A Chalga Timeline

My previous post about chalga was rather wordy but it wasn't very descriptive with visual or audio (which frankly is the only way you can really discuss Chalga in Bulgaria). So I'm going to start (a long) process of creating a Chalga Timeline so people can see the changes it made throughout time.

1950-70s: Kafana Music (Cafe Music) or Chalga Music (Older interpretation, "to play")

Silvana Armenulic '76 - Noca mi srce pati

Kafana Music is even tied with the Romani Hymn, Djelem Djelem which was recorded for the 1967 film: I Have Met Happy Gypies (previous post) .



Kafana Music or what would be considered Chalga music in Bulgaria (played at bars, social events, popular among the common masses) then starts a transition from entertaining drunks a bars to something that Serbians have classified as Neo-Folk (meaning new folk). If you listen to the music, they bare striking resemblance to traditional folk songs but are more western/ballad sounding. Kafana music exists today in cafes and bars but I'll classify Kafana music (and Chalga music, at bars and social events in this form) around 1950s-1970s because Serbian media repeatedly used the cultural motif in films.

Neo-folk Transitions | Bringing in the West


Lepa Lukic - Od izvora dva putica

This video was filmed in Paris so its pretty obvious to see how there might be a connection between Serbia Neo-Folk music and Western Culture. Not only is she literally in Paris, something that would have been difficult for a singer from what was a communist state like Bulgaria, but you can also see where the Serbian singer is placing emphasis on as a cultural icon. This music isn't very much different from the Kafana music. Its slightly more refined and tuned (professionally recorded, music videos in Paris) and is commercially more accessible.


The Changes, circa 1989 | Post- Communist "Democracy" and the Mafia




Sani - Oh, Banana
This song is a loosely veiled metaphor for fellatio. It is consider old chalga and while the music video was conservative the sexual innuendo was too much for the more older Bulgarian population. There is a definite change between Neo-Folk and Chalga. Its cruder and has the influence of western pop. The lyrics are catchier and rhythm is easier for dancing. Some people might even define it as Turbo-Folk (faster beat). This song would have been inconceivable during communist times. Its a testiment to the lack of laws and also the Mutra culture of the 1990s in Bulgaria. Mutra are the underings of the Mafia; having thick necks, black wearing and gold chains. The Mutra backed and attended night clubs liked this new irreverent music. Just check out the lyrics (rough translation made for the sake of time, plus it seemed awkward to ask a Bulgarian for a exact translation):

Kef mi stana shtom go hvava oh banana, ah banana kolko e sladuk i laduk, luskav i gladuk, leko izvit e i strahovid

I become happy when I grab it; oh banana ah banana; How sweet, shiny, smooth, and gently curved . . .

The Clean-up (from the Mafia) and the Commercialization of Chalga



Desislava Nakoi Den | Someday

As you can see, much more commercialized and standardized. Its a R&B ballad. Also notice that while the lyrics are more poetic and intelligent, Desislava is clothed in much less than Sani was in her Banana video. Now, its pretty much required for a Chalga singer to bare her body and be sexually attractive; its part of her selling point. Think: Brittany Spears, Mariah Carey, and other western women pop music singers.

Anyway, this by no means completely describes the Chalga discussion. I hope that is starts to give you a glimpse of the changes and to make it easier for you to understand the cultural context of the genre Chalga. In Bulgaria, Chalga in its current form isn't really remotely similar to what was Chalga 50 to 70 years ago. But somehow the word "Chalga" carried over. I personally think this has to do with both types of music being associated with the masses and it also being a mixture of many influences. Granted, there are direct influences from both Turkish and Roma culture in Chalga. Roma musicians play both "old Chalga" and "new Chalga" but I think its premature to say Roma musicians were the common linkage. This is partly because of steretyping and I'm not sure if its historically accurate.

Another thing to consider is the mixture of Serbian and Bulgarian influences. I've sort of mixed to two to describe Chalga. But it is important to know that Chalga (in its current form) and Chalga (in its old form) developed differently and weren't directly linked. Also, there was an explosion of Chalga like music after "The Changes" (fall of the Communist government for Bulgaria) all across Soviet Block states including Poland, Croatia, Macedonia and Romania. Plus Greece has adopted the Chalga form of pop music as well. I haven't really addressed this either, but I hope to in the future.