Compared to “By The Rivers of Babylon” and “Brown Girl in The Ring”, “Rasputin” was a minor seller from Boney M’s 1978 album, “Nightflight to Venus”. Forty-three years after its release, the song has entered the Billboard Charts. 

Last week, the group’s song about the infamous Russian faith healer entered the publication’s Hot Dance/Electronic Songs table at number 10. It also debuted at number 33 on the Billboard Canadian Digital Song Sales chart. 

Boney M, a quartet comprising Caribbean-born members, were at the height of their popularity when “Rasputin” came out. The dance number was popular in Europe as well as in Australia and New Zealand, but saw little action the United States, the world’s largest music market. 

Thanks to the #rasputindancechallenge on Tik Tok, “Rasputin” is enjoying a second wind with over two million persons participating. 

Jamaican Liz Mitchell, a member of the classic Boney M Lineup, is pleased the single is enjoying a renaissance, especially in Russia where she still performs with her group, Liz Mitchell and Boney M. 

“We couldn’t perform it in 1978 when we went to Russia. You’ve got to remember, the country was so red at the time,” the London-raised Mitchell recalled. 

Marcia Barrett of Jamaica, Maizie Williams of Montserrat and Bobby Farrell of Aruba completed the best-known Boney M cast which was formed by German Franz Farian (co-writer of Rasputin) in 1975. Farrell died December 30, 2010 in St. Petersburg, Russia, the same date and city Rasputin was murdered in 1916.

Written By Howard Campbell