Russian Love Songs

Stereotypically, Russian society is pretty bleak. Like most stereotypes, it doesn't come entirely out of nowhere.

Consider this first line of a popular Russian love song:

You didn’t need to fear my love, I don’t love you so awfully much.

Just the thing to get that romantic va-va-voom going. Americans, in contrast, are enthusiastic even when their loves turn sour. Consider Fall Out Boy's popular lyrical musings on love lost:

I don't care what you think,
As long as it's about me
The best of us can find happiness
In misery

Not convinced? Consider also that Russian culture is known culinarily for cold borscht (i.e. cabbage soup). Let's just say that it's not apple pie.