Azis
| Azis | |
|---|---|
| Native name | Васил Трaянов Боянов |
| Birth name | Vasil Trayanov Boyanov |
| Also known as | Азис |
| Born |
7 March 1978[1][2] Sliven, Bulgaria[2] |
| Genres | Chalga, pop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, musician, writer, activist, television show host |
| Years active | 1999-present |
Azis (Bulgarian: Азис) (born Vasil Trayanov Boyanov; Bulgarian: Васил Трaянов Боянов) (born 7 March 1978) is a Bulgarian Chalga (pop-folk) singer, of Bulgarian Roma (Gypsy) descent.[3][4] He is known for his unusual gender expression[5] and his flamboyant persona. Azis has collaborated with other Bulgarian pop-folk (Chalga) singers, such as Gloria, Malina, Sofi Marinova, Toni Storaro, as well as Indira Radić (a Serbian singer), and with Bulgarian rap artists - Ustata and Vanko 1.[6][7] At the 2006 Eurovision song contest, he performed Let me cry with Mariana Popova, reaching the semi-finals.[8][9] Azis competed unsuccessfully in the Bulgarian parliamentary election of 2005 as a member of the EuroRoma party.[10]
Biography
Azis' 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, was born. Azis married Niki Kitaetsa (in Bulgarian: Ники Китаеца, which means Nick the Chinese) on 1 October 2006. Their marriage is not legally recognized under Bulgarian law.[11] Azis' daughter, who was conceived via artificial insemination was born on 5 August 2007 and was named "Raya". Her biological mother is Azis' longtime friend, Gala.[11] In 2008, Azis and Niki Kitaetsa separated amicably.[12]
Homosexuality controversies
In late November 2007, Boyko Borisov, mayor of Sofia, censored billboards of Azis kissing Niki Kitaetsa, which pictured both men shirtless on the basis they were too graphic in nature. The picture was then censored in other cities in Bulgaria.[13] The Bulgarian LGBT social movement, Gemini, objected.[14][15][16]
Appearances
- Azis and Kitaetsa appeared in the VIP Brother 2 version of Big Brother Bulgaria. Azis left the house voluntarily after nineteen days.[10]
- Azis is interviewed in the second episode of Michael Palin's New Europe.
- In 2008 on PRO.BG, the Bulgarian national television channel, Azis co-hosted a talk show, Azis's Late Night Show with an actress, Ekaterina Evro.
- In August 2012, Anonymous used the video clip to Azis's song Мразиш to deface the website of the Khamovnichesky court, where the members of the band Pussy Riot were convicted.[17]
Covers
Panos Kiamos, made a cover of Azis' single Sen Trope entitled, Fotia me Fotia, (Fire to Fire). In November 2012, Giorgos Tsalikis made a cover of Azis' song Hop, entitled Asto, (Let it). In 2013, Florin Salam, a Romanian singer, covered Azis' song, Sen Trope (Saint Tropez). In 2012, Enka Mutfagi, a Turkish gay singer, covered this song (Alayina Zam).
Discography
Studio albums
| 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 | |
| 2003 | На голо | Na golo | 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 | |
| 2006 | Дива | Diva | Diva |
| 2011 | Гадна порода | Gadna Poroda | Nasty breed |
| 2014 | Azis 2014 | Azis 2014 |
Compilation albums
| 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)
| Year | Original title | Transliteration | Meaning in English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Целувай ме+ | Tseluvay me+ | Kiss me+ |
| 2004 | Как боли | Kak boli | How it hurts |
Videography / Singles
| Year | Original title | Transliteration | Meaning in English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | "Болка" | Bolka | Pain |
| 2000 | "Мъжете също плачат" | Mazhete sashto plachat | Men cry too |
| 2000 | "Автомонтьор" | Avtomontyor | Auto mechanic |
| 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 Савић) | 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 | No where |
| 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 a try (feat. Andrea) |
| 2012 | "Ти за мен си само секс" | Ti za men si samo seks | For me, you're just sex |
| 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 Toni Storaro) | Kolko sme pili | How we drank |
| 2014 | "Миконос" | Mykonos | |
| 2014 | Estar Loco (with Giorgos Tsalikis) | Be crazy (Giorgos Tsalikis) | |
| 2014 | "Чуй ме" (дует с Мария) | Chuy me | Listen to me (with Maria) |
DVDs
- 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
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.
Books
- Аз, Азис (Book and CD) (2006)
Awards
Azis has received awards from the "New Folk" annual awards, (in Bulgarian Годишни награди на "Нов фолк"):
- 2000: Best Singer
- 2001: Best media presence
- 2001: Best Album "Tears" (Award NMTS and "New Folk")
- 2002: Best Singer
- 2002: Best media presence / Best stage presence
- 2002: Best Album (Award NMTS and "New Folk")
- 2003: Best media presence
- 2003: Best Singer
- 2003: Outstanding Achievement Award
- 2003: Best Album (Award NMTS and "New Folk")
- 2004: Best stage presence
- 2004: Best Singer
- 2005: Best stage presence
- 2005: Best Music Video for "Не знаеш" (Na Znaesh) by Malina and Azis
- 2005: Best Singer
- 2005: Experimental Effort (Дима стил - Dima stil Award)
- 2005: Best ringtone for "Обречи ме на любов"
- 2007: Best media presence
- 2008: Best media presence
- 2011: Best Singer
References
- ↑ "Профилът на Азис" [Azis Profile]. Slava.bg. Retrieved 4 January 2014. (Translation on Google Translate.)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Silverman, Carol (24 May 2012). Romani Routes: Cultural Politics and Balkan Music in Diaspora. Oxford University Press. p. 189. 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.
- ↑ Richardson, J., ed. (2013). The Oxford Handbook of New Audiovisual Aesthetics. Google Books (Oxford University Press). p. 444. ISBN 9780199733866. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ↑ Haj-Najafa, D. (12 May 2009). "Kitsch of the Day, Azis i Ustata’s ‘Tochno Sega’". Men's Fashion blog. New York Times. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ↑ Watkins, R.; Deliso, C. (2008). Bulgaria. Google Books (Lonely Planet). p. 52. ISBN 9781741044744. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 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.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 "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. 29 April 2008. Retrieved 4 January 2014. (Translation on Google Translate.)
- ↑ "Свалят скандални билбордове на Азис и Китаеца в София" [Download scandalous billboards Azis and Chinese in Sofia]. news.bg. ibox. 20 November 2007. (Translation on Google Translate.)
- ↑ "Gemini website".
- ↑ Kourtova P, Attwood F, et al (ed.) (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.
- ↑ "Anonymous defaces website of court that convicted Pussy Riot". The Guardian (United Kingdom). 22 August 2012.
External links
- "Azis Bulgaria". Azis official fanpage website. Retrieved 1 January 2014.