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!
This week’s video is Kanykei’s “Sadagam” (Садагам) from the soundtrack for the movie “Salam, New York”. The movie is about a Kyrgyz guy who goes to New York City to follow his dreams… or something, I don’t actually know the full synopsis. It was made by some of the same people who made “Bishkek, I love you” a movie that didn’t receive many kind reviews from foreign critics (aka, my friends that saw it). But from what I’ve heard about “Salam, New York” so far, it sounds like it’s a big improvement.
Ahh, Kanykei. I love her, I’m kind of obsessed with her (walking around New York in a very Carrie Bradshaw-esque tulle dress, how bold!), but can we please tone it down on the autotune? This is a somber-sounding tune that could’ve used more raw, powerful vocals, rather than falling back on digital presets, a talent she has! I would know, I once fell into an hours-long Youtube-watching spree of every Kanykei video I could find, many of which were live.
Oh yeah, and the electric guitar that chimes in right before the key change? Let’s not even talk about it.
But other than those little criticisms, it’s a good song. Farrell has been wandering around the apartment singing along to it (although that would probably happen with any song that I play four times in a row).
Happy Friday!