Azis
{{short description|Bulgarian singer (born 1978)}}
{{about|the Bulgarian musician|other uses|Azis (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{family name hatnote|Troyanov|Boyanov|lang=Bulgarian}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Azis
| image = File:Azis in 2018 (cropped).png
| birth_name = Vasil Troyanov Boyanov
| native_name = Азис
| alias = Azis
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1978|03|07}}{{cite web |url=http://www.slava.bg/profiles/590.html |website=Slava.bg |title=Профилът на Азис |language=bg |trans-title=Azis Profile |access-date=4 January 2014}}{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lw-Byail0EkC&pg=PA189 | title=Romani Routes: Cultural Politics and Balkan Music in Diaspora | first=Carol | last=Silverman | publisher=Oxford University Press | date=24 May 2012 | page=189 | access-date=3 January 2014| isbn=9780195300949 }}
| birth_place = Sliven, Bulgaria
| occupation = Singer, musician, writer, activist, television show host
| years_active = 1999–present
| instruments = Vocals
| label =
| website =
}}
Vasil Troyanov Boyanov ({{Langx|bg|Васил Троянов Боянов}}; born 7 March 1978), professionally known as Azis ({{Langx|bg|Азис|link=no}}), is a Bulgarian recording artist of Romani ethnicity.{{cite book |last=Samson |first=J. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yJ60SHL4R-0C&q=azis+bulgaria&pg=PA610 |title=Music in the Balkans |publisher=BRILL |year=2013 |page=610 |isbn=9789004250383 |access-date=1 January 2014}}{{cite book |last=Kenrick |first=D. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Yoqi_Q0ch3wC&q=azis+bulgaria&pg=PA35 |title=The A to Z of the Gypsies (Romanies)|publisher=Scarecrow Press |year=2010 |page=35 |isbn=9781461672272 |access-date=1 January 2014}} Azis initially rose to prominence in Eastern Europe performing songs mostly in chalga, a genre which can be described as the Bulgarian rendition of pop-folk.
Azis has collaborated with other Bulgarian pop-folk singers, such as Gloria, Malina, Sofi Marinova, Toni Storaro, and with Bulgarian rap artists – Ustata and Vanko 1.{{cite web |last=Haj-Najafa |first=D. |url=http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/12/kitsch-of-the-day-azis-i-ustatas-tochno-sega/?_r=0 |title=Kitsch of the Day, Azis i Ustata's 'Tochno Sega' |id= Men's Fashion blog |work= The New York Times |date= 12 May 2009 |access-date=1 January 2014}}{{cite book |last1=Watkins |first1=R. |last2=Deliso |first2=C. |url= https://archive.org/details/bulgaria00watk |url-access=registration |quote=azis bulgaria. |title=Bulgaria |via=Internet Archive |publisher=Lonely Planet |year=2008 |page=[https://archive.org/details/bulgaria00watk/page/52 52] |isbn=9781741044744 |access-date=1 January 2014}} Other than that, his repertoire includes duets with singers from the former Yugoslavia, including Indira Radić, Marta Savić, Jelena Karleuša, Severina and Tea Tairović.
Boyanov performed "Let Me Cry" at the Eurovision Song Contest 2006 with Mariana Popova, staying in the semi-finals.{{cite book |last=Taras |first=R |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1tzmoDGaQbcC&q=azis+bulgaria&pg=PA200 |title=Europe Old and New: Transnationalism, Belonging, Xenophobia |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |year=2008 |page=200 |isbn=9780742557345 |access-date=1 January 2014}}{{cite book |editor1-last=Fricker |editor1-first=K |editor2-last=Gluhovic |editor2-first=M |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1_UgbrZObhAC&q=azis+bulgaria&pg=PT127 |title=Performing the 'New' Europe: Identities, Feelings and Politics in the Eurovision Song Contest |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |year=2013 |isbn=9781137367976 |access-date=1 January 2014}}
Other than his acclaimed career as a vocalist, he competed unsuccessfully in the 2005 Bulgarian parliamentary election as a member of the Euroroma party.{{cite book |last=Imre |first=A |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TcE9fIPwFLMC&q=Azis+euroroma&pg=PA125 |title=Identity Games: Globalization and the Transformation of Media Cultures in the New Europe |publisher=MIT Press |year=2009 |page=125 |isbn=9780262090452 |access-date=1 January 2014}}
Azis remains a prominent figure in the Bulgarian music scene.
