Favorite Video of the Week: Sofia Marinova


Sofi Marinova – Lubovni Dumi (Love words)

I’ve discussed Chalga a few times on this blog. It’s one of my musical guilty pleasures. The music is crass, perverted and has become the gooey pop stuff of Bulgarian airwaves. At one time though, Chlaga was known as the Gypsy peoples’ music, traditional with a bit of modern kick. Lots of the newer Chalga is smashed together with American soul sounding runs, reggaeton and hip-hop. And like the genres it emulates, it’s all covered with that characteristic over-produced glossy sheen that somebody, somewhere finds appealing.

In the quest for new sounds to mix with, this Chalga song has moved into a musical sphere that one can proudly listen to with the windows down in the car. It’s a stripped down, old skool bumpin’ beat layered over with a Greek folk tune –Tha Spaso Koupes– plaintively sung by one of Bulgaria’s top pop artists, Sofi Marinova. Add to that some real Gypsy sounding Balkan brass and you got my choice for video of the week!

sofia


Eleftheria Arvanitaki – Tha Spaso Koupes
The original Tha Spaso Koupes

BBC’s take on Chalga.
An American in Bulgaria discusses Chalga clubs.

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