Under communism all spheres of cultural life in Bulgaria came under strict supervision from the state authorities. Pop music made no exception. Back in the late 1960s authors in popular music were given an assignment by government leadership to provide for greater diversity of themes and styles. Songwriters were advised to address folklore or comedy for inspiration. In this line Atanas Boyadzhiev and poet Bogomil Goudev created a very successful song that drew motifs from urban folklore. The song I Dreamt a Dream won the Grand Prix at the 1969 edition of The Golden Orpheus Festival. The song was performed by Margaret Nikolova and Kiril Semov.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s the Bulgarian pop music scene saw the rise of humorous songs. The song Grotesque by Alexander Yosifov on lyrics by Dimitar Tochev was about a two average guys traveling in Europe and declaring their patriotism. The song was however banned because control bodies decided it could be viewed as ironic to communist leader Todor Zhivkov.
We end our journey to the Bulgarian pop music achievements in the late 1960s and early 1970s with examples of songs based on youth themes. My Brother by Atanas Naumov is a good song based on a children’s theme. The most famous work in this vein was One Bulgarian Rose by Dimitar Vultchev written especially for the World Youth Festival held in Sofia back in 1968. It is still remembered today in the rendition of star Pasha Hristova.
Translated by Daniela Konstantinova
Previous editions:180113historyofEstradapopsong.aspx
A concert performance of the stage cantata Carmina Burana by Carl Orff in Sofia has turned into a celebration for music lovers and a testament to the power of music to melt ice in diplomacy. For the first time, three orchestras from three..
Six years ago, on the day of the first day of spring, several Bulgarian women living in Brussels, driven by their love for their native folklore and the strength of their roots, decided to create their own creative corner , where this love would find..
Ostava band starts the year with a new song and a mini club tour. "Vinoven/Guilty" is the title of the new single, which confidently marks the path to a new album. The music and lyrics are once again by Svilen Noev, the frontman and one of the two main..
Irina Florin is one of the Bulgarian musicians with a strong sense of modernity in all its dimensions. The latest trends are reflected in her music, with..
On the occasion of their 25th anniversary, the lords of good mood, DEEP ZONE Project, are gifting their fans a brand new modern Afro House remix of their..
Mostly Cloudy
Partly Cloudy
Partly cloudy, chance of rain