History of the Bulgarian estrada pop music - 4

published on 2/22/13 9:50 AM

Pasha Hristova

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In the wake of the 1960s the young Bulgarian pop music demonstrated a remarkable diversity in trends. However, one major line in its development was lyricism bordering on pathetic overtones and intense drama. New trends emerged as well and this was clearly seen at the two major pop song contests in the country at that time, The Golden Orpheus Festival in Sunny Beach and Melody of the Year television competition.

Lilly Ivanova

The “emotional” temperature of a some other songs was even higher, as reviewers termed them lyrical-pathetic. We have selected two genuine evergreens from amongst them. The first one is The Moon Sonata is by Angel Zaberski in the emotional rendition of Lilly Ivanova. Back at that time Lilly Ivanova and Pasha Hristova were competing for the leading position as female stars in Bulgarian pop music. Unfortunately the talented Pasha died aged 25 in a plane crash in 1971. Before that, she had provided a brilliant performance of Blow, Wind by the classic songwriter Yosif Tsankov beautifully revealing her generous voice. It was given the Grand Prix at the 1970 edition of The Golden Orpheus.

Dramatic overtones were very much in the vogue back in the late 1960s and the early 1970s and they could be heard in the songs of the then-young songwriter Toncho Roussev. One of them was Are You a Dream performed by Lilly Ivanova. It was the winner of the Grand Prix from Melody of the Year televised competition in 1970. The lyrics are by one of the leading poets of that time, Pavel Matev.

Maria Neykova and Mihail Belchev

During the late 1960s and the early 1970s, composer Petar Stoupel emerged as a master of reserved lyricism. He wrote the popular song Belated Encounters on lyrics by poet Petar Karaangov. The song was performed by a successful duo: Maria Neykova and Mikhail Belchev.

Margret Nikolova and Kiril Semov

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

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По публикацията работи: Rose-Mary Staelova

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