The Branding Of Russian President Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin (RIA Novosti/Aleksey Nikolskyi)

The Making of Brand Putin -- Kristen Soltis Anderson, Daily Beast

All this exposure, even it means ridicule, is part of Putin’s master plan to maintain Russia as a Superpower—and himself as its Superhero.

Long before there was Obama Girl, there was Putin Girl. Or, rather, Putin Girls.

It’s 2002. Two women—part of a Russian pop duo “Singing Together” —come on screen, dancing to a catchy electro-pop beat. “My boyfriend is in trouble again, got in a fight got drunk on something nasty,” they sing in Russian. No, they say, instead of their intoxicated deadbeat boyfriend, they want someone…someone like Putin.

One like Putin, full of strength

One like Putin, who won’t be a drunk

One like Putin, who wouldn’t hurt me

One like Putin, who won’t run away!

In what winds up being a bizarre cross between a pop anthem and a Dos Equis “Most Interesting Man In The World” commercial, the video for “Takogo Kak Putin” (translated as “A Man Like Putin”) features footage of Putin taking out an opponent in judo and standing with the Queen of England, interspersed with a Putin look-alike calling up then-President Bush and presumably engaging in very important diplomatic conversations.

Russian songwriter Alexander Yellin, the man behind “Takogo Kak Putin,” told Public Radio International in 2012 that he “may have written "A Man Like Putin" as light satire, but it wasn't taken that way. Vladimir Putin made it his anthem and even played it at rallies.

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My Comment: I am not a fan of Russian President Putin (my nationality is Russian) .... but even I have had to accept the fact that if a Presidential election was held in Russia today .... Putin will easily gather over 50% of the popular vote. His weakness is the economy .... if it "tanks" .... so will he. But the Russian economy .... even with all of it's problems .... is still moving ahead, people are working, they are making money, pensions and salaries are being paid, and there is a sense in Russia that they have a President whose priority is to guarantee the safety of the Russian people .... which (when combined) is exactly what many Russians now want in their President.

Update: According to Gallop Americans are not buying this "Putin branding" .... but this is nothing new in U.S. - Russian relations.