"" (Russian: Рюмка водки на столе , Ryumka Vodki na Stole ) is widely considered the signature hit of Russian singer Grigory Leps , a People's Artist of Russia known for his powerful baritone voice. Released in 2002 as the lead track of his fourth studio album, On the Strings of Rain ( Na Strunach Doschdja ), the song transformed Leps from a popular Chanson artist into a mainstream rock and pop superstar. Background and Origin
The song's lyrics use evocative imagery, such as the "screams of a young moon" echoing with pain, to describe deep emotional turmoil.
In Russia and across the CIS, the song has achieved legendary status and is consistently ranked as the most popular karaoke song of all time. "" (Russian: Рюмка водки на столе , Ryumka
More than 20 years after its release, Leps continues to perform it at every concert. In 2024, he even performed a humorous "Comedy Club Version" of the song on Genius , jokingly complaining about how many times he has had to sing it over the decades.
The video features Leps in a gritty, high-contrast setting, often emphasizing his raw vocal delivery and emotional intensity. In Russia and across the CIS, the song
The song was originally written and composed by musician (also known as Zheka) in the 1990s. Due to financial difficulties at the time, Grigoryev sold the rights to the song to Leps for a reported $300. Leps recognized the track's massive potential and completely reimagined it with a dramatic, rock-influenced arrangement that became a cultural phenomenon. The Official Video (2002)
Directed by with cinematography by Sergey Danduryan , the official video captures the melancholic and intense atmosphere of the lyrics. The video features Leps in a gritty, high-contrast
It portrays themes of solitude, existential reflection, and the classic Russian trope of finding "truth" or solace at the bottom of a glass. Lyrics and Cultural Impact