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 first half of 2014 Part 2

Tatarstan - Güzel' Urazova & Ildar Xäkimov - Tormyşlar da äle ber üzgärer
Russia - 23-45 - Khochu leta (I Want Summer)
Russia - Denis Klyaver - Staryy polkovnik (Old General)
Russia - Petr Gara - Chuzhaya (Unfamiliar Woman)
Romania - Marius & Marina de la Roma - Cum stai cu dragostea
Romania - Marius Babanu - Lipsa ta (Your Loss)
Romania - Cristi Nuca & Alex Kojo - Ai grija ca renunt la tine
Montenegro - Bojan Tomovic - Ogledalo (Mirror)
Bulgaria - Veselina - Horovodna kitka (Dance Songs Medley)
Uzbekistan - Hamdambek To'rayev - Kipriklaring
Uzbekistan - Navro'z Sobirov - Kelinchak Uzbekistan/Kazakhstan - G'ayrat Bekchanov - Kumus kumgan
Uzbekistan - Bojalar - Umr o'tmoqda
Uzbekistan - Davron Ergashev - Bevafo
Uzbekistan - Shaxzod Guruhi - Rumba
Macedonia - Spasen Siljanoski - Bela Dano (Pale Dana)
Greece - Eleni Karousaki - Kai poios mou leei emena (And Who Tells Me)
Bosnia and Herzegovina - Emir Habibovic - Navika (Habit)
Bosnia and Herzegovina - Josip Matic - Hej ljepoto
Bosnia and Herzegovina - Zehra Bajraktarevic - Beri, beri sljive (Go Collect Plums)
Turkey - Ceylan - Hım Hım Yar
Turkey - Ceylan - Nerelisen
Turkey - Ceylan - Sevmeyi Dene (Try to Love)
Macedonia - Sara Tasevska - Bajka (Fairytale)

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)

2013 Top 10.... better make that a Top 8

How about that? Yet another year has far too quickly passed us by, but at least in that time there have been a treasure trove of musical hits to entertain me. This year's top 5 has been stretched to a top 8 of sorts, though it could very easily had been a top 20! One major musical milestone for me this year is that I cleared my rather substantial music backlog (it was taking me up to 9 months from downloading until listening for some songs!) So off we go...

Coming in at number 10 this year was this amazing Mizrachi pop number by Israeli singer Shir Levi called 'Chof Zahav' (Gold Beach). This is the type of Israeli Mizrachi songs I like - very much fitting Israel's culture and geography as a Middle Eastern country.


At number 9 this year is Turkey's Emir with Tutuşmayan Kalmasın - very original! I do have to admit that the Uzbek cover version of this song is marginally better.

Number 8 this year is someone who often pops up in my top 10 songs of the year - Serbia's Dara Bubamara. She yet again excelled herself with this RnB-tinged Turbofolk number (again, originality) that was far superior to most of the shlock released from the Turbofolk labels. Here you are - Delete.

My number 7 this is year is by Ukrainian pop star MaSha Goya and her summer hit (in Russian) 'Devochka-lyubov' (Love Girl). Masha made her first flash by being a finalist in the Voice. The video clip has hardly any connection to the actual song, but great to hear Russian garmon mixed with modern sounds.


Coming in at number 6 is another Serbian song - past finalist from Zvezde Granda (Serbian Turbofolk) Mirjana Aleksić with 'Sladak rastanak' (Sweet Break Up)

Number 5 for me is yet another Serbian song - Tropico Band with 'Ciao Bella'. I must say that I was disappointed when I found out that the song has large parts of it stolen from 'Huligan', a 90s hit for the Turkish ska band Athena, but overlooking that, this song snuggly fits into the music taste of ex-Yugoslavia


Now this is where we have a break from our regular transmission. My 3rd and 4th best songs this year come from Uzbekistan (I absolutely love Uzbek pop) and are both sung by Rovshan, a singer from the ancient Khorezm region of western Uzbekistan. Unfortunately there are no clips for either Bilmadim (number 4) or Kuyov Bola (number 3).

So we move quickly on to... Number 2 this year comes from Russia. Georgian-born Valerii Meladze has been in the business for years, and this year he really drew my attention with this hit of hits - Svet ukhodyashchego solnca (The Light from the Setting Sun). Enjoy!

