Azis
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Azis Васил Троянов Янъков | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Vasil Troyanov Yanakov |
| Also known as | Азис |
| Born | 7 March 1978[1][2] Sliven, Bulgaria[2] |
| Genres | Azis, Chalga, pop-folk |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, musician, writer, activist, television show host |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1999–present |
Vasil Troyanov Boyanov (Bulgarian: Васил Троянов Янъков; born 7 March 1978), professionally known as Azis (Азис), is a Bulgarian recording artist, of Roma ethnicity.[3][4] Azis initially rose to prominence in Eastern Europe performing songs mostly in chalga, a genre which can be described as the Bulgarian rendition of pop-folk. Azis has collaborated with other Bulgarian pop-folk singers, such as Gloria, Malina, Sofi Marinova, Toni Storaro, and with Bulgarian rap artists – Ustata and Vanko 1.[5][6] Other than that, his repertoire includes duets with Serbian singers, including Indira Radić, Marta Savić and Jelena Karleuša.
Boyanov performed "Let Me Cry" at the 2006 Eurovision song contest with Mariana Popova, staying in the semi-finals.[7][8]
Other than his acclaimed career as a vocalist, he competed unsuccessfully in the Bulgarian parliamentary election of 2005 as a member of the EuroRoma party.[9]
Azis remains a prominent figure in the Bulgarian music scene.
Biography[edit]
Azis was born Vasil Troyanov Boyanov in Sliven, although his childhood was spent in Kostinbrod and Sofia. In 1989, after the fall of communism in Bulgaria, he moved with his family to Germany. There, his sister, Matilda, and brother Ryan were born. Azis married Nikolay Petrov Parvanov (stage name: Niki Kitaetsa, Cyrillic: Ники Китаеца) on 1 October 2006. Their marriage is not legally recognized under Bulgarian law.[10] Azis' daughter was born on 5 August 2007 and was named Raya. Her mother is Azis' longtime friend, Gala.[10] In 2008, Azis and Parvanov separated amicably.[11] Azis is non-binary.[12]
Homosexuality controversies[edit]
In late November 2007, Boyko Borisov, then mayor of Sofia, censored billboards of Azis kissing Niki Kitaetsa, which pictured both men shirtless[13][14] on the basis they were too graphic in nature. The picture was then censored in other cities in Bulgaria.[15]
Appearances[edit]
- In 2007, Azis and Kitaetsa appeared in the VIP Brother 2 edition of Big Brother Bulgaria. Azis left the house voluntarily after nineteen days.[9]
- Azis was interviewed in the second episode of Michael Palin's New Europe.
- In 2008 on PRO.BG, Azis co-hosted the talk show Azis' Late Night Show with actress Ekaterina Evro.
- In August 2012, Anonymous used the video clip to Azis' song Мразиш to deface the website of the Russian court Khamovnichesky, where the members of the band Pussy Riot were convicted.[16]
- Azis was a contestant on the widely popular reality show Като две капки вода, which is the Bulgarian version of Your Face Sounds Familiar. After the 12 weeks and a wide spectre of enjoyed performances, he placed 2nd.
Covers[edit]
Greek laiko vocalist Panos Kiamos, made a cover of Azis' single Sen Trope entitled, Fotia me Fotia, (Fire to Fire). Serbian pop-folk singer Dragan Kojić Keba covered the same song as "Ona to zna" (She knows), the Romanian singer Florin Salam as "Saint Tropez".
In November 2012, the Greek singer Giorgos Tsalikis made a cover of Azis' song Hop, entitled Asto (Let it).
International acclaim[edit]
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On 9 November 2011, a series of Azis' music videos were uploaded to Bilibili, a mainland Chinese video sharing website. The videos have been popular, even one of the hottest videos on Bilibili since 2016. As of February 2020, the videos have been viewed over 21 million times and have received 788 thousand danmus (a special kind of comments) in all, and have been covered many times. Because of the wide spread of Hop, the first video of the series, Azis, known as "King of coquetry of Bulgaria (保加利亚妖王)", has become famous among some Chinese youths.