Biography
Vasil Troyanov Boyanov was born into a modest Roma family{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.dw.com/en/azis-they-forgave-me-for-being-gay-and-roma-due-to-my-voice/video-70522153#:~:text=Vasil%20Troyanov%20Boyanov%20or%20Azis,dressed%20as%20a%20drag%20queen. |title='They forgave me for being gay and Roma due to my voice' – DW – 10/17/2024 |language=en |access-date=2024-12-07 |via=www.dw.com}} in Sliven, Bulgaria. He spent his childhood in Kostinbrod and Sofia. In 1989, after the fall of communism in Bulgaria, he moved with his family to Germany. There, his sister, Matilda, and brother Ryan were born. Azis married Nikolay "Niki Kitaetsa" Petrov Parvanov on 1 October 2006. Their marriage is not legally recognized under Bulgarian law.{{cite news|url=http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=83861 |title=Bulgaria's Gay Idol Becomes Father |website=Novinite.com|date=5 August 2007|access-date=4 January 2014}} Azis' daughter was born on 5 August 2007 and was named Raya. Her mother is Azis' longtime friend, Gala. In 2008, Azis and Parvanov separated amicably.{{cite web|url=http://www.vsekiden.com/28784/азис-и-китаеца-се-разделиха-без-сканда/ |title=Азис и Китаеца се разделиха без скандали |language=bg |trans-title=Azis and a Chinese parted without scandals |website=vsekiden.com |date=29 April 2008 |access-date=29 December 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104061035/http://www.vsekiden.com/28784/%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%B8%D1%81-%D0%B8-%D0%BA%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%B5%D1%86%D0%B0-%D1%81%D0%B5-%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B8%D1%85%D0%B0-%D0%B1%D0%B5%D0%B7-%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B4%D0%B0/ |archive-date=4 January 2014 }}
Controversies
In late November 2007, Boyko Borisov, then mayor of Sofia, censored billboards of Azis kissing Niki Kitaetsa, which pictured both men shirtless{{cite book |editor=Kourtova P |editor2=Attwood F |display-editors=etal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G7YfCyNfYpAC&q=azis+bulgaria&pg=PA63 |title=Controversial Images: Media Representations on the Edge |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |year=2012 |page=60 |isbn=9781137291998 |access-date=1 January 2014}}{{cite book |vauthors=Daskalova K, etal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AdncMOtCFZoC&q=azis+bulgaria&pg=PA85 |title=Gendering Post-socialist Transition: Studies of Changing Gender Perspectives |publisher=LIT Verlag Münster |year=2012 |page=85 |isbn=9783643902290 |access-date=1 January 2014}} on the basis they were too graphic in nature. The picture was then censored in other cities in Bulgaria.{{cite web |url=https://news.bg/regions/svalyat-skandalni-bilbordove-na-azis-i-kitaetsa-v-sofiya.html |title=Свалят скандални билбордове на Азис и Китаеца в София |language=bg |trans-title=Download scandalous billboards Azis and Kitaetsa in Sofia |website=news.bg |date=20 November 2007}}
In 2021, Azis was scheduled to perform at the Balkan Fair in Kestel, Bursa, Turkey, but the performance was cancelled after a campaign by Islamists targeting Azis' LGBT identity.{{cite news |last1=Buyuk |first1=Hamdi Firat |title=Islamist Backlash Cancels Bulgarian LGBT Star's Concert in Turkey |url=https://balkaninsight.com/2021/09/14/islamist-backlash-cancels-bulgarian-lgbt-stars-concert-in-turkey/ |access-date=14 September 2021 |work=Balkan Insight |date=14 September 2021}}
Appearances
- In 2007, Azis and Kitaetsa appeared in the VIP Brother 2 edition of Big Brother Bulgaria. Azis left the house voluntarily after nineteen days.
- Azis was interviewed in the second episode of Michael Palin's New Europe.
- In 2008 on PRO.BG, Azis co-hosted the talk show Azis' Late Night Show with actress Ekaterina Evro.
- In August 2012, Anonymous used the video clip to Azis' song "Mrazish" to deface the website of the Russian court Khamovnichesky, where the members of the band Pussy Riot were convicted.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/aug/22/anonymous-website-court-pussy-riot |title=Anonymous defaces website of court that convicted Pussy Riot |newspaper=The Guardian |location=United Kingdom |date=22 August 2012}}
- Azis was a contestant on the widely popular reality show Kato dve kapki voda, which is the Bulgarian version of Your Face Sounds Familiar. After twelve weeks and a wide specter of highly praised and enjoyed performances, he placed second. In early 2021, he was announced as one of the returning participants in the forthcoming ninth All Stars season of the show.
Covers
Greek laïko vocalist Panos Kiamos, made a cover of Azis' single "Sen Trope" entitled "Fotia me Fotia" (Fire to Fire). Serbian turbo-folk singer Dragan Kojić Keba covered the same song as "Ona to zna" (She Knows That), as well as the Romanian singer Florin Salam as "Saint Tropez".
