himself not so much as a critic, but a true patriot who sees the worst sides of his country, but loves its people still. He has stated that his wide lyrical scope is due to his being a sort of medium. For example, he wrote many crime-related songs using their jargon, but he never lived the criminal life in reality. Similarly, many of his songs about the Cossacks were written without the benefit of ever having a single relative from that community. Rosenbaum's most popular and culturally relevant song to-date, and his greatest hit, is "Vals-Boston" (Russian: Вàльс-бостòн), which translates to "The Boston Waltz." The title refers to a dance called the American Waltz, or alternatively the Boston. 2000s Political career On December 7, 2003, Alexander Rosenbaum took office as a member of the Russian parliament (the fourth Duma) for Yedinaya Rossiya and deputy chairman of the State Duma Culture Committee. When asked by a journalist about what he had to sacrifice to be able to run for MP, Rosenbaum answered: He was not listed as an MP in the fifth Duma. He is also a supporter of Yisrael Beiteinu Israeli political party and sang the theme tune for the party in the 2009 Israeli legislative election. Rosenbaum expressed support for the annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014, and stated, "Crimea is ours." For this he was banned from entering Ukraine. Since March 2014, Crimea has been illegally occupied by the Russian Federation. Business Rosenbaum is co-owner of a growing (as of 2007) network of beer-halls in Saint-Petersburg, called "Tolstiy Frayer". The name has a humorous, as well as gangster slang air to it and can roughly be rendered as "Fat patsy". The name is a reference to one of Rosenbaum's songs. Discography Pamyati A. Zvezdina-Severnogo (In memory of A. Zvezdin-Severny; April 1982) (New Songs; November 1983) (Epitaph; 1986) (My Courtyards; 1986) (Paint Me a House; 1986) Doroga dlinoyu v zhizn (The Life-long Road; 1988) (Cossacks Songs; 1988) (Anathema; 1988) (A New-York Concert; 1987) (Gop-stop; 1993) (Hot Ten; 1994) A. Rozenbaum i "Bratya Zhemchuzhniye" 11 let spustya (A. Rosenbaum and the "Zhemchuzhnye Brothers", 11 years after; 1994) Veshchaya sudba (Prophetic Fate; 1994, compilation) (Nostalgia; 1994) Vyalotekushchaya Shizofreniya (Sluggishly progressing schizophrenia; December 1994) Byloye i diski (The Past and the Disks; volumes 1, 2 and 3) Antologiya 1. (Anthology 1. A Home Concert; 1981) Antologiya 2. Posvyashcheniye posvyashchayushchim (Anthology 2.