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{{short description|Bulgarian music genre}}
{{More footnotes|date=October 2009}} {{More footnotes needed|date=October 2009}}
'''Chalga''' ("Чалга" in ] from "Çalgı" in ]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nisanyansozluk.com/?k=%C3%A7alg%C4%B1 |title=çalgÄą |publisher=Nisanyansozluk.com |date=2011-06-20 |accessdate=2012-10-22}}</ref> derived from the ] "Tchalgi"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://books.google.ca/books?id=MOVPaLXjjsAC&pg=PA323&lpg=PA323&dq=tchalgi&source=bl&ots=flEhpbgKG9&sig=exSsQ74Eaz4Nl_akX9JYRuRMEzw&hl=en&sa=X&ei=n7pPUNzMDJCP0QHz7oGgAw&ved=0CDIQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=tchalgi&f=false |title=Colors of Enchantment: Theater, Dance, Music and the Visual Arts of the ... - Google Books |publisher=Books.google.ca |date= |accessdate=2012-10-22}}</ref>) is a ]n music genre with regional appeal in the Balkan countries and some international following. Chalga is a blend of ], ], ], ] and ] influences, as well as motives from ], ] and ] music. It is known for repeating musical themes and dance rhythms, which are known as ] in Bulgarian.
{{Infobox music genre
| name = Chalga
| stylistic_origins = {{hlist|]|]|]|]<ref>An umbrella term covering Balkan; In this case Bulgarian and influence from Greek, Serbian, Croatian, Slovenian, Albanian, Bosnian, Macedonian, Montenegrin, Romanian Turkish and indian music.</ref>|]|]|]|Balkan pop|]|]}}
| cultural_origins = 1960s, ]
}}
'''Chalga''' ({{Langx|bg|чалга}}; often referred to as ], short for "popular folk" or ethno-pop, short for "ethnic pop")<ref>Стателова, Розмари. (2003) ''Седемте гряха на чалгата.'' София: "Просвета — София" АД, {{ISBN|954-01-1536-1}}</ref><ref>Димов, Венцислав. (2001) ''Етнопоп бумът.'' София: "Българско музикознание", {{ISBN|978-954-8307-14-7}}</ref> is a ]n ] music genre. Chalga or pop-folk is essentially a folk-inspired ] genre,<ref>{{citation |url={{Google books |plainurl=yes |id=13rYAAAAMAAJ }} |title=Balkan Popular Culture and the Ottoman Ecumene|page=144}} {{blockquote|popular music, in the pages that follow I concentrate on the most popular genre, chalga. In today's Balkan peninsula, chalga is the general name for a new dance music that is a complex mixture of various musical styles and traditions}}</ref> with a blend of ] (Bulgarian ethno-pop genre)<ref>{{Google books |id=yJ60SHL4R-0C |page=669 |title=Music in the Balkans }}</ref> and also primary influences from ], ], ] and ], as well as American ]. It is the most favorite music genre for Bulgarians.<ref>{{Citation |title=Музикалните навици на българите |url=https://www.bamp-bg.org/index.php/bg/news/531-2024-02-26-11-10-01 |accessdate=2024-12-28 |archivedate=2024-07-23 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20240723001211/https://www.bamp-bg.org/index.php/bg/news/531-2024-02-26-11-10-01}}</ref>
==Etymology==

The name ''Chalga'' is derived from the Turkish word ''Çalgı'', which means "musical instrument".<ref>{{Google books |id=r4fiPifHJGgC |page=54 |title=Self-Orientalization in South East Europe }}</ref>


==History== ==History==
The name ''Chalga'' is derived from the Turkish word ''Çalgı'', (from the Arabic ''Tchalgi'' music style in Baghdad, Iraq), meaning "musical instrument". A Chalgadzhia (in Turkish ''Çalgıcı'') was a performer who could play virtually any type of music, adding his or her own distinctive beat or rhythm to the song. Often a Chalgadzhia would not be able to read music, but instead play from memory on his or her ] (an end-blown ]). Playing in groups at festivals or weddings, these performers initiated the popularization of chalga.


