Korobeiniki
"Korobeiniki" () is a nineteenth-century Russian folk song that tells the story of a meeting between a peddler and a girl, describing their haggling over goods in a metaphor for courtship. Outside Russia, "Korobeiniki" is widely known as the "Tetris" theme (titled "A-Type" in the game), from its appearance in Nintendo's 1989 Game Boy version of the game as arranged by Hirokazu Tanaka. It has also appeared more authentically in TV and film portrayals of Russian and Russian diaspora communities, such as in the wedding scenes of "The Deer Hunter" (1978). History. The song "Korobeiniki" is based  on a poem of the same name by Nikolay Nekrasov, which was first printed in the "Sovremennik" magazine in 1861. Its increasing tempo and the associated dance style led to it quickly becoming a popular Russian folk song. Korobeiniki were peddlers with trays, who sold fabric, haberdashery, books and other small items in pre-revolutionary Russia. Nekrasov's much longer poem tells the story of a young peddler who seduces a peasant girl named Katya one night in a field of rye. He offers her some of his wares as gifts in exchange for a kiss and, as it is  implied, sexual favours. She rejects all but one of his gifts, a turquoise ring, reasoning that having his wares but not him would be unbearable. The next morning, he pledges to marry her when he returns from selling his wares at the market. The song's narrative ends here; however, the poem concludes with the peddler being robbed and killed by a forest ranger whom he asks for directions while returning home with the profits made during his successful day at the market. In 1989, the song was adapted into the theme of the video game "Tetris". Melody. Critical reception . The official "Tetris" website wrote that Korobeiniki was "memorable enough on its own as both a poem and folk tune", independent of its adaption into the "Tetris" theme. Section::::"Tetris" "Theme". After arrangements of "Korobeiniki" first appeared in Spectrum Holobyte's Apple IIgs and Mac versions of "Tetris", the song was re-arranged in 1989 by Hirokazu Tanaka as the "Type A" accompaniment in Nintendo's Game Boy version 1.1. It has since become closely associated with the game in Western popular culture. In 2008, UGO listed the song as the 3rd best videogame music of all time. Though The Tetris  Company holds a sound trademark on this variation of the song for use in video games, the song has appeared in "Dance Maniax 2nd Mix" under the title "Happy-hopper".