Hit Parade for second half of 2014 Part 2

Russia - Irina Alishikhova - Ne zabyvay (Don't forget)
Russia - Irina Krug - Ty vselennaya (You are the universe)
Greece - Kally Nomikou - Efkola xehnas Croatia - Ivan Stapić- Tako želim da te poljubim (I so much want to kiss you)
Lebanon - Karim Mohsen - Banady Aleik
Lebanon - Karim Mohsen - Maly Einy
Romania - Mariana Dobzeu-Mandalac - Bun găsit, lume aleasă
Croatia - Marko Vukes Vuky - Vila (Fairy) Macedonia - Mile Kuzmanovski - Prezime (Surname)
Turkey - Model - Antidepresan Gülümsemesi
Israel - Moshe Peretz - Tihiye Me'ushar
Russia - Natali - Shakherezada Uzbekistan - Navro'z Sobirov - Go'zal
Croatia - Neno Belan & Fiumens feat. Hal - Anđela, anđele
Croatia - Nives Celzijus & TS Petica - Karanfili (Carnations)
Israel - Ofer Levi - Ne'elma Baruach
Macedonia - Olivera Vasilevska - Ljubov golema (Big love) Uzbekistan - Ortiqboy Ro'ziboyev - Sajda qiling
Ukraine - Potap & Nastya - Vse puchkom Uzbekistan/Russia - Rayhon - Ti moya sladost' (You are my weakness)
Croatia - Razbijači čaša - Coprnjica
Russia - 2D - Gravitaciya (Gravitation)

Hit Parade for second half of 2014 Part 1

Some of my hits for the second half of 2014

Russia - A-Dessa - Zhenshchiny ya ne tancuyu (Women, I don't dance)
Romania - Adi de la Valcea - Este bine, bine
Macedonia (Albanian) - Afërdita Demaku - Dasma e Pollogut
Macedonia (Albanian) - Afërdita Demaku - Embelsira në fund Macedonia (Albanian) - Afërdita Demaku - Erdhi rasti
Russia - Aleksandr Kurgan - Esli kogda-nibud' (If at any time)
Russia - Alina Grossu - Tormoza (Brakes)
Russia - Anzhelika Ruta & Vladimir Stolnyy - Dym kostra
Romania - Asu & Boby - Tene Tenerife
Croatia - Belfast Food - Ocekivanja (Expectations) Uzbekistan - Bunyod Jumaniyozova - Choy
Romania - Cristi Nuca - Tu stapanesti inima mea
Romania - Daniela Gyorfi feat. Bodo - Baga dans
Turkey - Demet Akalın - Ara Verelim
Russia - Diana Gurckaya - Tebya teryayu (I'm losing you)
Bosnia & Herzegovina - Dino Merlin - Školjka (Shell)
Bulgaria - Djena - Nevernici (False believers)
Israel - Doron & Miran Miran - Alef Kochavim
Lebanon - Elissa - Awel Mara
Croatia - Elita - Ružice Ružo
Serbia - Emina Jahović - Nesanica (Insomnia) Uzbekistan - Eshoda - To'ylar muborak
Turkey - Gülşen feat. Murat Boz - İltimas

Hit Parade for first half of 2014 Part 1

Yes, that time of the year again. Where did those last six months go? Here's my favourite hits from around the world

Turkey - İrem Derici - Zorun Ne Sevgilim (What's Difficult, Darling?)
Armenia - Arame - Hay ser
Romania - Alex Pustiu - Viata frumoasa traiesc cu tine
DPR Korea - Pochonbo Electronic Ensemble - We Like Ardent Life
Bosnia and Herzegovina/Serbia - Zdravko Čolić - Esma
Serbia - Milligram - Ljubav je passé (Love Is Passé)
Serbia - Models - Žmurke (Hide and Seek)
Russia - Fabrika - Ne rodis' krasivoy (Not Born Beautiful)
Russia - Nikolai Baskov - Neobyknovennaya (Exceptional Woman)
Greece - Lefteris Pantazis - Filellines (Philhellenes)
Lebanon - Saad Ramadan - Ehsasek Sasam
Uzbekistan - Farid Sulton - Maniki bo'l jonim
Macedonia - Tanja Jovanovska - Ljubovta e chudna ptica (Love is a strange bird)
Russia - Igor Meshkoy - Ukradu tebya (I'll Steal You)
Macedonia - Milina - Sovrshen raj (Ideal Paradise)
Macedonia - Live Band - Srodni dushi (Kindred Souls)
Macedonia - Kristina Arnaudova - Nema nema (There's No Way)
Bosnia and Herzegovina - Amna Keškin - Zagrli me (Embrace Me)
Bosnia and Herzegovina - Emela Palavra - Povedi me (Lead Me)
Russia - Yuta - Lyubimyy moy (My Dear)
Ukraine - Olga Yunakova - Tak-syak (At The Very Least)
Russia - Irina Allegrova - Ptica (Bird)
Albania - Vjollca Palushani - Ma i bukri vend
Turkey - Muazzez Ersoy - Bir Sokak Çeşmesi (One Street Fountain)
Turkey - Muazzez Ersoy - Sensizliğim Bitmedi (Without You, It's Not All Over)
Turkey - Muazzez Ersoy - Sıcacık (Cozy)
Turkey - Muazzez Ersoy - Yakma Sakın (Don't Burn)

Hit Parade for second half 2013 Part 1

Some of the songs that have made my past six months...

