FACE TO FACE
By Annie Addington
In the fall of 1989, when the Berlin Wall fell, my music partner at the time, Bertold Schramm, told me that there was a famous singer from Moscow, Olga Rozhnova, who happened to be the sister of a friend, and they were interested in writing a song with us. All of a sudden, we were in Bertold’s basement studio, writing and recording this song. Olga’s band, Group Voyage, and her husband, Sasha, created the sound. I wrote the melody and the lyrics, except for the Russian verse, which was written by Olga. Voyage was a Metal Band. I had been performing Jazz and many originals. In two days, we, (East Metal and Jazz West) , had our song, Face to Face. They left Berlin and went back to Moscow. In a few weeks, they called me and said, “Annie, come to Moscow. We are just waiting for you”.
Moscow 1 TV brought us up to a studio where we filmed this video. It was only a couple of months since the wall had fallen, and even for a quick trip to the rest room, Ludmilla, director of Moscow 1 had to accompany me, and I showed my passport at every corner we passed on the way. But we managed, with body language at time for direction.
We also performed on a Russian army base, where they created a sauna for Olga and me, with a big Samovar full of tea, so we could relax before the performance. The generals were in the front row, and a soldier was pumping a steam machine to fill the floor with smoke. As I was waiting for them to call me on stage, I was behind the curtain. I was so nervous that my palms began sweating. There was a small statue of Lenin on a pedestal, with red velvet hanging down. I wiped my hands on Lenin’s curtains and they yelled my name, and off I went.
Face to Face was played at least 3 times a day for over a year during Perestroika. It was played at the Gorbachev/Bush convention. Mind blowing to say the least, for someone who remembered canned food in the basement, because we were afraid of the Russians.
What we found, in the many evenings sitting around together, was that we were pretty much the same!!
Lyrics Lyrics Face to Face
We’ve been livin’ in separate worlds
Both of us were clouded by doubt
Now there’s a chance to break through the wall
Are you ready to finally come out
I think it’s time I want to see
Just who you really are
Face to Face
Let’s take a good look at each other
Face to Face
USA and USSR
Thunderstorm’s gone
Atmosphere’s clear
And I can see for the first time
People get movin’
Dance round the world
Are you ready to cross a new line
Face to Face
Let’s take a good look at each other
Face to Face
USA and USSR
(sounds like )
Litsom Klitsu
Mui dalzhni pavarutso
Drug Drugo
About the Artists
Annie Addington
Annie Addington is a vocalist and songwriter, who has lived and performed in the US and Europe. She loves this project; nothing is better than communicating with other artists and musicians and sharing the Light. For more information, you can go to her website, www.annieaddingtonmusic.com. There is a page dedicated to Artists for Peace and Wellbeing, as well.