Discography[edit]
Studio albums[edit]
| Year | Original title | Transliteration | Meaning in English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Болка | Bolka | Pain |
| 2000 | Мъжете също плачат | Mazhete sashto plachat | Men also cry |
| 2001 | Сълзи | Salzi | Tears |
| 2002 | AZIS | Azis | AZIS |
| 2003 | На голо | Na golo | In the nude |
| 2004 | Кралят | Kralyat | The King |
| 2004 | Together- Заедно с Деси Слава | Together- Zaedno s Desi Slava | Together (with Desi Slava) |
| 2005 | AZIS 2005 | Azis 2005 | AZIS 2005 |
| 2006 | Дива | Diva | Diva |
| 2011 | Гадна порода | Gadna Poroda | Nasty breed |
| 2014 | Azis 2014 | Azis 2014 | Azis 2014 |
Compilation albums[edit]
| Year | Original title | Transliteration | Meaning in English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | The Best | The Best | |
| 2005 | Дуети | Dueti | Duets |
| 2005 | The Best 2 | The Best 2 |
EPs (Maxi singles)[edit]
| Year | Original title | Transliteration | Meaning in English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Целувай ме+ | Tseluvay me+ | Kiss me+ |
| 2004 | Как боли | Kak boli | How it hurts |
| 2016 | Хабиби | Habibi | Habibi |
Videography / Songs[edit]
| Year | Original title | Transliteration | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | "Болка" | Bolka | Pain |
| 1999 | "Автомонтьор" | Avtomontyor | Auto mechanic |
| 2000 | "Мъжете също плачат" | Mazhete sashto plachat | Men cry too |
| 2001 | "Хвани ме де" | Hvani me de | Catch me |
| 2001 | "Обичам те" | Obicham te | I love you |
| 2002 | "Няма" | Nyama | I won't |
| 2002 | "Делник и празник" (дует с Кали) |
Delnik i praznik | Weekday and weekend (with Kali) |
| 2002 | "Дай ми го дай" | Day mi go day | Give it to me |
| 2003 | "Всеки път" | Vseki pat | Every time |
| 2003 | "Никой не може" | Nikoy ne mozhe | No one can |
| 2003 | "Целувай ме" | Tseluvay me | Kiss me |
| 2004 | "Как боли" | Kak boli | How it hurts |
| 2004 | "Хайде почвай ме" | Hayde pochvay me | Let me soil |
| 2004 | "Не сме безгрешни" (дует с Глория) |
Ne sme bezgreshni | We're not sinless (with Gloria) |
| 2004 | "Казваш, че ме обичаш" (дует с Деси Слава) |
Kazvash, che me obichash | You say that you love me (with Desi Slava) |
| 2004 | "Но казвам ти стига" | No kazvam ti stiga | But I'm telling you to stop |
| 2004 | "Ледена кралица" | Ledena kralitsa | Ice Queen |
| 2004 | "Жадувам" | Zhaduvam | Crave |
| 2005 | "Обречи ме на любов" | Obrechi me na lyubov | Condemn me to love |
| 2005 | "Точно сега" (дует с Устата) |
Tochno sega | Right now (with Ustata) |
| 2005 | "Верността е лъжа" (дует с Марта Савиç) |
Vernostta e lazha | Devotion is a lie (with Marta Savic) |
| 2005 | "Не знаеш" (дует с Малина) |
Ne znaesh | You don't know (with Malina) |
| 2005 | "Като скитница" | Kato skitnitsa | Like a Wanderer |
| 2006 | "Празнуваш ли сега" | Praznuvash li sega | Are you celebrating now |
| 2006 | "Черните очи" (дует с Малина) |
Chernite ochi | The black eyes (with Malina) |
| 2006 | "Тежко ли ти е" | Tezhko li ti e | Is it hard for you |
| 2007 | "Подлудяваш ме" | Podludyavash me | You drive me crazy |
| 2009 | "Теб обичам" | Teb obicham | Loving you |
| 2009 | "Накарай ме" | Nakaray me | Make me |
| 2009 | "Имаш ли сърце" | Imash li sartse | Do you have a heart |
| 2010 | "Дай ми лед" | Day mi led | Give me ice |
| 2010 | "Луд ме правиш" (дует с Ванко 1) |
Lud me pravish | You make me crazy (with Vanko 1) |
| 2010 | "Удряй ме" | Udryay me | Hit me |
| 2011 | "Няма накъде" | Nyama nakade | Nowhere |
| 2011 | "Мразиш" | Mrazish | Hate |
| 2011 | "Гадна порода" | Gadna poroda | Nasty breed |
| 2011 | "Хоп" | Hop | Hop |
| 2011 | "Сен Тропе" | Sen Trope | Saint-Tropez |
| 2012 | "MMA" | — | — |
| 2012 | "Кажи честно" | Kazhi chestno | Tell me honestly |
| 2012 | "Пробвай се" (дует с Андреа) |
Probvay se | Give it a try (feat. Andrea) |
| 2012 | "Ти за мен си само секс" | Ti za men si samo seks | You're just sex for me |
| 2012 | "Коледа" | Koleda | Christmas |
| 2012 | "Нещо мръсно" | Neshto mrasno | Something dirty |
| 2013 | "Евала" | Evala | Well done |
| 2013 | "Хайде на морето" | Hayde na moreto | Let's go to the sea |
| 2013 | "Ти ме размаза" | Ti me razmaza | You crushed me |
| 2013 | "Като тебе втори няма" (дует с Ванко 1) |
Kato tebe vtori nyama | There's nobody like you (with Vanko 1) |
| 2014 | "Ти ли си" (дует с Ваня) |
Ti li si | Is it you (with Vanya) |
| 2014 | "Пий цяла нощ" | Piy tsyala nosht | Drink all night |
| 2014 | "Колко сме пили" (with Тони Стораро) |
Kolko sme pili | How much we drank (with Toni Storaro) |
| 2014 | "Миконос" | Mykonos | — |
