In recent years, Detroit hasn't just inspired local artists. It's also inspired artists across the world. Russian rocker Vladislav Yermachenko, drummer for a Kazakhstan-based Russian rock band Polygon, has been inspired by the city since childhood when his father gave him a book on the world’s automotive industry. After seeing pictures of Motor City-made cars, he fell in love with Detroit. He's now a journalist for automotive magazines.
But cars aren’t the only thing that has inspired Yermachenko. Detroit’s resilience in the face of struggle inspired him to write Polygon’s song, “Winners in This Life.” His love for cars and resilient nature show in his lyrics.
Listen to Yermachenko describe his song's message to Detroit here:
While inspired by Detroit and its automotive industry, Yermachenko has also been influenced by American artists like Alice Cooper and KISS. Although he has never been to the U.S., he hopes to visit Detroit someday.
And here, listen to the whole song, "Winners in this Life":
Check out the lyrics below.
As long as you know yourself you’ve always been Reaching for the top and your plan was to live to win And catch your train When it seems your energy is in vain There’s a little thing you know to drive in the fast lane – No pain, no gain Show must go on despite this pain! Keep moving through the wind and rain! Come on get up off your knees! Make it please! Yeah! You are the winner in this life You gotta keep your dreams alive You are the one who stays the same This is your way to win the game Fight because you can! And you will rise again! If you are completely ready stop to play Every day and every night you think of how to say “Enough to beat for it…” Go again! Don’t stop! Everything is nice! Simple truth and good old secret tell: “No sacrifice, No victory!” It is still not time to die Remember, you were born to fly Leave in the past all your falls Score goals! Yeah! You are the winner in this life You gotta keep your dreams alive You are the one who stays the same This is your way to win the game Fight because you can! And you will rise again, And you will rise again, And you will rise again!!! We gotta get up and try And we will finally touch the sky We know time will call our name It’s our aim! We are the winners in this life We gotta keep our dreams alive We are the ones who stay the same It’s our way to win the game We are the winners in this life, yeah-yeah! We are the winners in this life, yeah-yeah! We were born to fly! The dream will never die!
