More of last year’s best chalga songs. I found these on a Payner Music compilation you can buy here: Pajner Hit Sezoni – Esen 2009. Most of the songs are good so go ahead and listen to the whole CD if you like these…

Za Posledno – Galena

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Dushata V Raia – Elena

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Moite zadryjki – Maria (Mariq)

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THIS WEEKEND!! January 15th and 16th.

The Golden Festival, one of the largest Balkan music events in the New York are will take place this weekend in upper Manhattan with shows of more than 40 bands on three stages. The festival will have something for everyone from Bulgarian and Arabian folk music to Japanese Gypsy punk.

Don’t miss the shows of

Zlatne Uste, hosts of the festival and multiple time special guests to Guca festival in Serbia.
Yuri Yunakov Ensemble, masters of Bulgarian Rromani wedding music, residents of New York’s Bulgarian Bar Mehanata.
Kagero, the Japanese Gypsy punks from Brooklyn who’ll get the crowd jumping within minutes.
Romashka, another New York based band authentic Balkan music.

Come of Friday and Saturday to Good Shepherd School for two nights of Balkan music, dance & border-crossing celebration

Good Shepherd School
620 Isham (near 207th St. and B’way)
Manhattan, New York

Visit Golden Fest main page for more info.

Here are some more of my favorite Bulgarian Chalga of 2009.

Mnogo Sladko – Malina & Galena

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Tupalka – Iliqn

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Moi – Malina i Galena

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2009 has been a productive year for the Bulgarian musicians mixing everything from Hip-Hop to Dance into intoxicating brass band driven pop.  I’ll start this retrospective of the best Bulgarian chalga of the year with one of my favorite Sofi Marinova & Ustata tracks that came out late last fall.  The video is ridiculously funny as well.

Bate Shefe – Sofi Marinova & Ustata

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Shazalakazoo is putting up their first album, one of the best Balkan music releases of the past year.  With influences spanning all of the Balkans and more, this Belgrade duo is creating a great sound by mixing samples from traditional songs, vinyl scratching and electronic beats and effects.  Preview and buy Speaking Balkanian here or on Shazalakazoo soundcloud page.