Which Russian singer became known online as “Mr. Trololo”?

The Russian singer known online as “Mr. Trololo” was Eduard Khil. He was a Russian baritone whose 1976 television performance became an international internet phenomenon decades later.

Khil sang a wordless, highly expressive version of “I Am Very Glad, As I Am Finally Returning Back Home,” a Soviet vocalise composed by Arkady Ostrovsky. A video of the performance was uploaded online in 2009 and spread widely in English-language internet culture around 2010. Viewers nicknamed the recurring vocal refrain “Trololo,” and Khil became known as Mr. Trololo or Trololo Man.

The clip is sometimes mistaken for a novelty song written specifically for the internet. In fact, it originated as a Soviet-era musical performance, and the vocalise reportedly replaced lyrics associated with a lighthearted cowboy story. Khil had already enjoyed a long, respected career before becoming a viral celebrity. He died in Saint Petersburg in 2012, aged 77, after suffering a stroke.