And now for my number 1... and this clearly goes to the queen of Macedonian (and ex-Yugoslav) pop - Kaliopi with her amazing hit 'Melem' (Antidote). No need to explain how good it is... I'll let Kaliopi and her 'Melem' do it for themselves. By the way, Kaliopi, 46, has the most amazing skin in the world!

Wishing you a fabulous 2014! С Новым годом!

Hit Parade for second half of 2013 Part 3

Israel - Shar-El - Ish Hacham Zaken (Old Wise Man)
Croatia - Slavonia Band - Hrabri jednom umiru (The Brave Die Once)
Serbia - Stefan Lukic - Merak mi je (I Feel Like It)
Macedonia - Tanja Jovanovska - Se zapali pile Treno odajcheto (The Room Went Up in Flames, dear Treno)

Bulgaria - Tatiana - Tvoya ot A do Ya (Yours from A to Z)
Russia - Tisha - Adrenalin

Serbia - Tropico Band - A ja ludujem (While I Go Crazy)
Macedonia - Vodolija - Radost i bol (Joy and Pain)
Kosovo - Xhide Morina - Kompliment (Compliment)
Turkey - Yıldız Tilbe - Bende Bir Anadan Doğdum
Turkey - Yıldız Tilbe - Çok Sevdim (I Loved A Lot)
Turkey - Yıldız Tilbe - Hiç Sevmedin ki (Never Loved)
Russia - Leonid Agutin - Pora domoy (Time To Go Home)
Serbia - Zorica Brunclik & Aco Pejović - Danas neću plakati (Today I Won't Cry)
Bosnia-Herzegovina - Kristina Ivanović - Molitva (Prayer)
Croatia - Mejaši - Bolji nego ikad (Better Than Ever)
Turkey - Tuğba Ekinci - Bi Kere Ara Be

Hit Parade for second half of 2013 - Part 2

Russia - Lena Dark - Dosvidos (Bye Bye)
Armenia Lilit Hovhannisyan - Gnchu
Israel - Li'or Narkis feat. Arnisa - Amalya
Serbia - Ljupka Stević - Etiketa (Label)
Bulgaria - Malina - Ako shte da zvynish (If You're Going To Ring)
Israel - Ma'or Edri - Hakol Katov (Everything Is Written)
Israel - Margalit Tzen'ani and Zehava Ben - Kul Ha'olam (The Sound of the World)
Serbia - Marko Mandić feat. Sara Jo - Ujutru (Mornings) Russia/Armenia - Mart Babayan - Holodno (Cold)
Croatia - Mejaši - Zorica
Cyprus - Mihalis Hatzigiannis - I agapi dynamonei (Love Strengthens)
Serbia - Milos Brkic - Sipaj, ne pitaj (Pour, Don't Ask)
DPR Korea - Moranbong - Udeungdul (Right Light)
Croatia - Moskva - Ne boli me (Don't Hurt Me)
Israel - Oshrit Malka - Takshivu Tov (Listen Carefully)
Uzbekistan - Oybek Yoqubov - Bir qorob qo'y
Bosnia-Herzegovina - Parole - Dosta, dosta, dosta (Enough, Enough, Enough)
Macedonia - Petar Nechovski - Zholto fustanche (Little Yellow Dress)
Ukraine - Real O - Gde zhe ty, lyubov (Where Are You Then, Love)
Kosovo - Remzije & Nexhat Osmani - Luj qyqek
Macedonia - Sanja Risteska - Me zabole (You Made Me Ill)

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 3

Yes, there are more...

Macedonia - Petar Nečoski - Velgoška ubavice (The Beautiful Girl from Velgošti)
Turkey - Petek Dinçöz - Heves (Whim)
Bulgaria - Preslava - Ti da vidish (Just You See)
Azerbaijan - Ramal - Niyə (Why)
Uzbekistan - Rayhon - Qani
Israel - Ron Weinreich - Love is One
Dagestan (Russia) - Rustam Akhmedkhanov - V okeane glaz tvoikh tonu (I'm drowning in the ocean of your eyes)
 
