Croatia On Chalga

Talking of Bulgaria and turbofolk, Jutarnji list in Croatia has noticed that the latter is rather popular in the former, now that there's a Ceca Ražnatović-shaped hook for it to be hung on.

Not failing to mention that the Bulgarian leg of Ceca's Rainbow Tour didn't actually work out as well has had been expected, JL's woman in Sofia devotes most attention to the local chalga scene which has taken root 'even though Serbian narodnjaci are there valued as the authentic ones, and therefore better quality to the domestic ones' - and the starring role of 'the eroticised Lepa Brena and Ceca' in inspiring Bulgarian pop-folk, so that now:

'Chalga is the local name for turbo-folk, and in recent years Bulgarians' cultural landscape cannot be imagined without turbo-folk. Narodnjaci surely aren't the best thing that Bulgaria is bringing into Europe, but currently they are the loudest thing a European hears when he enters the new future member of the EU.'

Or maybe candidates who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones?

Post-Štikla: Chalga Follows Ganga

Even leaving Evropesma to one side, Severina's role as the most controversal entrant in this year's Eurovision contest may be short-lived: Bulgarian National Televsion (BNT) has announced that the chalga singer Azis will take part in Eurovision alongside the winner of Saturday's pre-selection event, Mariana Popova.

The Gazette is trying, and failing, to find a non-sensationalist way of describing Azis as a transvestite Roma singer of the Bulgarian equivalent of turbofolk, who's flirted with politics and probably many other things too, and who released an explicit autobiography (soon to be in need of a new edition?) some days ago.

According to the Doteurovision website: 'He did not take part in the national final, since it was thought his popularity could sway the vote.' This is something of an understatement: suffice it to say that Azis could make Severina look uncontroversial, and possibly will.

He's certainly the only participant this year with an asteroid named after him...