Although it originated in parallel with ex-Yugoslav (now Serbian) ] in 60s and 70s, the current Chalga music hasn't emerged until 1989 with the collapse of communist rule. The people began to rejoice that the restrictions over what to listen to had vanished, thus Chalga took off. There were critics who complained that Chalga was only about corruption, easy money, and indiscriminate sex, but many ordinary people have embraced it due of their new freedom as their alternative to officialdom.<ref>{{Cite web|title = A BRIEF HISTORY OF BULGARIAN CHALGA MUSIC|url = http://www.vagabond.bg/features/item/126-a-brief-history-of-bulgarian-chalga-music.html|website = www.vagabond.bg|access-date = 2015-12-01|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160518020556/http://www.vagabond.bg/features/item/126-a-brief-history-of-bulgarian-chalga-music.html|archive-date=May 18, 2016}}</ref>
Throughout the Balkans, folk traditions have seen a process of modernization. In ], modern pop music for example incorporated the traditions of '']'' ("Popular"), a genre based mainly on the ''Melos'' of Asia Minor Greeks. Many of its tunes were later borrowed by pop-folk musicians in Bulgaria in chalga. "]", a known relative of Laïkó's became very close to early Bulgarian chalga music.


Throughout the Balkans, folk traditions have seen a process of modernization. In Greece, there are similarities with ] ]. The eastern music of ] tradition in history, became very close to early Bulgarian Chalga music.
⚫ In Turkey, ], with similar "popular" elements was developed, taking Turkish music elements and lyrics and mixing it with local and Arab Middle Eastern influences, with Arabesque becoming increasingly popular since the 1960s as part of Turkish music.


⚫ In Turkey, ], with similar "popular" elements was developed, incorporating Turkish music elements and lyrics and mixing it more with ] influences due to religious and sometimes cultural similarities, with Arabesque becoming increasingly popular since the 1960s and has now its position in Turkish music.
===In communist era===
⚫ During communism in the ], Chalga was viewed negatively by the ruling Communist governments.{{Citation needed|date=November 2010}} ], the last Communist leader of Bulgaria, took a more nationalistic opinion in the 1980s, considering chalga music tradition as inferior to purely Slavic roots music. Chalga often came with a provocative hip-shaking dance and at times lewd sexual lyrics, so it was also considered inappropriate from a moral standpoint.
While discouraged in Bulgaria, and not played on official radio stations, a similar type of music called ] in neighboring ] was met with less restriction by the Yugoslav official media.


⚫ Whilst in the ], Chalga was forbidden by the ruling Communist governments.<ref> (</ref> ], the last communist leader of Bulgaria, took a more nationalistic stance in the 1980s, considering Chalga music tradition as inferior to purely Slavic roots music. Chalga often came with a provocative hip-shaking dance and at times lewd sexual lyrics, so it was also considered inappropriate from a moral standpoint. While discouraged in Bulgaria, and not played on official radio stations, in comparison, the similar ], which has influenced Chalga in neighboring ], was met with less restriction by the Yugoslav official media.
⚫ ===1990s onwards: Surge urge in popularity===
⚫ In 1989, when the communist regime fell, restrictions on broadcasting chalga music were lifted. A new generation of musicians adopted the genre and grabbed the public spotlight, performing daring and overtly sexual songs not allowed earlier. Chalga also infiltrated the mass media with a string of controversial sensational coverage. Though it was still widely considered "degenerate" and "low level" music, it managed to gain popularity in the following decade. After early folk divas such as ], the singer of Kristal Orchestra, stars such as ], pop-folk legends Sashka Vaseva, ], Ivana, Kamelia, Reni came onto the scene. Several recording studios such as Payner and Planeta pumped out a steady stream of tracks every week on dedicated TV channels.


