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Viral 'Trololo' Singer Dies

Inadvertent internet star Eduard Khil was 77

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June 4, 2012 9:15 AM ET

The singer behind one of the internet's most beloved viral videos has died, reports RIA Novosti. Eduard Khil, singer of what is commonly called the "Trololo" video, passed away in St. Petersburg on June 4th. He was 77.

The song, titled "I Am Glad, 'Cause I'm Finally Returning Back Home," hit internet fame after a Russian TV clip of Khil performing the song went viral. The song, written by Arkady Ostrovsky, originally had lyrics describing cowboy imagery, but the former Soviet Union wanted the words changed to squelch possible associations with America. Instead, Khil delivered his now-famous nonsense vocal of "tro-lo-lo's." The 1976 video found an adoring audience online a few years ago, with over 12 million views gathered on a November 2009 YouTube upload.

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