Russia - Albert Ibraev - Rodina moya (My Homeland)
Serbia - Aleksandra Prijović - Još večeras plakaću za tobom (Again Tonight I'll Be Crying For You)
Lebanon - Assi el Hellani - Milli Bi Aabaki
Russia - Blestyashchie - Zelenye glaza (Green Eyes)
Montenegro - Bojan Rajović - Mus od čokolade (Chocolate Mousse)
Bulgaria - Ceci Ludata Glava feat. DJ Galka - Ludata kombina (Crazy Combination)
Russia - Chi-Li - Tolko bez paniki (Don't Panic)
Israel - David Levi - Malka Shel Gvarim (The Queen of Men)
Serbia - Dejan Matić - Još dugujem ti noć (I Still Owe You a Night)
Serbia - Dejan Matić - Sledeća (The Next One)
Serbia - Dejan Živić - Ada Ciganlija
Croatia - Denis & Denis - Alarm
Romania - Denisa - Am o poza de la tine (I Have a Picture of You)
Greece - Dimitris Liolios - Se thelo akoma (I Still Want You)
Israel - Elinor Grindish - Tagidi Li (Tell Me)
Macedonia - Eye Cue - Bobi, baš mi e gajle (Bobby, I Don't Care)
Uzbekistan - Farid Sulton - Malakimsan
Bulgaria - Grafa - Sedemte ezera (The Seven Lakes)
Russia - Ivan Smelik - Koroleva snezhnaya (Snow Queen)
Bulgaria - Carlos - Neka da poznaya (Let Me Guess) Croatia/Bosnia-Herzegovina - Kemal Monteno - Ubija me (It Kills Me)

Hit Parade for first half 2013 Part 1

Here are the hits from around the world that have touched me in some way...

Uzbekistan - Afruz - Yoqimtoy
Russia - Alika Bogatyreva - Zhivi (Live)
Turkey - Alişan - Ayakta Zor Duruyorum (I can barely sit still)
Egypt - Amina - El Leyla (The Night)
Russia - Andrei Lenitskii - Zhguchaya (Burning)
Dagestan (Russia) - Alsan Guseynov - Bozhe moy! (Oh God!)
Dagestan (Russia) - Alsan feat. Alesker - Devochka zagadka (Mystery Girl)
Kosovo - Beatrix Ramosaj - Dilema (Dilemma)
Russia - Blestyashchie - Miliy moy (My Dear Boy)
Israel - Boaz Sharabi - Ani Same'ach Bach (I'm Happy For You)
Uzbekistan - Bunyod - Zulayho
Israel - Chanan - Sapri Li (Tell Me)
Algeria/France - Khaled - Ana Aachek Algeria/France - Khaled - Samira Algeria/France - Khaled - Wili Wili Algeria/France/USA - Khaled feat. Pitbull - Hiya Hiya
Serbia - Dara Bubamara - Delete
Turkey - Demet Akalın - Giderli Şarkılar (Draining Songs)
Macedonia - Eksplosiv - Te sakam (I Want You)
Macedonia - Elena Velevska & Ljupče Vasilev - Liceto na sovesta (In the Face of Conscience)
Macedonia - Esma Redžepova & Vlatko Lozanoski - Imperija (Empire)
Israel - Gal Itzchak - Hakarav Elayich (The Fight For You)
Bulgaria - Galena - Pak li (Again?)
Turkey - Gülben Ergen - Durdurun Dünyayı (Stop the World)