⚫ ===1990s onwards: Surge in popularity===
By the 2000s, Chalga's popularity greatly increased, in far greater proportion to its neighboring popular traditions of ] ] or ]. Chalga could also deal openly with more provocative displays of sex, money, gay culture. ], a gay icon played a great role in popularizing the genre internationally as a typical Bulgarian music.
⚫ In 1989, when the communism fell, restrictions on broadcasting Chalga or Pop-folk music were lifted. A new generation of musicians adopted the genre and grabbed the public spotlight, performing daring and overtly sexual songs forbidden earlier. Pop-folk also infiltrated the mass media with a string of controversial sensational coverage. Though it was still widely considered "degenerate" and "low level" music, it managed to gain popularity in the following decade. In the first years of the rise of Chalga, the melodies were influenced by Arabic, Turkish, Roma and Greek folk music featuring instruments such as zurna, clarinet, accordion and buzuki. The early Pop-folk divas and "kings", such as ] and Boni- singers of '''Kristal''' Orchestra - ], Valdes, Rado Shisharkata and Sasho Roman, opened the way for uprising stars such as Sashka Vaseva, ], Ivana, Kamelia, Reni, Extra Nina, Tsvetelina, Vesela, Joro Lyubimetsa. Although, some had only several years of success, many of the stars of the early Pop-folk years became icons for the genre. Several recording studios such as Payner Music and ARA Music, pumped out a steady stream of tracks every week on dedicated TV channels.


By the 2000s, Chalga's popularity greatly increased, in far greater proportion to its neighboring popular traditions of ] ] or ] ]. The processes of liberalisation in the country allowed the Chalga genre to deal openly with more provocative displays of sex, money, as well as profanity in general similar in attitude to the ] or ] ]s. The beginning of the 21st century gave rise to the star of ] in the Bulgarian musical scene. His provocative public displays of nudity and homosexuality along with the more vulgar lyrics of some of his songs and his flamboyant clothing played a great role in controversially popularizing the genre internationally as a typical Bulgarian music. His shocking public behaviour and announcements, alongside his undisputed musical talent boosted his fame and he is considered by many to be ''the king'' of the Chalga genre. However, constant competition among for media attention singers and reliance on displays of sex, alcohol, money and the use of vulgar language has left the public with negative attitude towards the genre. A particular example of infamy in seeking commercial success is the incorporation of the anthem of the Bulgarian army into a song.
⚫ Other competing styles made efforts to create fusion using chalga elements in ] and ], represented by artists and groups like ], by acts like ], ], ], ], ] and ]. Rap also gained commercial success in ] and ], as well as in many televised videos.


⚫ Other competing styles made efforts to create fusion using Chalga elements in ] and ], represented by artists and groups like ], by acts like Dope Reach Squad, and ].
Today chalga record companies collaborate and work with partners mainly from the other Balkan countries, making this type of Bulgarian music popular both in ] and abroad in many countries of the ] and internationally.

Today Pop-folk record companies collaborate with various partners, mainly from other Balkan countries, giving in to the popular world trends of ] and hip-hop, as well as ], ], ], ] and even ], ], ] and ], making this type of music having a more widespread popularity abroad.


==Criticism== ==Criticism==
Chalga has become popular in "chalga ]s" and chalga-oriented ]s. Most chalga clubs are called 'клуб' (club). Chalga clubs are sometimes the most busy venues in Sofia and touristic venues. But this apparent success and upsurge in popularity has invited great controversy about chalga and its quick proliferation and has led to some musical and linguistic research, critical study, and heated public discussions about the subject.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sfu.ca/~mvdroume/FPA341_term%20paper.pdf |title=New Folk: The phenomenon of chalga in modern Bulgarian folk|author=Milena Droumeva (en)|publisher=Sfu.ca|accessdate=2012-10-22}}</ref> Chalga has become popular in "Chalga ]s" and Chalga-oriented ]s or ]. Most Chalga clubs or Pop-folk clubs are called 'дискотека' (discotheque). Chalga clubs are sometimes the most busy venues in Sofia and touristic venues. But this apparent success and upsurge in popularity has invited great controversy about Chalga and its quick proliferation and has led to some musical and linguistic research, critical study, and heated public discussions about the subject.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sfu.ca/~mvdroume/FPA341_term%20paper.pdf |title=New Folk: The phenomenon of chalga in modern Bulgarian folk|author=Milena Droumeva (en)|publisher=Sfu.ca|access-date=2012-10-22|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20221015190637/http://www.sfu.ca/~mvdroume/FPA341_term%20paper.pdf|archive-date=October 15, 2022}}</ref>