Croatia - Severina - Ko me tjerao (Who made me...)
Croatia - Severina - Tarapana (Uproar)
Croatia - Severina - Uzbuna (Alarm) Uzbekistan/Russia - Shakhzoda - Imey v vidu (Bear In Mind)
Serbia - Snežana Babić Sneki - Tudjina (Abroad)
Uzbekistan - Tamila - Kel ayama
Turkey - Tarkan - Aşk Gitti Bizden (Love Has Left Us)
Ukraine - TiK - Endorfiny (Endorphins)
Dagestan (Russia) - Timur and Khasbulat Rakhmanovy - Bello momento
Croatia - Toni Cetinski - Opet si pobijedila (You Have Won Again)
Russia - Valerii Meladze - Svet ukhodyashchego solnca (The Light of the Setting Sun)
Bulgaria - Veselina - Iskam (I Want)
Israel - Yaniv Ram - Ani Chozer (I'm Tired)
Serbia - Željko Joksimović - Ludak kao ja (A Mad Person Like Me)
Bosnia-Herzegovina - Zemka - Potraži s kim sam sinoć spavala (Find The Person With Whom I Slept With Last Night)
Uzbekistan - Ziyoda - Voy alamey
Ukraine - Zlata Ognevich - Za lisamy, za horamy (Beyond the Forests and Hills)
Russia - Yurii Shatunov - Tet-a-tet

Hit Parade for first half 2013 Part 2

The hits plug on...

Israel - The Revivo Project feat. Eli Luzon - Machrozet Yaldati Chezri (Come Back My Child Medley)
Greece - Haris Kostopoulos - Parapatisa (Stumbling)
Greece - Hristos Galanos - Kalo paidi (Bad Kid)
Israel - Idan Raichal Project - Olam Shalem (The Whole World)
Israel/Caucasus - Ilif Yagudaev - Diana
 Bulgaria - Joanna & Leo - 100 neshta (100 Things)
Dagestan (Russia) - Irina Alishikhova - Bud' mne zvezdoy (Be My Star)
Bulgaria - Ivena - A4
Macedonia - Joška - Umri na čas (Kill Me A Little)
Macedonia - Kaliopi - Mrvica (Crumb)
USSR - Karen Avanesyan & Gia Gagua - Russkii ty ne zabyvay (Don't Forget Russian)
Turkey - Kenan Doğulu & Ozan Doğulu - Bunlarda Geçer
Hungary - Légió bulizenekar - Legtöbb ember ott
Macedonia - Ljupče Vasilev - Topi ritamot (The Rhythm Is Burning)
Macedonia - Ljupčo Jovanovski Bube - Vojna i ljubov (War and Love)
Croatia/Slovenia - Lollobrigida - Ja se resetiram ( I Am Resetting Myself) Croatia/Slovenia - Lollobrigida - Pilula
Bulgaria/Macedonia - Magda & Igor Šareski - Obich po-jestoka ot omraza (Love Is More Intense Than Hate)

 Dagestan (Russia) - Magomed Alikperov - Ostrov Barbuda (The Island of Barbuda)
Albania - Mimoza Shkodra - Jo mos e kerko (Not Required)
Serbia - Mirjana Aleksić - Sladak rastanak (Sweet Break Up)
Korea - Moranbong Band - Pae'uja (Let's Learn)
Brazil - Munhoz & Mariano - Eu vou pegar você tãe Kosovo - Murat Gjoniku - E bukur si flori (Beautiful as Gold)
Albania - Nikoleta Vokrri - Hajde vëlla (Come On, Brother)
Russia - Oleg Vinnik - Zdravstvuy nevesta (Hello Bride)

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)

2012 Top 5

As another year draws to a close, here are my top 5 songs from the past 12 months.

Coming in at number 5, my guilty musical pleasure for the year is this sweet little Macedonian pop-folk number by Tajči and Kinezi with 'Tajno moja' (My Secret)

Number 4 was a surprise for me. Marina Alieva was born in Kazakhstan but has made a career for herself as a pop singer in the southern Russian republic of Dagestan, though her popularity extends beyond the Causcasus. This song, 'Igray s ognyom' (Play With Fire), successfully combines Caucasian, Turkic and Latin melodies to make a rather original style.

My number 3 for this year was this pop song by Bulgarian starlet Joanna. Bulgaria is not that big on pop these days (pop-folk has made sure of that), but in the few occasions its pop composers do make an attempt, they often shine through with some fantastic numbers, such as this one - 'Nishto sluchaino' (Not By Chance). The song came out in an English version too, though it's heavy on the autotune to disguise Joanna's otherwise heavy accent. The Bulgarian original sounds much better.