| 2014 | "Каза ли го" (дует с Мария) |
Kaza li go (with Maria) |
did you say it (with Maria) |
| 2014 | Estar Loco (with Giorgos Tsalikis) |
— | To be crazy (Giorgos Tsalikis) |
| 2014 | "Чуй ме" (дует с Мария) |
Chuy me | Hear me (with Maria) |
| 2015 | "Джанъм, джанъм" | Djanam, djanam | Darling, darling |
| 2015 | "Моля те не ми звъни" (дует с Мария) |
Molya te ne mi zvani | Please don't call me (with Maria) |
| 2015 | "Блокиран" (дует с Фики) |
Blokiran | Blocked (with Fiki) |
| 2015 | "Хабиби" | Habibi | Habibi |
| 2017 | "Мотел" | Motel | Motel |
| 2018 | "Позна ли ме?" | Pozna li me? | Did you recognize me? |
| 2019 | "Циганче" | Ciganche | Romani kid |
| 2020 | "Тясно" | Tyasno | Narrow |
DVDs[edit]
- 2003: Шоу спектакъл
- 2004: Нищо лично
- 2004: The best videoclips
- 2004: Together with Desi Slava
- 2005: AZIS 2005
- 2005: Дуети (Duets)
- 2006: Аз, Азис ( I, Azis) (CD)
- 2007: Azis
Collaborations[edit]
In 2011, Azis sang a duet called Sezam with Indira Radić, a Serbian singer, on her album Istok, sever, jug i zapad. After that, in 2012 he sang another duet with Serbian singer Marta Savić, which was featured on her studio album 13. The song was called "Mama" and it was one of Balkan's hit songs in 2012.[citation needed]
Books[edit]
- Аз, Азис (Book and CD) (2006)
References[edit]
- ^ "Профилът на Азис" [Azis Profile]. Slava.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 4 January 2014.
- ^ a b Silverman, Carol (24 May 2012). Romani Routes: Cultural Politics and Balkan Music in Diaspora. Oxford University Press. p. 189. ISBN 9780195300949. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
- ^ Samson, J. (2013). Music in the Balkans. Google Books. BRILL. p. 610. ISBN 9789004250383. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ Kenrick, D. (2010). The A to Z of the Gypsies (Romanies). Google Books. Scarecrow Press. p. 35. ISBN 9781461672272. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ Haj-Najafa, D. (12 May 2009). "Kitsch of the Day, Azis i Ustata's 'Tochno Sega'". The New York Times. Men's Fashion blog. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ Watkins, R.; Deliso, C. (2008). Bulgaria. Lonely Planet. p. 52. ISBN 9781741044744. Retrieved 1 January 2014 – via Internet Archive.
azis bulgaria.
- ^ Taras, R (2008). Europe Old and New: Transnationalism, Belonging, Xenophobia. Google Books. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 200. ISBN 9780742557345. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ Fricker, K; Gluhovic, M, eds. (2013). Performing the 'New' Europe: Identities, Feelings and Politics in the Eurovision Song Contest. Google Books. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 9781137367976. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ a b Imre, A (2009). Identity Games: Globalization and the Transformation of Media Cultures in the New Europe. Google Books. MIT Press. p. 125. ISBN 9780262090452. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ a b "Bulgaria's Gay Idol Becomes Father". Novinite.com. 5 August 2007. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
- ^ "Азис и Китаеца се разделиха без скандали" [Azis and a Chinese parted without scandals]. vsekiden.com (in Bulgarian). 29 April 2008. Archived from the original on 4 January 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
- ^ Kirby, Brandon (11 January 2018). "15 International LGBTQ Musicians You Need To Know: Pabllo Vittar, Olly Alexander, Lowell & More". Billboard. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
- ^ Kourtova P; Attwood F; et al., eds. (2012). Controversial Images: Media Representations on the Edge. Palgrave Macmillan. p. 60. ISBN 9781137291998. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ Daskalova K, et al. (2012). Gendering Post-socialist Transition: Studies of Changing Gender Perspectives. LIT Verlag Münster. p. 85. ISBN 9783643902290. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ "Свалят скандални билбордове на Азис и Китаеца в София" [Download scandalous billboards Azis and Kitaetsa in Sofia]. news.bg (in Bulgarian). 20 November 2007.
- ^ "Anonymous defaces website of court that convicted Pussy Riot". The Guardian. United Kingdom. 22 August 2012.
External links[edit]
- 1978 births
- Living people
- Bulgarian expatriates in Germany
- Bulgarian pop singers
- Bulgarian pop-folk singers
- Bulgarian people of Romani descent
- Musicians from Sliven
- Romani musicians
- Romani singers
- Gay musicians
- LGBT singers
- LGBT musicians from Bulgaria
- Bulgarian television personalities
- Big Brother (Bulgarian TV series) contestants
- Non-binary musicians