Kyrgyz Music Friday is a weekly feature in which I post a pop music video from an artist in Kyrgyzstan. It could be catchy, annoying, funny, insightful, brilliant, awful, or anything in between. It’s what’s playing on the radio, what all the cool kids are listening to these days. Kyrgyz Music Friday is not trying to appeal to your musical taste (which I’m sure is awesome), but simply gives you a glimpse into how pop music is done on this side of the world. Feel free to share your thoughts on this week’s video in the comment section!
Feedback suggests that you guys seem to like Kyrgyz Music Friday, so here we go with another one!
This week is “Kyrgyzstanim” (it means “Kyrgyzstan” in Kyrgyz) by Omar, who might just be my favorite heartthrob singer in Kyrgyzstan. I have been lucky enough to see him not once, but twice live (once at an outdoor concert on Nouruz). From personal experience, I can tell you that he does make the ladies swoon. (Or maybe it was just me, I’m a total fan)
“Kyrgyzstanim” is, as you could probably guess, Omar’s anthem to everything that’s wonderful about Kyrgyzstan. The video includes everything a Kyrgyz person would be proud to brag about. Stunning mountain landscapes? Romantic sunsets over a glistening Issyk Kul? Unrivaled horsemanship? Globally recognized wrestling skills? Eagle hunting? (Oh, those city shots at the beginning of the video are most definitely not from Kyrgyzstan, womp womp)
By the end of the video, it’s all too much awesomeness for Omar to handle, as he drops to his knees on a mountaintop, waving a Kyrgyz flag.
As for the song, it’s sung in Kyrgyz, so I’m not sure what exactly the lyrics are. As a former teeny bopper, the riffs and hooks are definitely familiar to me and easily get caught in my head. I could do without the hair metal guitar solo in the middle, but, as I’m discovering through my research, it’s unfortunately a mainstay in pop music here.
What do you think, have a lit a spark of love and admiration in your hearts for Omar? Or could you not even make it through the whole video?
I stopped watching the video right after those city shots at the beginning. I don’t know why our fantastic people adore high-rise buildings…
If you want to listen to something patriotic, try this one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlNPtWOkO3k
I wondered about the big river shown in the city – I have no recollection of a river in Bishkek – was I just jet lagged? Anyway, I thought they did a decent job of showing off their country and the music was catchy. Actually, you should post this on FB and invite all your friends to give up 3 minutes of their time to see more of the country you live in.
Thanks for your blog, I’m coming for a couple weeks in a week and it’s nice to get a feel for the place.
A friend suggested that Omar would’ve been smarter to take inspiration from this Iceland tourism video to show off the country in a less ridiculous way http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HG92NUXKzZ0
so epic, tragic, dying from his lov to country. if so – the video doesn’t seem appropriate to it 0_o. i was expecting he d jump out from the mountian and die, cuz his gestures n movements r so (funny) deep n killing. + dressed stupidly
Hi there, this is Omar.
Sorry for disturbing, but first let me thank you for spending so much time to write a review of my music video on your blog. Secondly, I would like to tell you about the city shots in the beginning. They demonstrate how Kyrgyz athletes are defending the Kyrgyz flag in other countries, such as China, which is where the shot was taken in 2008, and England.
Anyways, I appreciate your kind opinion about me and my music. I hope you enjoy my next music video, which will come out very soon.
With Love,
Omar.
Thanks for the explanation, and I can’t wait to see your next video!
soooooooooooooooooooooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnn:)))
Omar thank you for vidio, I respect you.