Mr. Trololo Is Dead! Russian Crooner Eduard Khil Goes Trololoing Off to Heaven [VIDEOS]

By COED Staff June 4, 2012 10:57 am Posted in Cool Stuff, culture, Music, Television, Video COED Staff g+ page

Internet memes will never die! The same can’t be said for the people behind them. For example, Mr. Trololo has passed away. Russian singer Eduard Khil was a major celebrity during the days of Soviet Russia, but his career floundered once Russia was freed from Communism and people could buy music that wasn’t sanctioned by the state. Then he got a surprising career revival when a 1976 television clip went viral in 2010. Everyone was fascinated by the strangely robotic Khil as he smiled his way through a song that was pretty much nonsense in any language. Krihl knew he coudn’t sing the actual lyrics of the song, which was originally called, “I Am Glad, ‘Cause I’m Finally Returning Back Home.” It had been written about an American cowboy, so the Russian censors were waiting to put down the hammer and sickle. That’s why Khril was left to just trololo his way through the tune. The amused vocalist passed away in the Russian city of St. Petersburg at the age of 77, knowing that his fellow countrymen were now free to sing cowboy songs–even if everyone still preferred Khril as Mr. Trololo. Here he is for one last hurrah–along with two Mr. Trololo tributes, and Krihl’s own big comeback performance…