Chastushki are a traditional Russian folk form, short four-line humorous songs that became popular in rural Russia during the nineteenth century and were sung at gatherings, celebrations and work breaks. Their simple rhymes and catchy tunes made them easy to improvise, pass on and adapt to current jokes, which helped them survive through changing musical fashions. Today they appear in folk performances, comedy sketches and online videos, where a few seconds of accordion and cheeky vocals instantly evoke Russian village life and light-hearted storytelling.