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)

Oh No, It's Eurovision 2011 part 3

Portugal - Homens da Luta - A luta é alegria

First impression - WTF? I know that Portugal is in economic dire straits and wouldn't be able to afford to host their first ever Eurovision (after trying for almost 50 years), but they couldn't find a better act to make sure, 100%, that they will not win. However... just like with Russia's outwardly err but brilliantly subtle masterpiece last year at Eurovision satirising the gysy romantic fascination of the Russian intelligensia, after I found out more about the talented Portuguese performers and song about 'the joy of the struggle' I realised this is not a novelty act but a deep yet endearing satire of the joy and nature of Portuguese protest movements.The performers display the same exuberance and immense capacity for song that many demonstrations and their demostrators in Portugal possess. Now this is a sentiment that should be understood by people in other southern European countries, but like Russia last year, without some knoweldge to the depth of this well-tuned act, the message and satire is lost. But still, I hope that their joie de vivre is infectuous enough to get Europe voting.
I should also add that it's fitting that Portugal is sending such a song to Eurovision considering that the cue for the start of Portugal's Carnation Revolution (the protest music and imagery from that historic event being the source for the Homens da Luta) was when the country's entry at the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest appeared on TV!
Back to 2011, I say 'alegria é luta'!

Spain - Lucia Pérez - Que me quiten lo bailao

So reminds of Portugal's entry from 2009. I was in Spain after this song was selected and the gays were pissed off. Not a good sign... or...? It's too light for my liking and I don't see it making a splash. Lucia, you'll just have to keep on dancing.

France - Amaury Vassili - Sognu

The hot favourite, would you believe. It's the pretenious number of the year. You know the type. The people who think this is great are not opera listeners (true opera listeners detest 'popra') and more often than not are loving this song more out of attempt to make themselves believe that they have 'kulcha'. Well, you don't. If this song succeeds as it is predicted to do, then it will be a triumph of the type of self-seeking cultural justification that saw Justin Bieber lose the 'Best New Artist' grammy to an obscure jazz singer or the 2005 'Best Film' to the wanky 'Crash' over a classic that is 'Brokeback Mountain'. The people who love this song are caught in a self-defeating and shallow existence needing to deny the fact they actually prefer the crass elements Eurovision is famous for. Instead, they are trying ever so hard to fawn appreciation for a song in a type of supposedly 'sofistikatud' music their detractors are perceived to prefer. In other words, people who are ashamed of their true selves are liking this song not because they actually like it but because they think the cultural snobs will appreciate them more for them liking it, or at least convince themselves that that is the case. Well, get over it guys! Just embrace that you love non-pretentious crap over pretentious dribble. Opera never does well in the end at Eurovision anyway. But then again, I thought that a German, silver-spoon pop brat singing a rip-off Lilly Allen/Kate Nash track in faux Cockney wouldn't amount to much, only for her to go on and win the bloody event (and convincingly). So what do I know? Funny too that the French conveniently picked Corsican, which is a dialect of Italian, for this 'popra' number.

Belgium - Witloof Bay - With Love Baby

What a motley bunch. Did they meet at the bus stop on their commute to their desk jobs? Or was it at their Bible Study class? And what's with the beatboxing? That alone deserves null points. OK, I'm sure their a lovely bunch of people, but surely they should know that a capella just does not work at Eurovision. Hang your head in shame, Belgium.

Netherlands - 3JS - Never Alone

Bo-ring!

Iceland - Sjonni's Friends - Coming Home

Being 'nice' does work. But nice boys and girls never come first. In case you don't know (and I'm sure most don't) this song's composer, Sjonni, tragically died just days before he was going to appear with it at the Iceland selection final. Those Icelanders did the 'nice' thing and felt sympathy for his 6 mates who decided to perform this song in Sjonni's honour (hence the group's name). Well, the Eurovision audience will have 38 seconds or so to be explained all this. Will the sympathy last? Probably not. It's a cruel world.

