(don’t know if this has been mentioned before, apologies if I missed it)
It seems like a million years ago when someone on tumblr or discord mentioned that “Taganka” was the title of the song (written by Mikhail Shufutinsky and released in 1983) that is being played when Valery enters the hotel restaurant and meets the couple of KGB agents for the first time.
What I didn’t realize back then about the song (which was actually included in the Chernobyl OST) was that Taganka was a prison.
The lyrics are nothing but a prisoner’s lament.
A gypsy with cards, a long journey, A long journey, a public home... Perhaps the old central prison Again awaits me, little boy. Perhaps the old central prison Again awaits me, little boy. Taganka, all nights filled with fire, Taganka, why have you ruined me? Taganka, I'm your eternal inmate, My youth and talent have withered inside your walls. Taganka, I'm your eternal inmate, My youth and talent have withered inside your walls. I know, beloved, we won't meet again...We are destined to separate paths. Again it'll be conjugal visits on Fridays And relatives' bitter tears. Again it'll be conjugal visits on Fridays And relatives' bitter tears.
I can see nothing but symbolism in the use of that specific song, especially in the highlighted lyrics above. Maybe Renck/|Mazin chose “Taganka” (like they did with “Chorny Voron” for the dog burial) to express Valery’s fears during that scene (he’ll go to prison if he speaks out, and the KGB are there to make sure he doesn’t). As for the second lyric in bold letters, perhaps it’s just my Valoris shipper’s heart wanting those lyrics to be about Valery and Boris. 😭
