I have always felt that the Russian language is one of the most misunderstood. Having so long been the “villain” of the Cold War to us Americans, the Russian language has often, if not always, played a “Bad Guy.” For this it is often interpreted as a crude and harsh language — and it is truthfully neither.

It is, in reality, a language drenched in poignant emotion. It sinks with a sense of underlying hardship and soars with a wonderful sense of meter and tempo. It contains more depth in pronunciation than the English language could ever hope to convey. In its delicate balance of guttural, flat and rolling tones it is capable of so much more than English.

You do not have to understand the words of the clip I provided above (I surely don’t yet) to know that he is talking about something he truly loves and is passionate about. And it is a passion that is entirely different from the American kind, but just as real. It is a softer, more understated and revered love he speaks of.

And even listening to “normal” Russians speak, not just famous Russian bards like Bulat Okudzhava, you can hear the same subtle and all the same captivating and enchanting tones and movements.

The Russian language is far more beautiful than the Western world gives it credit for.