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Chalga ("Чалга" in Bulgarian from "Çalgı" in Turkish derived from the Arabic "Chalghi" or "Tchalgi") is a Bulgarian music genre with regional appeal in the Balkan countries and some international following. Chalga is a blend of Bulgarian, Balkan, Arabic, Greek and Turkish influences, as well as motives from flamenco, filmi and klezmer music. It is known for repeating musical themes and dance rhythms, which are known as kyuchek in Bulgarian.

History[link]

The name Chalga is derived from the Turkish word Çalgı, (from the Arabic Chalghi or 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 Kaval (an end-blown Flute). Playing in groups at festivals or weddings, these performers initiated the popularization of chalga.

Throughout the Balkans, folk traditions have seen a process of modernization. In Greece, modern pop music for example incorporated the traditions of Laïko ("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. "Skiladiko", a known relative of Laïkó's became very close to early Bulgarian chalga music.

In Turkey, Arabesque music, 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 Communist era[link]

During communism in the People's Republic of Bulgaria, Chalga was viewed negatively by the ruling Communist governments.^{[citation needed]} Todor Zhivkov, 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 Turbofolk in neighboring SFR Yugoslavia was met with less restriction by the Yugoslav official media.

1990s onwards: Surge urge in popularity[link]

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 Toni Dacheva, the singer of Kristal Orchestra, stars such as Gloria, pop-folk legends Sashka Vaseva, Desi Slava, 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.

By the 2000s, Chalga's popularity greatly increased, in far greater proportion to its neighboring popular traditions of Serbian Turbo-folk or Greek laika. Chalga could also deal openly with more provocative displays of sex, money, gay culture. Azis, a gay icon played a great role in popularizing the genre internationally as a typical Bulgarian music.

Other competing styles made efforts to create fusion using chalga elements in rap and hip hop music, represented by artists and groups like Ustata (a rapper cooperating with Roma singer Sofi Marinova), by acts like Dope Reach Squad, Upsurt, Big Sha, 100 Kila, Spens and Mangasarian Bros. Rap also gained commercial success in Sofia and Varna, as well as in many televised videos.

Today chalga record companies collaborate and work with partners mainly from the other Balkan countries, making this type of Bulgarian music popular both in Bulgaria and abroad in many countries of the Balkans and internationally.

Criticism[link]

Chalga has become popular in "chalga dance clubs" and chalga-oriented pubs. 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.^[1]

Chalga proponents often claim chalga is the new Bulgarian folk music,^{[citation needed]}, but opponents say it has no connection to the national indigenous Bulgarian folklore roots, and its only folklore elements are Middle Eastern. Although it is widely accepted by the night club DJs and a great attraction for tourists^[2] 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 is often criticized by conservative people for the perceived tawdriness, loose morals,^[3] the shocking look of its singers,^[4] the genre's Eastern, Arabic, Arabesque and gypsy roots, and its sexually-explicit lyrics.

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 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.

Lyrics and Music Videos[link]

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, Greek, Serbian, Macedonian, Turkish and other Balkan tongues, Arabic and more recently with some lyrics in English, French, Spanish and other continental European languages.

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 Macedonia and Greece. In Macedonia, arrangements are closer to Macedonian folk music, keeping many chalga elements.

Bibliography[link]

• Седемте гряха на чалгата. Към антропология на етнопопмузиката, Розмари Стателова, ISBN 954-01-1536-1 (in Bulgarian) (translation of the title: The seven deadly sins of chalga. Toward an anthropology of ethnomusic, Rozmary Statelova)

See also[link]

• Arabesque (Turkish music)
• Laïkó
• Manele
• Skiladiko
• Turbo-folk
• Pop-folk
• Music of Lebanon
• Arabic pop music
• Mizrahi music

Notes[link]

1. ^ New Folk: The phenomenon of chalga in modern Bulgarian folk, Milena Droumeva (en)
2. ^ Beethoven, Schiller and chalga, Boyko Penchev (bg)
3. ^ Moral panic during transition (bg)
4. ^ Politically incorrect 'chalga', Marlene Smits (en)

References[link]

• The phenomenon of chalga in modern Bulgarian folk by Milena Droumeva
• Claire Levy, "Who is the "Other" in Balkans?" in Music popular culture identities, Rodopi, 2002, p. 215

External links[link]

• Balkania Fanzine - Chalga and Balkan Music Video Culture Blog
• Chalga playlist - Chalga playlist
• Music-Bulgaria.com - List of Bulgarian chalga CDs
• Brigada - Chalga - Popfolk - Mashups
• ChalgaBox - The newest Balkan pop-folk and chalga music
• Chalga music - Everything about chalga music - articles, videos, mp3, mixes
• BIAD - Website of Bulgarian Chalga club

Desislava Ivanova Doneva (Bulgarian: Десислава Иванова Донева) (born 7 March 1979), better known as Desi Slava (Деси Слава) is a Bulgarian singer of pop-folk and pop music. Desi Slava is considered to be one of the greatest voices of contemporary Bulgarian music, being able to perform in different styles, from jazz to rock and pop-folk.

Slava had a son in 2000, who is called Mayki (Майки) (pronounced 'Mikey').^[1]

In 2007, Slava took part in Bulgaria's Big Brother VIP 2007, becoming the runner-up in the competition.^[2] In the same year, she announced that she planned to adopt a girl.^[3]

Discography[link]

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• No Problems - 1998
• Heads Tails - 2000
• Forever - 2001
• Mystery - 2002
• The Best of Desi Slava - 2004
• Love Is Just A Feeling - 2004
• Together - 2004
• Desi Slava DVD - 2005
• Hot Trail - 2005
• Sweet Dreams - 2006
• Estoy Aquí - 2008 (ES)
• Listen To Your Heart - 2009
• Slavatronika - 2011

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official Website
  • (English)
  • (Bulgarian)
  • (Spanish)
• Official myspace
• Fan site
• Mad Secret Concert with Desislava @ Mad TV Bulgaria site
• Watch DesiSlava and Kostas Martakis signing Duffy's song - Mercy at MAD VMA 2008