Little Big frontman Ilya Prusikin said that the song was recorded on 25 February 2022. In March, the band left Russia for Los Angeles and shot the video for the song shortly after. Because of the post-production process, which was done by the Russian crew "who went all over the world", the release of the song was delayed.

LITTLE BIG – GENERATION CANCELLATION The song history

"Generation Cancellation" was released on 23 June 2022. In previous interviews, Prusikin criticized the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, stating "We adore our country, but we completely disagree with the war in Ukraine, moreover, we believe that any war is unacceptable." The band also announced that they had left the country and relocated to Los Angeles, stating that "we are so disgusted by the Russian military propaganda machine that we decided to drop everything and leave the country."

Composition

The song is described as an "aggressive hard rock" song with a few lyrics, mentioning how the younger generations, mostly generation Z in Russia, are facing a new, war mongered civilization. According to William Lee Adams, editor of Eurovision Song Contest fansite Wiwibloggs, the lyrics "clearly express the helplessness that many opposed to the war feel."

Music video

Along with the song's release, a music video was released on Little Big's YouTube channel. The video makes references to major political leaders portrayed by David Alan Graf and Sam H. Clauder II; and shows the destruction brought by the Russian army. In the video, the video first shows an evil political figure, who is kept alive with an IV tube filled with crude oil, using soldiers (Howard Campbell, Andriy Zozulya, Qi Gu and George De Sclar) as chess pieces for the invasion, and giving a child (Ivan Logut) a hot dog with a missile. Later, a news anchorman (Christopher Matthew Spencer) is shown broadcasting with the graphic "FAKE NEWS". The camera is then moved to shown the anchorman sitting a toilet, to show that they are "full of shit". In the last scene, a security guard (Neil Stephens), shown as a priest of the Russian orthodox church, is shown "blessing" someone (Jordan Reed) with a cross made of a baton.

Critical reception

In response to the song, Iosif Prigozhin, a Russian music producer, called for the revocation of the citizenship of the members of Little Big, stating that "people who are poorly educated have moved to the United States, thinking that it's ‘the most peaceful state in the world,’ and they are trying to talk about pacifism through their videos. Meanwhile, I'm not afraid of this word." He later claimed that "the West is engaged in the genocide of our people."

LITTLE BIG – GENERATION CANCELLATION (Official Music Video)

15,081,029 views Jun 24, 2022

War is not over. Stop war in Ukraine. Stop wars worldwide. No one deserves war.
The war is not over. Stop the war in Ukraine. Stop wars all over the world. Nobody deserves a war.
Listen to ‘Generation Cancellation’ by Little big:
WE ARE LITTLE BIG TOUR 2022: http://littlebig.band
Сonnect with LITTLE BIG:
Website: http://littlebig.band
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littlebigband
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@littlebig
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/littlebigban...
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/littlebigrussia
Telegram: https://t.me/littlebigtg
Contact us: mgmt@littlebig.band
Idea, Script & Direction: Alina Pasok, Ilia Prusikin
Music: Liubim Khomchuk, Viktor Sibrinin, Ilia Prusikin
Production Company: Richman Films (@therichmanfilms)
Producer: Misha Zvagilskiy @directedbymisha
Executive Producer: David Richman @bydavidrichman
Production Manager: Anastasia Naumova (@californi_ana)
Associate Producer: Diana Might
2nd AD: Brianna Ingemi
DOP: Karim Belkasemi @belkasemi
1st AC: Walter Watkins
2nd AC: Mac Myers
VTR: Gennadi Balitski
Gaffer: Christian Medina
Key Grip: Keith Shattle
Best Boy Grip: Nathan Leiferman
Best Boy Electric: Kevin Garrard
Swing: Trelen Johnston
Production Designer: Jena Serbu
Art Director: Patrick Reidy
Set Dresser: Emily Floerke
Set Decorator: Nicole Heetland
Art PA: Astonn Penma
Set Dresser: Tony Prado

Costume Designer: Daria Zonova
Costume Assistant: Ksenia Sharonova
Key Make Up Artist: Faina Rudshteyn
Make Up Artist: Daria Kholodnyh
Key Production Assistant: Aleksandr Osianin
Production Assistant: Vladimir Krakhmalev
Production Assistant/Driver: Vladyslav Kumurzhi
Production Assistant/Intern: Alena Bridikhina
Props Art Director: Daria Ukhvatova

Post Production: Post Tribe @post_tribe
Executive Producer: David Bintséné
Producers: Mark Nondovu, Vitaly Sylka
Art Director: Alexander Nikulin
VFX Supervisor: Tsoy Helgi
On-set Supervisor: Yuri Karikh
CG Generalist: Vadik Hardcore, Alexander Nikulin
Environment: Roman Vechtomov, Denis Ivanov, Danil Semenchenko, Mikhalevich Dmitriy
2D Motion Designer: Maxim Boyko
Modelling: Bay Akerov, Ivan Amerie
Compositing: Denis Khrushev, Shatskaya Evgeniya, Pavel Verenkov, Zahar Cherbakov
Matchmoving: Maxim Vinogradov
Account Manager: Vika Tulbu
Post-Production Coordinator: Polina Lazareva
Color Correction: Dima Litvinov @litvinovdimaa @jojo_agency_

Special Thanks: Mr.Browngreen, Vanya Fedotov, Georgy McElroy, Maxim Semenov, Andrey Fishev, Lesha Zalozhuk, Greenery Studios (greenerystudios.com)


Cast
Politician: David Alan Graf
Politician: Sam H. Clauder II
Soldier 1: Howard Campbell
Soldier 2: Andriy Zozulya
Soldier 3: Qi Gu
Soldier 4: George De Sclar
Kid: Ivan Logut
VR Guy: Dillon Francis

Anchorman: Christopher Matthew Spencer
Hypnotized Dad: Patrick H. Breen
Hypnotized Mom: Tania Anders
Hypnotized Kid: Mark Sodukh

Pinocchio Scene 1: Ginger Hart
Pinocchio Scene 2: Aleksandr Nezlobin
Pinocchio Scene 3: Jacks McLaugnlin

Police: Neil Stephens
Zipped Mouth 1: Berk Karaca
Zipped Mouth 2: Miracle Moore
Zipped Mouth 3: Justin Koa Valle
Zipped Mouth 4: Mark Chinnery
Zipped Mouth 5: Sonya Taiurskaia

Oil Scene 1: Oksana Belkasemi
Oil Scene 2: Jason Fielders
Oil Scene 3: Craig Marvin
Oil Scene 4: Gloria Laisure
Oil Scene 5: Alfred Gabidullin