The Russian national anthem in its current form was adopted in 2000. Its melody was composed by Alexander Alexandrov and was previously used for the Soviet anthem, while new lyrics were written for the Russian Federation by Sergey Mikhalkov. Online, short clips of the anthem spread through gaming videos, political edits and country-based memes because the opening bars are instantly recognizable. It remains popular because it signals Russia immediately, whether the tone is sincere, ceremonial or ironic.