Ireland - Jedward - Lipstick
Yes, it's the Grime twins (I did say it was Eurovision's year of the twins)

For those in the UK and Ireland who thought that these guys who just disappear under an Irish rock after their infamous introduction to the world through X-Factor 2 years ago, well, sorry to disappoint. Louie Walsh's darlings are unleashing themselves to an unsuspecting European audience in their quest for world domination. 'Am I heading for a car crash', sing the terrible twin brats. Some would say yes, especially if their back-up singers play the ultimate cruel trick and decide to let the boys carry the tune instead. Now the noise they would create would prompt the neighbours to call the police and even get the war crimes tribunal in the Hague to issue some new indictments. No matter what the ney-sayers have to say, this song is good and catchy. Jedward themselves will appeal to the (televoting) kids of Europe like flies to shit, they are fun fun fun and really couldn't give a rat's arse of what some blogger in tracky-dacks that earns a fraction of a fraction of they earn has to say. Jedward for the final, and definite top 10!

But I have saved the winner until last
UK - Blue - I Can

Finally, the BBC got their shit together and have sent an act that Europe knows. Blue were huge in the early naughties, thought not my cup of Earl Grey. Considering that their nemesis Westlife have reformed and the success of Take That (take 2), it was only a matter of time that the Blue boys would do the same so that when individual members piss at ATMs or want us to think about the dead elephants that these world-shattering events at least will actually make it into the London tabloids. The song just says 'winner'.

OK, so the cynic in me was the first to ring a bell when I heard that Blue was representing the UK i.e. the UK wants to win. Under the current Conservative/Liberal Democrat government, due to the supposed bareness of the government's coffers, the UK has no money. Still, miraculously, the UK has the dosh for a royal wedding and for lobbing expensive missles at Libya, but the new facilities for all those schools in Labour-voting areas will just have to miss out due to the huge cuts being made to social services for all those 'lazy people out there'. As the cuts begin the bite, anger amongst the classes most directly affected will grow. So what can a government do to placate them? It could stop the cuts to essential services and get big business to pay the tax they are supposed to be paying, or, better still, let's get the bread and fireworks out. The UK government has gone for option 2. Kate and Wills just got hitched and the UK taxpayer, who surprisingly did not receive an invite to Westminster Abbey, ended up with the 34 million pound bill. Nevertheless, the wedding was heavily promoted in the media to get at least part of the UK populace in a patriotic/celebrity frenzy. Now, don't you go putting those Union Jacks away as yet as next year there is the diamond jubilee (60 years of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II) followed closely by the Olympics. Just to stretch the flag waving and to distract the masses from the cuts to services such as public health and education, I feel that the government would love to add a Eurovision win this year. Picture it... UK 2012... Eurovision, Jubilee, Olympics. Meanwhile, hospitals are closed down and privatised at bargain prices for big business while health costs skyrocket. But who cares - we have Eurovision to host! So proud!

OK, enough of the cynicism. I think this song has it all to win it. And the guys know who butter their bread by doing a nude spread for a gay mag. Here's a clip:


Despite some of my misgivings as to the rationale behind the current UK push to win the contest, I stil hope the UK does win it. I would be very happy if Azerbaijan wins it as their desperation to host the contest is really annoying the living hell out of everyone, and that is never a good look. In any case, I am preparing myself to be totally shocked by the event. Happy Eurovision everyone!

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!

Russian rocker latest darling of West

Yuri Shevchuk, legendary rock star famous for fronting the cult Soviet-era rock band DDT, has had a lot of press lately in the West over his opposition to Putin and how he is being excluded from TV and radio, in a pattern much like he faced during Soviet times. The West is using this as yet another example of how Putin's Russia is USSR 2.0. The reality is that it is true that Shevchuk is being shunned, but he is not unique nor is this purely a Russian phenomenon. As I have mentioned briefly in previous posts, just like under the former Communist regimes as today, political patronage is the most important factor to building a music career not only in Russia but in practically all former Eastern bloc countries undergoing democratisation. The Shevchuk experience is also being faced by artists in countries allied to the West such as Georgia, Ukraine and even current EU members.