Hit Parade for second half of 2012

As customary, a list of my hits for the second half of 2012

Bulgaria - Reni - Do zori (Through To Dawn)
Israel - Kobi Peretz & Of Simchas - Isra'el
Russia (Northern Caucasus) - Albina Tokova - Ne zakryvay glaza (Don't Close Your Eyes)
Egypt - Amr Diab - Mally Enia
Russia - Anatolii Polotno & Fedya Karmanov - Kamchatka
Russia - Nogu svelo - Chukotka
Bulgaria - Andrea - Losha (Bad)
Armenia - Armenchik - Eli Qich E
Armenia - Armenchik - Tox Tox
Armenia - Armenchik - Chi Lini Israel - Avihu Shabat - I Efshar Itach (You Are Not Allowed)
Romania - Carmen Ienci - Nunta c-un Banat (Banat-style Wedding)
Croatia - Colonia - Tako ti je mali moj (That's How Things Stand With You, My Boy)
Dominican Republic - Eddy Herrera - La vida loca (The Crazy Life)
Bulgaria - Gloria - Nenasitna (Insatiable)
Bulgaria - Gloria - Obsebena ot teb (Obsessed With You)
Bosnia-Herzegovina - Hule - Sretnik (Lucky Person)
 Armenia - Inga & Anush Arshakyanner - Im Anune Hayastan e (My Name Is Armenia) 
Armenia - Ishkhan - Nstel em Avtos
Montenegro - Jadranka Barjaktarević - Duplom s čemerom (A Double With Grief)
Armenia - Lilit Hovhannesyan - Ser im
Uzbekistan - Manzura - Seniki bo'lay
Macedonia - Melodija Band - Marijana
Serbia - Miligram - Libero
Serbia - Miligram - Ništa (Nothing)
Russia - Mitya Fomin - Sadovnik (Gardener)
Israel - Moshe Peretz - Rotze Otach (I Want You)
Turkey - Mustafa Ceceli - Zillerime Basıp Kaçıyor
Romania - Nicolae Cretu - Lume draga, lume (Oh my dear world)
Russia - Nyusha - Vyshe (Upwards)

Bulgaria - Preslava - Pochvai me (Get Me Going) Hungary/Serbia - Magdi Rúzsa - A sad adio (Now It's Time for Goodbye)
Serbia - Sandra Afrika - Crni Mile (Dark Mile)
Macedonia - Sanja Cinceva - Ne (No)

Israel/Iran - Shir Levi - Anur Anur

Turkey - Tarık Mengüç - Çatlat (Crack)
Macedonia - Tatjana Lazarevska - Mojot angel (My Angel)
Bulgaria - Tedi Aleksandrova - Moi dokrai (Fully Mine)
Macedonia - Velko Nikoloski - Te poznavam (I Know You)
Azerbaijan - Xeyyam Nisanov - Yar saçların lüle lüle
Russia - Yulia Dementyeva - Kukla (Doll)

Hit Parade 1st half of 2012

Honestly, we're already at the half-way point for this year?! Yet again, I can't believe how quick that has passed. So much has happened. Here are my fav tunes of the past 6 months.
Slovenia - Alya - Vse bo vredu

Bulgaria - Ani Hoang - Lekarstvo za myj (Medicine for a Man)
Ani Hoang is actually ethnic Vietnamese!

Arabia - Assi El Helani - Bel Arabi

Uzbekistan - Bolalar - Mening do'stim (My Friend)

Hungary - Cairo - Semmit ne mondj (part)

Serbia - Dara Bubamara - Galama (Racket)

Turkey - Demet Akalın - Ben de Özledim (I Miss You)

Bulgaria - Joanna - Nishto sluchaino (Nothing Coincidental)

Turkey - DJ Harun Erkezen feat. Babutsa - Kurtar Beni Ya Rab

Greece - Giannis Vasilieou - Eho megala kefia (I Am Very Excited)

Egypt - Hamza Namira - Ya Hanah

Egypt - Hamza Namira - Haser Hesarak

Hungary - Jolly és a Románcok - Bulizzuk át az éjszakát

Hungary - Jolly és a Románcok - Ha érzad a rózsák illatát

Armenia - Lilit Hakobyan - One For Me

Macedonia - Maja Vukičević - Mirisot na ljubovta (The Aroma of Love)

Serbia - Mirjana Aleksić - Opa opa

Macedonia - Orhideja - Odvedi me (Take Me Away)

Bosnia-Herzegovina - Šerif Konjević - Opraštam joj (I Forgive Her)

Turkey - Sezen Aksu - Ayar

Ukraine - Tartak - Miy licarskyy khrest

Turkey - Tünç Öz - O Var Ya O

Israel - Yoav Itzchak - Rega Mechayach

Turkey - Sinan Özen - Kahpe Kader

Turkey - Işın Karaca - Tanrım

Bulgaria - Sofi Marinova - Love Unlimited

Ukraine - Gaytana - Be My Guest

Kosovo - Genta - Mos u ndal

Uzbekistan - Ogabek Sobirov - Humor, humor

Russia - Irina Krug - Bez tebya (Without You)

Macedonia - Skandal Folk feat. Sneška - Ne panjimaju (I Don't Understand)

Bulgaria - Maria - Davai ti si (Do You Give In)

Israel - Eyal Golan - Rak Biglal Ze

Israel - Eyal Golan - Rotze Rak Elayich (I Only Love You)

Bosnia-Herzegovina - Osman Hadžić - Ponovo se volimo (We Are In Love With Each Other Again)