Chalga proponents often claim chalga is the new Bulgarian folk music,{{Citation needed|date=April 2010}}, but opponents say it has no connection to the national indigenous Bulgarian folklore roots, and its only folklore elements are ]ern. However, it is widely accepted by the night club DJs and a great attraction for tourists<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dnevnik.bg/show/?storyid=303001 |title=Анализи &#124; Бетовен, Шилер и чалга |publisher=Dnevnik.bg |date=2012-10-15 |accessdate=2012-10-22}}</ref> who consider it as a novelty and an interesting modern approach to Balkan pop and a great way for entertainment, the genre meets with distaste and refusal from the more conservative public. Chalga proponents often claim Chalga or Pop-folk is the new Bulgarian folk music,{{Citation needed|date=April 2010}} but critics have unconvincingly argued that it lacks connection to any indigenous music traditions and that its origins are largely Middle Eastern.<ref>Чалга скандалът в България. (</ref> The Chalga industry promotes Chalga as having Bulgarian-roots to the local population and to tourists,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dnevnik.bg/show/?storyid=303001 |title=Анализи &#124; Бетовен, Шилер и чалга |publisher=Dnevnik.bg |date=2012-10-15 |access-date=2012-10-22|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220627072348/https://www.dnevnik.bg/analizi/2007/01/04/303001_betoven_shiler_i_chalga/|archive-date=June 27, 2022}}</ref> with the latter accepting it as a novel approach to Balkan pop.


Chalga is often criticized by conservative people for the perceived tawdriness, loose morals,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.online.bg/kultura/my_html/2165/clair.htm |title=Вестник "Култура", бр.4, 2 февруари 2001 г |publisher=Online.bg |date= |accessdate=2012-10-22}}</ref> the shocking look of its singers,<ref>{{cite web|author=byMarlene Smits |url=http://www.sofiaecho.com/article/politically-incorrect-chalga/id_10025/catid_47 |title=Politically incorrect 'Chalga' - Life |publisher=The Sofia Echo |date=2004-09-16 |accessdate=2012-10-22}}</ref> the genre's Eastern, Arabic, Arabesque and gypsy roots, and its sexually-explicit lyrics. Chalga is often criticized for its "tawdriness", "loose morals",<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.online.bg/kultura/my_html/2165/clair.htm |title=Вестник "Култура", бр.4, 2 февруари 2001 г |publisher=Online.bg |access-date=2012-10-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309061520/http://www.online.bg/kultura/my_html/2165/clair.htm |archive-date=2012-03-09 }}</ref> its so-called "disconnection from Bulgarian music tradition"s (i.e. its Middle Eastern, Arabic, Arabesque roots), and its sexually explicit lyrics. In addition, the Chalga industry has been criticized for "exploiting women and degrading them through sexism".{{citation needed|date=January 2020}}


Chalga music videos often feature a wealthy man who spends money on promiscuous women and insinuate that they engage in indiscriminate sexual acts.
There is also criticism of Chalga clubs accepting entrance from underage individuals, and proliferation of illicit drugs and of sexual activities in the chalga venues.


