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the Beard
of the Camel
|
The first western release by the leading popular musical
group in Central Asia. The music of "Yalla," whose name is an
Uzbek word for a song accompanied by dancing, incorporates traditional ethnic folk tunes
and poetry of their native Uzbekistan and other Central Asian and Middle Eastern cultures,
along with contemporary pop and dance influences, into a unique international blend that
spells "d-a-n-c-e" in any language.
| "... about guaranteed to get you
undulating across your living room. . . . Yalla has created a desert landscape with
a rock'n roll soul" |
— Laurel Victoria Gray
Habibi
(full text of review) |
Sound samples:
- My Uzbekistan
[length=24 seconds, file size=260KB,
format=11 kHz/8 bit/mono .WAV]
My Uzbekistan
[length=58 seconds, file size=668KB,
format=150 kbps/stereo .WMV (Windows Media)]
- The Musical Chaikhana
[length=66 seconds, file size=792KB,
format=150 kbps/stereo .WMV (Windows Media)]
- Song of Mulla Nasreddin
[length=63 seconds, file size=727KB,
format=150 kbps/stereo .WMV (Windows Media)]
- Hammom (Turkish Bath)
[length=18 seconds, file size=194KB,
format=11 kHz/8 bit/mono .WAV]
CD: 70950-11010-2-4, CS: 70950-11010-4-8
(total time: 58:52)
Album Contents:
- My
Uzbekistan
(music: unknown; words: Narulla Narzullayev)
Uzbekistan -- a newly independent state in Central Asia
-- lies south of Russia, north of Afghanistan, and west of China. My country is like a
beautiful flower garden. I burn with love for my motherland; I sing of you, oh my
homeland. "Yalla" is the name of a type of Uzbek song accompanied by
dancing.
- Tubiteika
(music: Farrukh Zakirov; words: Yevgeni Berezikov)
A "tubiteika" is a traditional Uzbek hat,
square in shape and often decorated with colorful embroidery. I am dancing with my
friend Lola. She is young and beautiful, the girl of my dreams. She wears a tubiteka like
a talisman of love for me.
- Chinara
(music: Farrukh Zakirov; words: Larisa Rubalskaya)
The "chinara," or plane tree, is very common
in Uzbekistan. Growing very large and often hundreds of years old, the chinara is a symbol
of wisdom. Under the chinara, I wait all night for Gulnara. Oh, chinara, how many
centuries have you grown? How many times have you witnessed separation, sadness, and love?
- Abdullah
(music: Farrukh Zakirov, Alishier Tulyaganov; words:
Muhammad Yusuf)
A conversation between young Abdulla and his father:
Abdulla wants to quit school and get married: "Please, let me do it!"
In a traditional Uzbek family, a son must receive his father's permission for marriage.
- Shakhrisabz
(music: Farrukh Zakirov; words: Yevgeni Berezikov)
Shakhrisabz is one of the oldest Uzbek cities. Known as
the "Pearl of the East," it was a city of philosophers and poets. If you
haven't seen Shakhrisabz, we invite you to come visit.
- Leili
(music: Farrukh Zakirov; words: Batir Zakirov)
Leili was the last poem written by the famous
Uzbek singer and poet Batir Zakirov (brother of Farrukh Zakirov). The poet was fascinated
by the Arabic legend of Leili and Mejnun, a story of eternal love. This song is a memorial
of love for his Leili, for whom the poet searched in vain all his life.
- Baka-Bang
(music: Farrukh Zakirov; words: Alexei Didurov)
Tight-rope walking is a common traditional form of
entertainment in Uzbekistan. The tight-rope walker's motto: If you fall down from the
tight-rope, don't cry; just get back up again.
- The Musical Chaikhana
(music: Farrukh Zakirov; words: Yevgeni Berezikov)
The chaikhana, an outdoor cafe where men gather to talk
and drink tea ("chai"), is a cultural institution of Central Asia. In the
East, what is the sky without the moon? In the East, what is tea without a chaikhana?
-
Song of Mulla Nasreddin
(music: traditional Uzbek; words: new version by
Turab Tula)
Mulla (or Khodja) Nasreddin is a character from
traditional Middle Eastern epic literature, a perpetual wit with an unending supply of
subtle jokes.
For an example of one of the many stories about Nasreddin, see Khodja Nasreddin Stories.
- Ghaira, Ghaira
(music & words: traditional Uzbek)
A beautiful young woman is walking in a garden in the
evening. Although there are four tall, thick walls surrounding the garden, her lover
appears and sings a serenade for her.
- Hammom
(music: Farrukh Zakirov; words: Yuri Entin)
The "hammom," or Turkish bath, is a place for
cleasing both body and soul — a universal panacea. If you feel sick, tired or old,
if you are unhappy in love or unsuccessful in business, please hurry to the Turkish bath.
- The Carefree Beauty
(music: Farrukh Zakirov; words: Abdulla Aripov, Russian
text by Oleg Dmitriev & Yuri Entin)
In this twist on the theme of unrequited love, the femme
fatale appears oblivious to the broken hearts she leaves in her path. When I was
singing the songs of love to my sweetheart, she wouldn't listen to me. But when I stopped
paying attention to her, she came to me right away!
- Uch Kuduk
(music: Farrukh Zakirov; words: Yuri Entin)
Uch Kuduk is an oasis town in a desert area of
Uzbekistan named for the three wells that provided water for travelers. Since the 1950's
it has developed into a modern city, springing up like a mirage in the Kizil-Kum desert.
- Amon-Yor
(music & words: traditional, with new lyrics by
Ozod Karimov)
A traditional song from the Ferghana valley region of
Uzbekistan. The handsome youth asks the girl: "Please, braid your hair in small
braids, and let's dance and sing the songs together."
- Beard of the Camel
(music: Farrukh Zakirov; words: Yevgeni Berezikov)
Only the very brave are able to ride the "ship of
the desert." But where, oh where, did the camel get such a big beard?
About Yalla...
Habibi review (Laurel
Victoria Gray)...
"Òðóä" newspaper
interview (in Russian)
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