Number 2 has special (drunken) memories. When this song popped up on my mp3 player, I was taken to another world. So moved I was to the pop genius of this song that I listened to it more than ten times in a row. A touch of Kylie Minogue camp electronica with some 2012 lyrics such as 'I hate it when they lie that I have lost weight'. This song reminds me just how cool Skopje can be. Macedonian pop diva Orhideja with 'Odvedi me' (Take Me Away)

And now, my number one song of the year. I only first heard this song about three weeks ago, but as soon as I heard it, I knew it was special - so special that I spent a whole two-hour commute just pressing 'repeat'. Macedonian pop-folk has been playing something less than second fiddle to the same product produced from its bigger neighbours, but judging by the impressive songs at this year's Prilep Fest song pop-folk song festival, it looks like that things are changing. So it brings a tingle to my skin to present to you hit of the year, from Macedonia, Gonče Gogova with her brilliant pop-folk ballad 'Moj galebe' (My Seagull).

Have a great new year! May 2013 bring you good health, wisdom, goodwill, peace and justice!

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!

2011 Top 8 Hits

It's that time of the year again - my top 5... erm... 8 of the year. I'm still have an 8 month stockpile of music to get through. I was hoping that in 2011 I would have cut that down, but like the blog, it has been less of a priority while bigger life-shaping events such as property and career have taken the wheel. Anyway, let's start.

At number 8, Serbian starlet Mia Borisavljević's saucy hit 'Ja bih se s tobom topila' (I Would Warm Myself Up With You).


Coming at 7th place, my favourite Israeli singer, Sarit Hadad, surprised everyone (well, me) with her perfect Bulgarian pronunciation in this amazing song produced by genius Israeli pop composer Henree with Bulgarian pop-folk star (Bulgaria's Victoria Beckham) Alisia - Shtom me zabelejish (Since You Notice Me)


Number 6 - Israel's controversial new star (controversial in that his break into the Israeli pop scene came thanks to some Israeli mafia connections) Omer Adam with his hit Baniti Alayich (I Was Made for You). It's songs like this that highlight that Israel is a Middle Eastern country and that the cliche of music bringing peace rings true.


Continuing with the theme of Israeli music reflecting its geographic and cultural location, my number 5 for this year is this amazing number by Ami Or - Buba Al Chotim (String Puppet).


Number 4 this year is from Turkey - Babutsa's megahit, Yanayım Yanayım (I'm For It). I was not alone in loving this song - it was covered this year by numerous singers throughout the Balkans!


At number 3, this cool pop song from Kosovo - Nexhat Osmani with Fjala e urte popullore (Popular Saying)


The runner up - this hauntingly beautiful but unmistakeably Italian rock ballad by the legend herself - Patty Pravo and 'La vita è qui' (Life Is Here)


And my top song - well, when I first saw this song, I didn't know what to make of it. However, after the second hearing, I couldn't stop doing what it said - Ukraine's extraordinary and totally bonkers Jamala with 'Smile'


Thank you for your support this year and I'll see you next year. Wishing you a very prosperous, just and healthy 2012!

I'm still here - Hit parade for second half of 2011

Hi there! I can't believe 6 tumultuous months have past and I haven't posted a single blog entry in that time. I apologise, but yet again, life takes the better of me. My new year's resolution - to concentrate more on the blog! So much has happened - Libya, Kim Jong-il's death - these past six months and I wished I had the time to make a comment here rather than ranting to my long-suffering partner and family. Hehe. Anyway, as is customary, here are some songs from around the world that have pleased my ears these past six months. I'll be back with my top 8 (I couldn't narrow it down to 5 this time) for 2011 later.