Chalga venues are largely criticized for not regulating entry by underage individuals and for failing to protect its customers from sexual assault by promoting sexual interactions. Chalga venues also do not regulate distribution of illicit drugs and are related to smuggling and drug-trafficking. Some artists, performers, and musicians shun the Chalga industry for undermining music creativity by encouraging formulaic and predictable music, plagiarism, and lewd lyrics.<ref>Irina Ivanova, Controversial popfolk rules Bulgaria's dancefloors. .</ref>
Chalga also faces heavy criticism from artistic circles who see it as an unworthy genre of music that cheapens music and creativity, replacing it with a formulaic and predictable music with often stolen music from other genres and lewd lyrics and draws the public away from more creative music.

In addition, many Chalga critics claim the genre is made predominately for the minority ] people.

There has been a long, intensive and very hostile rivalry between Chalga fans (or 'chalgadzhii'/'chalgari' (the latter is sometimes used as a derogatory term) and ] fans (or ]s) in Bulgaria, due to genre and their respective subculture differences. Bulgarian metalheads tend to oppose Chalga due to its 'ethnic backwardness', proving that 'capitalism is only another modernist lie'.<ref> (</ref>


==Lyrics and music videos== ==Lyrics and music videos==
Modern-day chalga lyrics and music videos have overwhelmingly liberal sexual content. Chalga texts, although sung primarily in Bulgarian, can be sung interchangeably in many languages and Bulgarian chalga have been subject of covers in a multiple of languages. But even in Bulgarian chalga, sometimes the actual lyrics do contain a mixture of many languages – Bulgarian often mixed with local dialects, ], ], ], ] and other Balkan tongues, ] and more recently with some lyrics in ], ], ] and other continental European languages. Modern-day Chalga or pop-folk lyrics and music videos have overwhelmingly liberal ]. The texts and/or lyrics, although sung primarily in Bulgarian, can be sung interchangeably in many languages and Bulgarian Chalga or Bulgarian Pop-folk have been subject of covers in a multiple of languages. But even in Bulgarian Chalga, sometimes especially in duet with foreign singer the actual Chalga song lyrics do contain a mixture of many languages – Bulgarian often mixed with some lyrics in <ref>{{cite web|title=Камелия & Сакис Кукос - Искаш Да Се Върна (Music Video)| website=] |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqAyAbCbJO8 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140510224631/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqAyAbCbJO8 |archive-date=2014-05-10 |url-status=dead}}</ref> ], ], ], ], ], ], ]<ref>{{cite web|title=Цветелина Янева ft. Rida Al Abdullah - Брой ме (Music Video)| website=] |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7U2KXtsLIMU |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140510213441/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7U2KXtsLIMU |archive-date=2014-05-10 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Емилия ft. Нидал Кайсар - Любов И Нежност (Music Video)| website=] |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfnnNUtCQ8I |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/jfnnNUtCQ8I |archive-date=2021-12-13 |url-status=live}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Preslava ft. Rashid Al Rashid - Molish me (Music Video)| website=] |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKhmZ4qM7pA |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140510224016/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKhmZ4qM7pA |archive-date=2014-05-10 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and more recently with some lyrics in ], ], ], ], ] and ].


Because of its appeal and thanks to Bulgarian music ] like ], ] and ], Chalga has become popular in other Balkan countries, notably ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and to a lesser extent in the post-Soviet nations of ], ], ], ], ] and ].
Some chalga songs are sung entirely in Romani or Turkish and in Macedonian contemporary folk tradition. Because of its appeal, Chalga has become very popular in folk festivals in Bulgaria and neighboring countries, notably ] and ]. In Macedonia, arrangements are closer to Macedonian folk music, keeping many chalga elements.


