Russian crooner banishes the blues

Miserable Muscovites can ring the helpline

A Russian musician has set up a telephone helpline - so that depressed Muscovites can be soothed by his singing.

Andrei Smirnoff, a trained singer, believes that his voice offers a cure for the blues, even down a crackly phone line.

His miserable "patients" can request whatever tune will lift their spirits, and Andrei has pledged to sing it until they cheer up.

The telephone does not give high quality sound, but the phone gives part of my heart and part of my soul

Andrei Smirnoff

He told the BBC: "Sometimes people have depression, and sometimes they feel down - and in this time they call me and listen to my song, and it helps depression go away.

"The telephone does not give high quality sound, but the phone gives part of my heart and part of my soul. That is why people call me."

Indeed, Andrei appears to have a number of highly satisfied customers.

I feel as if he is sent by God

Olga, listener

Olga, from Moscow, has cerebral palsy, and confesses to often feeling too depressed to leave her flat.

She told the BBC: "I feel as if he is sent by God.

"If I'm angry or sad, I always pick up the phone and give him a call."

Andrei's audience often throws up peculiar requests for his songs.

Everything from the Beatles' back catalogue - in Russian, of course - to the old Soviet anthem are in demand.

In addition, his clients represent a broad cross-section of society - from depressed housewives to mentally-scarred war veterans.