In November 2012, the Greek singer Giorgos Tsalikis made a cover of Azis' song "Hop", entitled "Asto" (Let it).
Discography
= Studio albums =
| class="sortable wikitable"
!Year!!Original title!!Transliteration !! Meaning in English | |||
| 1999 | Болка | Bolka | Pain |
| 2000 | Мъжете също плачат | Mazhete sashto plachat | Men also cry |
| 2001 | Сълзи | Salzi | Tears |
| 2002 | AZIS | Azis | AZIS |
| 2003 | На голо | Na golo | In the nude |
| 2004 | Кралят | Kralyat | The King |
| 2004 | Together- Заедно с Деси Слава | Together- Zaedno s Desi Slava | Together (with Desi Slava) |
| 2005 | AZIS 2005 | Azis 2005 | AZIS 2005 |
| 2006 | Дива | Diva | Diva |
| 2011 | Гадна порода | Gadna Poroda | Nasty breed |
| 2014 | Azis 2014 | Azis 2014 | Azis 2014 |
= Compilation albums =
| class="sortable wikitable"
!Year!!Original title!!Transliteration !! Meaning in English | |||
| 2002 | The Best | The Best | |
| 2005 | Дуети | Dueti | Duets |
| 2005 | The Best 2 | The Best 2 |
= EPs ([[maxi single]]s) =
| class="sortable wikitable"
!Year!!Original title!!Transliteration !! Meaning in English | |||
| 2003 | Целувай ме+ | Tseluvay me+ | Kiss me+ |
| 2004 | Как боли | Kak boli | How it hurts |
| 2016 | Хабиби | Habibi | Habibi |
=Videography / songs=
| class="sortable wikitable"
!Year!!Original title!! Transliteration !! Translation | |||
| 1999 | "Болка" | Bolka | Pain |
| 1999 | "Автомонтьор" | Avtomontyor | Auto mechanic |
| 2000 | "Мъжете също плачат" | Mazhete sashto plachat | Men cry too |
| 2001 | "Хвани ме де" | Hvani me de | Catch me |
| 2001 | "Обичам те" | Obicham te | I love you |
| 2002 | "Няма" | Nyama | I won't |
| 2002 | "Делник и празник" (дует с Кали) | Delnik i praznik | Weekday and weekend (with Kali) |
| 2002 | "Дай ми го дай" | Day mi go day | Give it to me |
| 2003 | "Всеки път" | Vseki pat | Every time |
| 2003 | "Никой не може" | Nikoy ne mozhe | No one can |
| 2003 | "Целувай ме" | Tseluvay me | Kiss me |
| 2004 | "Как боли" | Kak boli | How it hurts |
| 2004 | "Хайде почвай ме" | Hayde pochvay me | Let me soil |
| 2004 | "Не сме безгрешни" (дует с Глория) | Ne sme bezgreshni | We're not sinless (with Gloria) |
| 2004 | "Казваш, че ме обичаш" (дует с Деси Слава) | Kazvash, che me obichash | You say that you love me (with Desi Slava) |
| 2004 | "Но казвам ти стига" | No kazvam ti stiga | But I'm telling you to stop |
| 2004 | "Ледена кралица" | Ledena kralitsa | Ice Queen |
| 2004 | "Жадувам" | Zhaduvam | Crave |
| 2005 | "Обречи ме на любов" | Obrechi me na lyubov | Condemn me to love |
| 2005 | "Точно сега" (дует с Устата) | Tochno sega | Right now (with Ustata) |
| 2005 | "Верността е лъжа" (дует с Марта Савич) | Vernostta e lazha | Devotion is a lie (with Marta Savić) |
| 2005 | "Не знаеш" (дует с Малина) | Ne znaesh | You don't know (with Malina) |
| 2005 | "Като скитница" | Kato skitnitsa | Like a Wanderer |
| 2006 | "Празнуваш ли сега" | Praznuvash li sega | Are you celebrating now |
| 2006 | "Черните очи" (дует с Малина) | Chernite ochi | The black eyes (with Malina) |
| 2006 | "Тежко ли ти е" | Tezhko li ti e | Is it hard for you |
| 2007 | "Подлудяваш ме" | Podludyavash me | You drive me crazy |
| 2009 | "Теб обичам" | Teb obicham | Loving you |
| 2009 | "Накарай ме" | Nakaray me | Make me |
| 2009 | "Имаш ли сърце" | Imash li sartse | Do you have a heart |
| 2010 | "Дай ми лед" | Day mi led | Give me ice |
| 2010 | "Луд ме правиш" (дует с Ванко 1) | Lud me pravish | You make me crazy (with Vanko 1) |
