue-and-yellow backpack? Soldiers as pawns on the chessboard without any agency? A very American looking president sipping whiskey with a cigar and pressing the red button in a very White House looking building? “War is not over. Stop war in Ukraine. Stop wars worldwide. No one deserves war.” Who needs to stop the war exactly? Reeks either of softcore allsideist russian propaganda tbh (however sincere their intentions were) or at least tone deafness. I’ll get a ton of downvotes but whatever, can’t cease to be amazed at… Read more »
White House looking building? This is Putins pink palace. The one Navalny is locked up for disclosing in his movie. ?
These guys have left Russia. For the US. While stating: “We condemn the actions of the Russian Government”.
This video is not just against Russian government. If you look at the video you see the man who controls looks more like Biden. We all know how many wars US started in the world. Video is against any war happening
YES LITTLE BIG!! War sucks!! ????
A pleasant surprise from Little Big. I wish 2020 had happened, they would fight with Lithuania for the win.
dont forget iceland
Top 7 most likely winners of the 2020 contest: Bulgaria Iceland (very possible televote winner) Italy Lithuania Russia (very possible televote winner) Switzerland (quite likely jury winner, again) Ukraine (we saw what Go_A are capable of on stage) Other countries that probably would have profited with the 2020 edition are: Poland (likely qualifier), Netherlands (likely top 15), Norway (likely top 10), Germany (likely top 15, at least), Israel (likely top 15, if not top 10), Australia (likely qualifier), Georgia (possible qualifier), and Latvia (very possible qualifier). On the other hand, San Marino, France, Finland, Malta, Moldova, Cyprus, and Belgium probably… Read more »
And Switzerland. Hell; Go_A might have cracked the top 10 with “Solovey” (that song was just barely outside my top 10).
Jury would have cancelled Russia in 2020. The fight would have been between Lithuania/Bulgaria/Switzerland/Italy and Iceland in 2020 i think
Respect, Little Big! You did the right thing! Stay safe.
I think they are just exploiting the topic. If they were really into the anti-war movement, they would have spoken out long ago. Not after 4 months of killing Ukrainians and destroying their nation.
Are you for real? Can you imagine what it means what they have done? They don’t know if they will see their relatives and country again, they must watch all the time if they are being followed by somebody with a c i d OR n o v i ch ok.
Exploiting the topic? To speak against a war they didn’t start, they radically changed their lives, leaving behind their relatives, their job, their culture.
How unfair of you to imply they achieved personal gains, when in reality they have given up so much. Probably more than you or I ever would…
This comment is peak stupidity. And on this site, that says a lot.
They did speak long ago too. On 24th of February, the same day the invasion began. First actually study someone before saying anything. The song is just solidifying that. Also, it’s a bop.
I hope you realize that there are many people in Russia that expressed opposition to the war got arrested for speaking out.
Yes but it is risk for their well being to go against the war aswell, remember that it is not really much of free speech in Russia at the moment. People are imprisioned if they express or say the “wrong” things
Girl, bye
Uh, Duh! You do realize that Putin has a “Don’t Say ‘War'” decree in effect, yes? Before Little Big could even think of doing this, they had to make damn sure they could escape in one piece before releasing this song! They probably had at least half their stuff packed and shipped out before they could post the song to the Web.
I’m glad Wiwibloggs made an article about this. Love Little Big!
Hope is enough for them, just to leave Russia. We know cases, russians poisoned while being in the west… no vi chok has no borders. Stay safe Little Big. Moldova, take them and you can win.
Brave words, right decision. Boljshoe spasibo.
Good for them to leave their country because they criticize the war Russia and Ukraine have. There are some Russians who disagree with the ongoing war.
Massive respect.
Is it released in Russia though? Will they go in jail for that? Because the word “war” in referece to Ukraine is punishable in Russia.
as the article says, they have left Russia already
I’m glad they’ve spoken up again, thank you Little Big
They would have been amazing winners in 2020 ugh
But having Russia as the host of ESC 2021 would not have been that amazing.
Let’s be real: if Russia had won and hosted, Ukraine wouldn’t have competed. We’d never get Shum. Think about THAT.
Yes, that would have been very bad, because Go_A are the best thing that happened to the contest in a long while.
I mean it wouldn’t have competed anyway if 2020 went ahead, Solovey would’ve been Go_A’s entry. Shum would just be an interesting post-Eurovision release from them. So weird to think about how things could’ve been.
We never would have gotten the Eurovision version of Shum, just the first one.