Uzbekistan - Rayhon & Sogdiana - Bez nego (Without Him - in Russian)


Uyguristan - Shukhrat Yakubov - Izikara (Actually, it's a cover of a Romanian Manele song)


Turkey - Hüner Coşkuner - İmdat (Help)


Macedonia - Suzana Spasovska - Makedonsko devojče (Macedonian Girl)


Macedonia - Zdravka Mirčevska - Ludost (Madness)


Macedonia - Karolina Gočeva - Kapka pod neboto (A Drop in the Ocean)


Israel - Idan Yaniv - Rakevet Halayla Lekahir (Night Train to Cairo)


Dagestan (Russia) - Elchin Davudov - Vatan (Homeland - in Tsakhur)


Kyrgyzstan - A. Totaev - Ant


Greece - Efi Thodi - Ellines (Greeks)


Macedonia - Aneta, Goce Molika - Ah, ljubov verna (Oh, Faithful Love)


Romania - Alex Ban & Florin Salam - Flori de mai (Flowers of May)


Azerbaijan - Next qrupu - Okean (Ocean)


Israel - Ron Izraeli & Ronen Abitbul feat. Itzik Kala - Buki Dalale


Armenia - Raffi - Naz mi amir


Israel - Ma'or Dani'el - Lechi Tisfari Lekulam (Go Tell Everyone)


Israel - Avihu Shabat - Tishari remix (Stay)


Bulgaria/Greece - Teodora & Giorgos Giannias - Za teb jiveia/Aftos einai erotas (I Live For You/That's Love)


Romania - Denisa Sârboaica - Dragoşte de şapte stele (Seven Star Love - cover of a 1980s Serbian song)


Macedonia - Kismi - Milionerce (Little Millionaire) - This song has been the Balkan Roma hit of the year

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

My top 5 songs for 2010

Here are my top 5 songs for the year. These songs are quite a surprise, plus there seems to be a theme linking most of them.

First of all, a special mention of my most favourite retro song of the year. That goes to the Russian shanson-rock band, the legendary 'Lyube' and their first ever hit 'Atas' (Alert). The band Lyube originate from the satellite city of Lyubertsy, located just outside of Moscow. In the lead up to the 1980 Olympics, Lyubertsy was selected as a place where specialised sports training in wrestling and martial arts would take place, which in turn created an interest in bodybuilding among the young guys of the otherwise desolate place. From this a new culture appeared. A gang of young bodybuilders and martial arts experts known as the 'Lyubers' appeared in Gorbachev-era USSR, who became notorious for routinely venturing into central Moscow and bashing people who appeared to be too 'Western'. Their music, which mixed traditional Russian tunes with hard rock came out with the band Lyube. Also, in keeping with the Lyubers spirit, their songs often drew on imagery and topics from Russian history, while honouring the bodybuilding basis, they would also have quite a few buff and shirtless guys around. They were also the first band to release a CD in the USSR, and their patriotic but catchy tunes instantly drew them a huge fan base that transcended age groups. Their 1989 hit, 'Atas' is about the two main characters, Gleb Zheglov and Volodya Sharapov, from the classic 1979 Russian film 'Mesto vstrechi izmenit nelzya' (You Cannot Change the Rendezvous Point). This film was significant as it starred the talented Vladimir Vysotsky just a year before he died from the effects of alcoholism.

More than 20 years on and Lyube are still performing at a frantic pace (in the 1990s it wasn't uncommon for them to perform 30 concerts a month), and its leader singer Nikolai Rastorguev has been awarded with Russia's highest honour - People's Artist.

So here is Atas. I just like this song as it combines so much that I am fascinated in, plus there's a tinge of nostalgia of a time when the USSR was trying to assert a new and more competitive image of itself which unfortunately did not succeed.


OK, my top 5 songs for 2010.

Number 5 goes to American Idol 8 participant Allison Iraheta for her new wave song 'Friday I'll Be Over You'. Just love it!


Song number 4 is another new wave girl - Israel's Michal Geva with 'Kerach' (Ice). Rock on!


Now the top 3 are really close in the favourite stakes, so it has been hard to choose which one was best out of them. So I have made the hard decision to award the Israeli electro-new wave girls Onili and Yael Deckelbaum with the third spot for their cool song 'Ba Li - Lo Ba Li' (I Feel Like It - I Don't Feel Like It)


Number 2 is, wait for it, electro new wave girls again, but this time it's from Croatia. The group Lollobrigida has this fun and ironic number called 'Volim te' (I Love You). Definitely for anyone who has a thing for Balkan pop culture. The best lines in it how they sing I love you like Krystle and Alexis, Desperate Housewives and how Jovanka (Broz) loves Tito - love them!!!