Dagestan (Russia) - Patimat Radzhabova - O tebe lyubimyy (About You, Dear)

Uzbekistan - Sardor Isroilov - Azizam

Turkey - Sibel Can - Bize Üzüldüm

Ukraine - Anastasia Prikhodko - Action

Azerbaijan - Azer Can - Komşumuzun kızı (The Girl Next Door)

Uzbekistan - Rayhon - Aytay

Croatia - Ramirez - Ti i ja (You and I)

Ukraine - Okean Elzy - Ya tak khochu (I So Want)

Ukraine - Okean Elzy - Bilshe dlya nas (Better For Us)

Ukraine - TiK - Sveta

Ukraine - TiK - Vchytelka (Teacher)

Uzbekistan/Russia - Sogdiana - S toboy ili bez tebya (With or Without You)

Uzbekistan/Russia - Sogdiana - Goroda lyubvi (Cities of Love)

Enjoy!

My favourite songs of 2011... so far

We're approaching the halfway mark for 2011 (already!). As is now customary, here is a mosaic of the songs that have been top of my hit parade so far this year.

This song is my number one -
Kosovo: Negjat Osmani - Fjala e urte popullore


And this comes a close second -
Turkey: Babutsa - Yanayım Yanayım


Macedonia: Aneta & Molika - Posledna


Montenegro: ansambl Prijatelji - Vratite je meni


Uzbekistan: Avaz Olimov - Aldading


Macedonia (Albanian): Adrian Gaxha - Fundin tek unë e ke


Serbia/Macedonia: Boki 13 feat. Lepa Lukic and Divna Karleusa - Deca noci


Romania: Cristi Nuca - Joaca regina mea


USA/France: Kelly Rowland feat. David Guetta - Commander


Kosovo: Shota Baraliu - Pinky Man


Russia: Elena Vaenga - Zhelayu


Macedonia: Jordan Mitev - Makedonija


Bulgaria: Konstantin - Liubovni abonati


Azerbaijan: Milan - Unutma


Kosovo: Muharrem Ahmeti - Te dua te dashuroj


Egypt: Soma - Allah Ya Sidi


Bosnia-Herzegovina: Stipe Bozic - Oj djevojko Posavko


Turkey: Tarkan - Öp


Uzbekistan: Tohir Sodiqov - Sevaman


Tatarstan: Ahmatjan Torsyntay - Golmaryam


Bulgaria: Mira - Pak taka


Russia: Evgeniya Otradnaya - Tipa lyubov


Kosovo: Smajl Puraj - Ti beqare


Dagestan: Laura Alieva & Akhmed Zakariev - Dve zvezdy

Shana tova & Bajram serif mubarek olsun!

Reckoning time can create great coincidences. Yesterday was both Rosh Hashana, the Jewish new year, and Id el-Fitr or Sheker Bayram (as it is known in the Balkans and Turkic-speaking countries), the Muslim festival celebrating the end of Ramadan (or Ramazan in the Balkans and the Turkic world). To celebrate the coinciding of these two joyous events for the religions that politically don't see eye to eye, lets enjoy some clips of music performances where Judaism and Islam come together.

Here are some clips of a talented Oriental singer Yehuda Zeitoun. Yes, he's an French-Israeli Orthodox Jew of Tunisian background and he sings Oriental songs in Hebrew and Arabic to an appreciative Jewish crowd

Here is Yehuda Zeitoun performing the classic Arabic song Walla Mara at a celebration in Israel

Turkish Jewish band Sefarad with their rendition of the 19th century Istanbul favourite 'Galata Lordu'

The great voice of Bosnian sevdalinka, the late and sadly missed Safet Isović, sings the unofficial hymn of Sarajevo, Kad ja podjoh na Bembašu, which originally was a Sephardic Jewish song.

A clip dedicated to Allah to the sound of Ishar Alabina and Los Niños de Sara's hit Choukrane (Thank You).

Of course, Ishtar Alabina, who is hugely popular and famous throughout the world for her songs in Arabic, was born in Israel to Egyptian and Iraqi Jewish parents. Here she is performing with Israeli singer Kobi Peretz their hit Yachad (Together) sung in Hebrew and Arabic. Interesting how this was shown on BBC Arabic TV

One of the greatest stars of the golden age of Egyptian cinema was the fabulous Layla Murad, who was Jewish.

The grand master of Iraqi traditional music of the early 20th century - the Jewish Saleh Al Kuwaiti

Traditional Yemeni dancing performed at a celebration of Yemenite Jews in Israel

Legendary Bukharan Jewish singer Muhobbat Shamayeva singing popular Tajik songs on Soviet TV.

Turkish bellydancers moving their hips to Chava Nagila


It may be clichéd to say, but music does bring everyone together. Shana Tova! Bajram serif mubarek olsun!