They were my 2020 winners smh. Unluckers.
They were soooo going to win the 2020 edition.
Disagree? but war started in 2014 , and Crimea was annexed in 2015, where they were? they been friends with msin Putin lover Kirkorov all these years and were feeling just fine in Russia while their government was killing neighbors
they doing it now because sanctions finally got them, but yeah you all can keep praise them for being ‘brave’ what a hypocrisy….
P did a lot of bloody things against other countries. At least Crimeea was with peace. Where was EBU during all this time? I know, banning Georgia 2009.
You sound uneducated, please do your research more thoroughly next time, otherwise you would have seen their stance back in 2014/15. Oh dear, brave of you to comment such things, bit embarrassing don’t you think?
Love the hypocrisy. War’s been going since 2014. Crimea and part of Donbas were occupied in 2014. They were okay with it before sanctions came to get them. And now they are taking away Ukrainian voices to bring attention to themselves over our suffering. Monetising the pain. Horrible and pathetic.
Also there are homophobic videos with slurs of all sorts still up on the internet, but you guys don’t speak russian so it’s okay.
THEY’RE INCREDIBLE! They only know they did the correct thing.
So proud of the members of Little Big for taking such a strong stand. Bravo!
Big respect. They are so brave I have no words.
Little Big should be very proud for taking such a strong stance.
Was disappointed with Manizha just complaining about Spotify and how unfair it was on her.
Glad Little Big see the bigger picture
This is how you back statements up – with action. They have gained a lot of respect from me, also this song is kinda lit.
Little Big have Balls! Soon there will be people commenting about “poor Sergey” as if he can do no wrong living his closeted life enjoying the best Russia has to offer him.
Lazarev was the first one to criticize all this stuff on his Instagram in very emotional way back in February.
And I’ve of the first POS to join the z-propaganda tours. Jeez, saying “war is bad” is NOT the same as supporting Ukraine or bring anti-putin
Sad thing is that they won’t be safe in Russia. The Russian authorities will be watching them.
They won’t be safe anywhere. People have no idea how evil russia is. They are willing to find their critics anywhere in the world. Always been that way, now happening with Alla Pugacheva’s family and dozens of other celebrities, journalists, writers etc.
GEORGIE MARKOV.LONDON BRIDGE.
Really big statement from Little Big.
Smart move!
Massive respect to them for speaking out and not just making it a pity party about being sanctioned, like others have done.
Genuinely thumbs up for Little Big. They should definitely be proud of themselves. I wish them success outside Russia.
Others have been all like “poor me, Spotify won’t play my music etc etc “ but little big have called it out fir what it is and I have great respect for that. Well done guys.
Wow, that’s brave!
It’s good to see some people have a backbone. Sympathy, that’s all you need. Good work, Little Big. Wish some other Russian acts (and their defenders) had their stones.
I hope the Russians who need to hear and see this actually do get to. Probably not, though.
Huge respect for them! Sending my best wishes to TLB, to Ukraine, and to everyone who wants to end this senseless war!
Hear hear! And fie on anyone suggesting that Ukraine is staging stuff for sympathy (which nobody here would be morally bankrupt enough to do…right?)
Some of the people on that last post about Ukraine are a little too comfortable with internet anonymity. Try expressing some of those opinions on how you think it’s all a sympathy ploy in public and see what happens. (This obviously doesn’t apply to you, Colin!)
Colin is good people, let’s be clear here.
Others are more like the poor suckers shown in the video.
Colin is one of the few people here I enjoy interacting with on a regular. You’re on of them also.
Downvote me all you want, all that tells me is you agree with the person I’m calling out and therefore I don’t have time for you. Slava Ukraini!
Are people misreading your comment?
Clearly! I was saying anyone commending LB better not have been one of the 34(!) who upvoted the comment on the last post saying Ukraine was staging the war for sympathy. Especially Voice of Reason and their nonstop pro-Russia propaganda.
Voice of Ruzzia has a lot of opinions they love to share.
Like the name of one of their songs “hard outside, kind inside” <3
(Yeah, i kkow it’s “kind inside hard outside”)
Much better than Uno, tbh.
Uno respect little big for this I hope more Russia artist do it because putin shouldn’t be allowed to use them as propaganda pieces to promote war
Little Big! It’s such a shame they didn’t have the chance to perform at ESC! ;-; </3
For some other country maybe. Russia is not worthy to have them.
Definitely, they’re too good for Russia!