==Bibliography== ==Popular singers==
{{main list|List of Bulgarian pop-folk singers}}
⚫ * Седемте гряха на чалгата. Към антропология на етнопопмузиката, Розмари Стателова, ISBN 954-01-1536-1 (in ]) (translation of the title: ''The seven deadly sins of chalga. Toward an anthropology of ethnomusic, Rozmary Statelova'')


==See also== ==See also==
*] *]
*] *]
*] *]
*] *]
*] *]
*] *]
*]
⚫ *]
*] *]
*] *]
*] *]
*]
*]
*]
⚫ *]
*]


==Notes== ==Notes==
Line 58: Line 73:


==References== ==References==
* *
* Claire Levy, "Who is the "Other" in Balkans?" in , Rodopi, 2002, p.&nbsp;215 * Claire Levy, "Who is the "Other" in Balkans?" in , Rodopi, 2002, p.&nbsp;215
⚫ * Седемте гряха на чалгата. Към антропология на етнопопмузиката, Розмари Стателова, {{ISBN|954-01-1536-1}} (in ]) (translation of the title: ''The seven deadly sins of chalga. Toward an anthropology of ethnomusic, Rozmary Statelova'')

==External links==
* - The newest Balkan pop-folk and chalga music
* - Chalga and Balkan Music Video Culture Blog
* - Chalga playlist
* - List of Bulgarian chalga CDs
* - Chalga - Popfolk - Mashups
* - Everything about chalga music - articles, videos, mp3, mixes
* - Website of Bulgarian Chalga club


{{Manele}}
{{Balkan music}} {{Balkan music}}
{{popmusic}} {{Pop music}}
{{Folk music}}


] ]
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] ]
]

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Latest revision as of 10:01, 28 December 2024

Bulgarian music genre
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (October 2009) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
Chalga
Stylistic origins
Cultural origins1960s, Bulgaria

Chalga (Bulgarian: чалга; often referred to as pop-folk, short for "popular folk" or ethno-pop, short for "ethnic pop") is a Bulgarian pop-folk music genre. Chalga or pop-folk is essentially a folk-inspired dance music genre, with a blend of Bulgarian music (Bulgarian ethno-pop genre) and also primary influences from Greek, Serbian, Turkish and Arabic, as well as American hip-hop. It is the most favorite music genre for Bulgarians.

Etymology

The name Chalga is derived from the Turkish word Çalgı, which means "musical instrument".

History

Although it originated in parallel with ex-Yugoslav (now Serbian) turbofolk in 60s and 70s, the current Chalga music hasn't emerged until 1989 with the collapse of communist rule. The people began to rejoice that the restrictions over what to listen to had vanished, thus Chalga took off. There were critics who complained that Chalga was only about corruption, easy money, and indiscriminate sex, but many ordinary people have embraced it due of their new freedom as their alternative to officialdom.

Throughout the Balkans, folk traditions have seen a process of modernization. In Greece, there are similarities with Laiko Greek music. The eastern music of Byzantine tradition in history, became very close to early Bulgarian Chalga music.

In Turkey, Arabesque music, with similar "popular" elements was developed, incorporating Turkish music elements and lyrics and mixing it more with Arab influences due to religious and sometimes cultural similarities, with Arabesque becoming increasingly popular since the 1960s and has now its position in Turkish music.

Whilst in the People's Republic of Bulgaria, Chalga was forbidden by the ruling Communist governments. Todor Zhivkov, the last communist leader of Bulgaria, took a more nationalistic stance in the 1980s, considering Chalga music tradition as inferior to purely Slavic roots music. Chalga often came with a provocative hip-shaking dance and at times lewd sexual lyrics, so it was also considered inappropriate from a moral standpoint. While discouraged in Bulgaria, and not played on official radio stations, in comparison, the similar Turbofolk, which has influenced Chalga in neighboring SFR Yugoslavia, was met with less restriction by the Yugoslav official media.

