Yura Demidovich │ Юра Демидович

Yura Demidovich, the twelve-year old singing sensation from Belarus, has been generating a fair amount of controversy on the internet because of the hit song that he composed called, "Volshebnyi Krolik", or Волшебный Кролик ("Magic Rabbit", also known colloquially as "Etis Atis Animatis").  When I first heard this song, it sent shivers repeatedly, up and down my spine.  It is that good.  Yura is the best young singer that I have heard in a long, long time.  He is in the same rarefied class of vocalists as Valentin Vierling, and Afanasy Prokhorov.  By-the-way, Yura and Afanasy, are both from Russia.  One thing that is so unusual about Yura's voice is that his high notes sound so full and rich, it is almost as if he is using his spirit body for added resonance.  Yura sings with such passion, that I get the feeling that he is a very old soul in a young body.  It appears though, that some Bible thumpers in America, and elsewhere, are accusing him, and his song, of  promoting Satanism.  That is an accusation that I find very laughable.  Let me give you some examples of how far these kinds of people will go with their malicious accusations and gossip.  They allege that the phrase "Etis Atis Animatis" translates from the Latin as "Pale horror comes to life, pale horror craves you".  Well that shows their ignorance, as "Etis Atis" is the equivalent of singing "la, la, la" in a song, it is basically meaningless.  It is not Latin at all.  "Animatis" could possibly be translated as "breath" or "soul".  Other fundamentalist naysayers, claim that "Etis Atis Animatis" is nothing more than a disguised form of the word "Satan".  Another allegation is that the five performers of "Etis Atis Animatus" are performing on a pentagram that is drawn on the stage floor.  I have personally viewed over ten video versions of this song, and in none of them is there a pentagram visible anywhere on the stage.  That is all rubbish.  As Yura tells it, he was inspired to write this song by the rabbit in Louis Carroll's "Alice In Wonderland".  Yura says that the words "Etis Atis Animatis" are literary "improvisations of the rabbit when he invents the poem."  Now, how innocuous is that?  In Yura's own words, "My song tells the story of a boy, who seriously studies music for many hours, plays an instrument, sings chorals in Latin, but sometimes he wishes to play football with other kids, and he misses his mother."  As you can see, the song is largely autobiographical in nature.  Furthermore, Yura is a member of  an Evangelical Christian church called "Divine Grace".  Fortunately, though, Yura is taking all of this controversy with style, and grace as he has said, "Even the bad reviews have helped, because I've tried to sing better, so that everyone likes the song."  "Volshebnyi Krolik" is an interesting mix of Rap, Classical Music, and High Opera.  It is very reminiscent of "O Fortuna" from Carl Orff's "Carmina Burana".  In this edition of Angel Watchers, I am very proud to feature, the extremely talented Yura Demidovich.  For those of you who are interested, here is the complete English translation of "Volshebnyi Krolik".  Safe journeys to all the fans of Angel Watchers, wherever you may be.

Magic Rabbit
Composed by Yura Demidovich

Somewhere in a deep forest
through the firs which are blue,
magic flowers and plants,
he simply lives, sadly songs he sings,

Who do you think?
Of who do you think?

The magic rabbit!

The magic rabbit breaks the habit,
he wears glasses, he writes with chalk pluses.
The magic rabbit, he's a poet,
he studies Latin and plays the violin.
The magic rabbit breaks the habit,
he wears glasses, he writes with chalk pluses.
The magic rabbit, he loves others,
he lives in a forest and misses his mother!

Etis Atis Animatis,
Etis Atis Animatis,
Etis Atis Animatis,
Etis Atis Animatis!

The Magic Bunny!
The Magic Bunny!
The Magic Bunny!