"Russian chanson" (also known as "shanson"; not to be confused with French chanson) tends to be a narrative-driven, ballad-like song that celebrates hard life and the customs of the criminal environment, using prison slang. The music style can range from simple acoustic guitar melodies to Russian pop from 1990s; vocals are usually male, but can be also female. Russian chanson lyrical themes vary depending on the time the song was written. Themes can be cheerful, romantic and emotional to dark, depressing and even violent. Chanson artists tend to sing about military life, patriotism, love (in the context of separation due to incarceration), politics, criminal life, labor camp and appeal to emotion towards relatives or beloved ones.