1990s onwards: Surge in popularity

In 1989, when the communism fell, restrictions on broadcasting Chalga or Pop-folk music were lifted. A new generation of musicians adopted the genre and grabbed the public spotlight, performing daring and overtly sexual songs forbidden earlier. Pop-folk also infiltrated the mass media with a string of controversial sensational coverage. Though it was still widely considered "degenerate" and "low level" music, it managed to gain popularity in the following decade. In the first years of the rise of Chalga, the melodies were influenced by Arabic, Turkish, Roma and Greek folk music featuring instruments such as zurna, clarinet, accordion and buzuki. The early Pop-folk divas and "kings", such as Toni Dacheva and Boni- singers of Kristal Orchestra - Gloria, Valdes, Rado Shisharkata and Sasho Roman, opened the way for uprising stars such as Sashka Vaseva, Desi Slava, Ivana, Kamelia, Reni, Extra Nina, Tsvetelina, Vesela, Joro Lyubimetsa. Although, some had only several years of success, many of the stars of the early Pop-folk years became icons for the genre. Several recording studios such as Payner Music and ARA Music, pumped out a steady stream of tracks every week on dedicated TV channels.

By the 2000s, Chalga's popularity greatly increased, in far greater proportion to its neighboring popular traditions of Serbian Turbo-folk or Greek Laïko. The processes of liberalisation in the country allowed the Chalga genre to deal openly with more provocative displays of sex, money, as well as profanity in general similar in attitude to the rap or hip-hop music videos. The beginning of the 21st century gave rise to the star of Azis in the Bulgarian musical scene. His provocative public displays of nudity and homosexuality along with the more vulgar lyrics of some of his songs and his flamboyant clothing played a great role in controversially popularizing the genre internationally as a typical Bulgarian music. His shocking public behaviour and announcements, alongside his undisputed musical talent boosted his fame and he is considered by many to be the king of the Chalga genre. However, constant competition among for media attention singers and reliance on displays of sex, alcohol, money and the use of vulgar language has left the public with negative attitude towards the genre. A particular example of infamy in seeking commercial success is the incorporation of the anthem of the Bulgarian army into a song.

Other competing styles made efforts to create fusion using Chalga elements in rap and hip-hop music, represented by artists and groups like Ustata, by acts like Dope Reach Squad, and Mangasarian Bros.

Today Pop-folk record companies collaborate with various partners, mainly from other Balkan countries, giving in to the popular world trends of RnB and hip-hop, as well as dance, techno, house, trap music and even dubstep, dub, EDM and drum and bass, making this type of music having a more widespread popularity abroad.

Criticism

Chalga has become popular in "Chalga dance clubs" and Chalga-oriented pubs or bars. Most Chalga clubs or Pop-folk clubs are called 'дискотека' (discotheque). Chalga clubs are sometimes the most busy venues in Sofia and touristic venues. But this apparent success and upsurge in popularity has invited great controversy about Chalga and its quick proliferation and has led to some musical and linguistic research, critical study, and heated public discussions about the subject.

Chalga proponents often claim Chalga or Pop-folk is the new Bulgarian folk music, but critics have unconvincingly argued that it lacks connection to any indigenous music traditions and that its origins are largely Middle Eastern. The Chalga industry promotes Chalga as having Bulgarian-roots to the local population and to tourists, with the latter accepting it as a novel approach to Balkan pop.

Chalga is often criticized for its "tawdriness", "loose morals", its so-called "disconnection from Bulgarian music tradition"s (i.e. its Middle Eastern, Arabic, Arabesque roots), and its sexually explicit lyrics. In addition, the Chalga industry has been criticized for "exploiting women and degrading them through sexism".

Chalga music videos often feature a wealthy man who spends money on promiscuous women and insinuate that they engage in indiscriminate sexual acts.

Chalga venues are largely criticized for not regulating entry by underage individuals and for failing to protect its customers from sexual assault by promoting sexual interactions. Chalga venues also do not regulate distribution of illicit drugs and are related to smuggling and drug-trafficking. Some artists, performers, and musicians shun the Chalga industry for undermining music creativity by encouraging formulaic and predictable music, plagiarism, and lewd lyrics.

In addition, many Chalga critics claim the genre is made predominately for the minority Gypsy people.