While most musicians, singers and actors in the West are and can be apolitical, in the Eastern bloc that is just not possible. As a layover from Communist times when good politicial credentials was the main prerequisite for a long and fruitful career, the same still applies. That there is multi-party politics in most former Eastern bloc countries makes it even riskier than before. A singer must carefully chose for which political party he/she will sing for at politicial rallies during election campaigns. If that party wins and enters into government, expect to appear on TV quite a bit. On the otherhand, if a singer is identified with an opposition party, quite often they will face a difficult time appearing on TV, getting advertising and face punitive bureaucratic hassles. A firm example of making and breaking political patronage in Eastern Europe came with Ukraine's selection of its representative for Eurovision this year. At first the relatively unknown singer Vasyl Lazarovych was announced as Ukraine's singer and that a competition would be held to pick a song for him. Lazarovych happened to be close friends with the government-appointed Director of the Ukrainian national broadcasting station, the organisation responsible for Ukraine's selection for Eurovision. When elections in March saw the pro-Western Yushchenko government ousted for pro-Russian parties led by Yanukovych, as is often the case with political appointees, the Ukrainin TV director was quickly replaced with a new person close to the new government. Also to go was Lazarovych as a supposed anti-corruption measure (Lazarovych was selected as he would self-fund his Eurovision campaign), but most people in Eastern Europe saw the real reason for this sacking of sorts was that he was too closely identified as a Yushchenko supporter. A new competition to select a new song was quickly organised, heavily featuring singers who had been sidelined under the previous government and consequently sung on the election campaign for political parties that eventually formed the new government. Another obscure singer won the competition and went on to sing at Eurovision.

Ukraine is not alone in having had politically motivated selections for representatives. Bulgaria's singer at Eurovision 2008 worked as an assistant to the head of Bulgarian National TV and was an member of the youth wing of the then ruling Socialist Party. Macedonia's 2000 entry featured the cat screeching of 'I lurve you a hundert persent yes ay du' by XXL, a girl band whose members happen to be the daughters of high ranking functionaries tied to Macedonia's then ruling party. While the Serbo-Montenegrin entrants in 2005, 6 boys hoddled together as boy band 'No Name' were all sons of businessmen with very close relations with the sleazy and very corrupt Montenegrin president Milo Djukanović.

As always, politics and music go hand in hand. It's no surprise that many of Russia's top singers of Russia happen also to be members of Putin's Edinnaya Rossiya (United Russia) party, much like how many were Communist Party members back in the day. In Serbia, the pink-haired turbofolk singer Zorica Brunclik will always be associated with her membership in the much despised JUL party led by Milošević's wife Mira Marković. Being close to the ruling family awarded Brunclik with heavy exposure on the government controlled media, a string many surprising number one hits and even a short stint as Minister of Culture. After Milošević was toppled in October 2000, so too did Brunclik's profile and career, disappearing from public sight due to her close connections with the old regime and not daring to reappear on the idiot box until many years later, and that being only on local provincial stations. Brunclik recently appeared on a celebrity reality TV show, helping her to resurrect her career, though she had to face a barrage of criticism due to her past political allegiances while being followed by the cameras.

Now don't think that all this only applies to the Eastern Bloc. Country stars the Dixie Chicks faced a major backlash after their very public opposition to the US invasion of Iraq and disapproval of George W. Bush. The US government were not behind this, but many political elements close to the then administration were responsible for villifying the country music band.

Relatively speaking, it would have been better if Shevchuk was the unique case that the Western media would like us to believe. However, the reality is that in any political system, if you want to go far, best toe the line.