Njet Molotoff

{{short description|1939 song composed by Matti Jurva with lyrics by Tatu Pekkarinen}}

"Njet Molotoff"{{efn|The title is sometimes rendered as "Niet Molotoff" and "Nyet Molotoff". The word njet directly comes from Russian нет, meaning 'no'. It is used to mock the Russian language; the Finnish word for 'no' is ei.}} ({{Literally|No, Molotov}}) is a Finnish propaganda song composed by {{Ill|Matti Jurva|fi|Matti Jurva}}, and written by {{Ill|Tatu Pekkarinen|fi|Tatu Pekkarinen}}.{{cite book |author=Marjo Kaartinen, Hannu Salmi & Marja Tuominen |date=2016 |isbn=978-952-222-686-0 |location=Helsinki |page=201 |publisher=Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura |title=Maamme: itsenäisen Suomen kulttuurihistoria |version=Veli-Pekka Lehtola: Kuoleman ja elämän rintamat}} "Niet Molotoff" was composed during the Winter War to boost morale and to mock the Soviet Union and the Red Army.

"Njet Molotoff" was first recorded in 1942 by Jurva and Kristalli-Tanssiorkesteri, the song was conducted by George de Godzinsky, and the orchestral accompaniment was arranged by {{Ill|Robert von Essen|fi|Robert von Essen}}.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date= |title=Molotohvin koktaili |url=http://www.artiemusic.com/files/Molo_booklet.pdf |access-date=March 13, 2020 |website=Artie Music |language=fi}} The song was made well-known by {{Ill|Solistiyhtye Suomi|fi|Solistiyhtye Suomi}} in 1989.{{Cite web |title=Kun Molotoffista tuli Vladimir |url=https://sotaveteraanit.fi/nostot/kun-molotoffista-tuli-vladimir/ |access-date=2024-05-18 |website=Sotaveteraanit.fi |language=fi}}{{Cite web |title=Njet molotoff |url=http://www.aanitearkisto.fi/firs2/kappale.php?Id=Niet+molotoff |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190110183502/http://www.aanitearkisto.fi/firs2/kappale.php?Id=Niet+molotoff |archive-date=2019-01-10}}

"Njet Molotoff" is named after Vyacheslav Molotov, the Soviet Minister of Foreign Affairs. The song's chorus declares Molotov's justifications for the Winter War to be "worse" than the "lies" of Nikolay Bobrikov, who was a Governor-General of Finland notorious for his attempts to promote the Russification of Finland, later being assassinated for his actions. The song ridicules the Red Army's slow advance and their failed plans to quickly occupy Helsinki as they struggled to even breach the Mannerheim line, claiming Soviet officials lost their previous boastful attitude as the war went on. It also mocks Molotov having a countryside estate, where the Soviet political officials would retreat to. These would include "Stalin[,] other charlatans" and possibly Reds who had fled to Petrozavodsk after the Finnish Civil War.

Many Russian-language words are used in the song in place of Finnish-language alternatives.

The melody of the song is based on a Russian folk song called Ukhar-kupets (Ухарь-купец), from which the Yiddish song "Daloy Politsey" is also derived.{{Citation |title=Аркадий Северный - Ухарь-купец (И.С.Никитин) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCvMD0wc-QY |access-date=2022-10-22 |language=en}}

Parodies

During the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, a Ukrainian parody of Njet Molotoff was created. The Ukrainian version of the song is titled "Njet Vladimir", in reference to Vladimir Putin.{{cite news |last=Halonen |first=Antti |date=16 July 2022 |title=Ukraina teki oman versionsa suomalaisesta tunnetusta sotalaulusta – kertosäkeessä tylyt terveiset Putinille |url=https://www.iltalehti.fi/kotimaa/a/d1d16aec-7c42-4f16-86ce-6554f362e6c9 |newspaper=Iltalehti |language=fi}}

In 2025, a Canadian parody, titled "No Donald Trump", gained popularity in response to US President Donald Trump proposing the annexation of Canada to the United States.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDAbOK8OBEA| title="No, Donald Trump!" – Canadian Anti-Trump Song (Njet Molotoff Parody)|website=YouTube|publisher=Redactably|date=March 7, 2025|access-date=May 21, 2025}}