There has been a long, intensive and very hostile rivalry between Chalga fans (or 'chalgadzhii'/'chalgari' (the latter is sometimes used as a derogatory term) and heavy metal fans (or metalheads) in Bulgaria, due to genre and their respective subculture differences. Bulgarian metalheads tend to oppose Chalga due to its 'ethnic backwardness', proving that 'capitalism is only another modernist lie'.

Lyrics and music videos

Modern-day Chalga or pop-folk lyrics and music videos have overwhelmingly liberal sexual content. The texts and/or lyrics, although sung primarily in Bulgarian, can be sung interchangeably in many languages and Bulgarian Chalga or Bulgarian Pop-folk have been subject of covers in a multiple of languages. But even in Bulgarian Chalga, sometimes especially in duet with foreign singer the actual Chalga song lyrics do contain a mixture of many languages – Bulgarian often mixed with some lyrics in Serbian, Albanian, Turkish, Romani, Greek, Romanian, Arabic and more recently with some lyrics in English, Russian, French, Spanish, Italian and German.

Because of its appeal and thanks to Bulgarian music television channels like Balkanika TV, Fan TV and Planeta TV, Chalga has become popular in other Balkan countries, notably North Macedonia, Greece, Romania, Albania, Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Turkey, and to a lesser extent in the post-Soviet nations of Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Popular singers

For a more comprehensive list, see List of Bulgarian pop-folk singers.

See also

Notes

  1. An umbrella term covering Balkan; In this case Bulgarian and influence from Greek, Serbian, Croatian, Slovenian, Albanian, Bosnian, Macedonian, Montenegrin, Romanian Turkish and indian music.
  2. Стателова, Розмари. (2003) Седемте гряха на чалгата. София: "Просвета — София" АД, ISBN 954-01-1536-1
  3. Димов, Венцислав. (2001) Етнопоп бумът. София: "Българско музикознание", ISBN 978-954-8307-14-7
  4. Balkan Popular Culture and the Ottoman Ecumene, p. 144

    popular music, in the pages that follow I concentrate on the most popular genre, chalga. In today's Balkan peninsula, chalga is the general name for a new dance music that is a complex mixture of various musical styles and traditions

  5. Music in the Balkans, p. 669, at Google Books
  6. Музикалните навици на българите, archived from the original on 2024-07-23, retrieved 2024-12-28
  7. Self-Orientalization in South East Europe, p. 54, at Google Books
  8. "A BRIEF HISTORY OF BULGARIAN CHALGA MUSIC". www.vagabond.bg. Archived from the original on May 18, 2016. Retrieved 2015-12-01.
  9. Ройтерс обяви България за попфолк република. Webcafe.bg , Ройтерс, БГНЕС 25.06.2010 г. (Archive)
  10. Milena Droumeva (en). "New Folk: The phenomenon of chalga in modern Bulgarian folk" (PDF). Sfu.ca. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 15, 2022. Retrieved 2012-10-22.
  11. Чалга скандалът в България. Mediapool.bg., 14 февруари 2013 (Archive)
  12. "Анализи | Бетовен, Шилер и чалга". Dnevnik.bg. 2012-10-15. Archived from the original on June 27, 2022. Retrieved 2012-10-22.
  13. "Вестник "Култура", бр.4, 2 февруари 2001 г". Online.bg. Archived from the original on 2012-03-09. Retrieved 2012-10-22.
  14. Irina Ivanova, Controversial popfolk rules Bulgaria's dancefloors. Reuters; June 24, 2010.
  15. «Little-Big» – Chalga-Pop and Metal (Archive)
  16. "Камелия & Сакис Кукос - Искаш Да Се Върна (Music Video)". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2014-05-10.
  17. "Цветелина Янева ft. Rida Al Abdullah - Брой ме (Music Video)". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2014-05-10.
  18. "Емилия ft. Нидал Кайсар - Любов И Нежност (Music Video)". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-13.
  19. "Preslava ft. Rashid Al Rashid - Molish me (Music Video)". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2014-05-10.

References

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