And my top song for 2010... drumroll... and I am even shocked by this. OK, to hold the suspense, just to let you know that it is not like me not to have so many rock songs as my favourites. As can be judged from my other 'best hits' posts for this year, I love pop-folk from across the Balkans, ex-USSR and Middle East. However, I have been able to shock my partner when I fall in love with a great rock ballad.

In January this year many prominent performers from around ex-Yugoslavia gathered in the Macedonian capital Skopje for a special concert in memory of the late Macedonian pop singer Toše Proeski. A new series of previously unreleased songs, some penned by Proeski himself before he tragically died in a car crash in 2007, were released. One of which was by a Croatian pop-rock singer who I have never ever liked - not a single song - ever! I'm talking about Toni Cetinski. However, when he sang 'Zajedno' (Together), with its positive love lyrics, I was taken away. It's a definite song that will stay with me. So here is Toni Cetinski with 'Zajedno' (and the lyrics so you can sing along)


So there are my top songs for the year. Let's hope that 2011 brings even more happy tunes and moments.

I hope that you have enjoyed and been informed by my posts. I will be back in the new year, and I promise you more Desperate Dictator Housewives and more news, current affairs, pop culture and details about things that don't get that much of an airing (if at all). Happy new year!

My favourite songs of 2010 part 2

As we approach the end of the year, here is a selection of my favourite tunes from around the world for the second half of 2010. You can catch the hits of the first 6 months of 2010 here

Tajikistan: Shabnam Surayyo - Gule Bodom

Turkey: LaL - Ahmet Amca

Armenia: Karine Asiryan - Aravot e yes

Armenia: Astghik Safaryan - Qez myakin

Romania: Alex de la Orastie - Da-mi gurita ta

Azerbaijan: Aysel - Fallin'

Serbia: Jelena Karleuša - Insomnia

Bulgaria: Ivan Pritargov - Iskash go

Bulgaria: Ivana - Mig kato vechnost

Serbia - Danijela Vranić - Nemoj da me žalite

Serbia: Oliver Katić feat. Jelena Marković - Halo presedniče

Serbia: Emina Jahović - Ti, kvariigro

Romania: Carmen Serban, Corina Bocsa & Anna - Purisancele

Kosovo - Elona Leka - Ç'do ditë, ç'do natë

Bulgaria: Raina - Kakyv podaryk

Uzbekistan: Ulug'bek Sobirov - Sevib qoldim

Bosnia-Herzegovina: Haris Džinović - Srce umorno

Romania: Narcisa - Sukar san tigane mo

Turkey: Pamela - Uff!

Serbia/Bosnia: Zdravko Čolić - Prolaze neke slike

Russia: Arkadii Grek - Zelenie glaza

Russia: Irina Krug - Napishi mne

Russia: Nikolai Baskov - Svadba

Israel: Zehava Ben - Ahuv Sheli

Greece: Tamta feat. Etostone - Fyge

Estonia: Violina feat. Rolf Junior - Maagiline päev

Serbia: Aleksandar Sanja Ilic & Balkanika - Maljčiki


My top 5 songs for 2010 will be around just before the new year...

My favourite songs so far this year

We're already half way through 2010, so here's a selection of songs that I have liked on my mp3 player these past 6 months:
Israel: Dor Daniel - Makom Letzidech

Turkey - Ebru Polat - Seni Aldattım

Russian Shanson-Punk with Vstrechnyy boy - Moltylyok

Azerbaijan: Irade Ibrahimova - Oyun

Ukraine: Irina Bilyk - Mne ne zhal' tebya

Belgium: Kate Ryan - Ella elle l'a

Bulgaria: Liana - Kato veshtica

Uzbekistan: Manzura - Soniya

Azerbaijan - Ana

Serbia: Milan Stanković - Face

Romania: Narcisa - Atunci cand esti sef in casa

Kosovo: Motrat Mustafa - Krejt me ren

Uzbekistan: Rayhon - Ertak

Albania: Sanimete Krasniqi - Perdohem unë pash për ty

Turkey: Seda Sayan - Gül Bebeğim

Armenia: Shprot - Xorovs taran

Greece: Stratis Myronas - Pano ap' ola

Macedonia: Tandemi - Sakam da ti dokažam

Bulgaria: Traiana - Vzemi me

Kosovo: Besa - Kujtoma

Dagestan: Rinat Karimov - Rodnik lyubvi