| 2010 | "Удряй ме" | Udryay me | Hit me |
| 2011 | "Няма накъде" | Nyama nakade | Nowhere |
| 2011 | "Мразиш" | Mrazish | Hate |
| 2011 | "Гадна порода" | Gadna poroda | Nasty breed |
| 2011 | "Хоп" | Hop | Hop |
| 2011 | "Сен Тропе" | Sen Trope | Saint-Tropez |
| 2012 | "MMA" | — | — |
| 2012 | "Кажи честно" | Kazhi chestno | Tell me honestly |
| 2012 | "Пробвай се" (дует с Андреа) | Probvay se | Give it a try (feat. Andrea) |
| 2012 | "Ти за мен си само секс" | Ti za men si samo seks | You're just sex for me |
| 2012 | "Коледа" | Koleda | Christmas |
| 2012 | "Нещо мръсно" | Neshto mrasno | Something dirty |
| 2013 | "Евала" | Evala | Well done |
| 2013 | "Хайде на морето" | Hayde na moreto | Let's go to the sea |
| 2013 | "Ти ме размаза" | Ti me razmaza | You crushed me |
| 2013 | "Като тебе втори няма" (дует с Ванко 1) | Kato tebe vtori nyama | There's nobody like you (with Vanko 1) |
| 2014 | "Ти ли си" (дует с Ваня) | Ti li si | Is it you (with Vanya) |
| 2014 | "Пий цяла нощ" | Piy tsyala nosht | Drink all night |
| 2014 | "Колко сме пили" (with Тони Стораро) | Kolko sme pili | How much we drank (with Toni Storaro) |
| 2014 | "Миконос" | Mykonos | — |
| 2014 | "Каза ли го" (дует с Мария) | Kaza li go (with Maria) | did you say it (with Maria) |
| 2014 | Estar Loco (with Giorgos Tsalikis) | — | To be crazy (Giorgos Tsalikis) |
| 2014 | "Чуй ме" (дует с Мария) | Chuy me | Hear me (with Maria) |
| 2015 | "Джанъм, джанъм" | Djanam, djanam | Darling, darling |
| 2015 | "Моля те не ми звъни" (дует с Мария) | Molya te ne mi zvani | Please don't call me (with Maria) |
| 2015 | "Блокиран" (дует с Фики) | Blokiran | Blocked (with Fiki) |
| 2015 | "Хабиби" | Habibi | Habibi |
| 2017 | "Мотел" | Motel | Motel |
| 2018 | "Позна ли ме?" | Pozna li me? | Did you recognize me? |
| 2019 | "Жено, бягай" | Zheno, byagai | Run, woman |
| 2019 | "Циганче" | Ciganche | Gypsy kid |
| 2020 | "Who cares?" | Who cares? | Who cares? |
| 2020 | "Сагапо" | Sagapo | Sagapo |
| 2020 | "Тясно" | Tyasno | Narrow |
| 2022 | "Мой си бе" | Moy si be | Boy, you are mine |
| 2022 | "Пистолет" | Pistolet | Pistol |
| 2022 | "Airport" | Airport | Airport |
| 2023 | "По, По, По" | Po, Po, Po | Better, Better, Better |
| 2024 | "Казах "не" | Kazah "ne" | I said "no" |
| 2024 | "Лудница" | "Ludnitsa" | Madhouse |
| 2024 | "Диаманти и пари" | "Diamanti i pari" | Diamonds and money |
| 2024 | "Хубавица" | "Hubavitsa" | Pretty woman |
| 2024 | "Катастрофа" | "Katastrofa" | Crash |
| 2024 | "Мръсница" | "Mrusnitsa" | Slut |
| 2024 | "Хубаво ли ти е" | "Hubavo li ti e" | Are you feeling well? |
| 2024 | "Пак ми звъниш" | "Pak mi zvynish" | You are calling me again |
= DVDs =
- 2003: Шоу спектакъл
- 2004: Нищо лично
- 2004: The best videoclips
- 2004: Together with Desi Slava
- 2005: AZIS 2005
- 2005: Дуети (Duets)
- 2006: Аз, Азис ( I, Azis) (CD)
- 2007: Azis
= Collaborations =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name ! scope="col" style="width:15em;" | Title ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Artist(s) ! scope="col" | Album |
| scope="row" | "Sezam"
| rowspan="1" |2011 |
|---|
| scope="row" | "Mama"
| rowspan="1" |2012 | 13 |
| scope="row" | "Fališ mi"
| rowspan="1" |2022 | Severina | |
| scope="row" | "Katastrofa"
| rowspan="1" |2024 | |
Books
- Аз, Азис (Book and CD) (2006)
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commonscat}}
- {{Instagram}}
- {{AllMusic|id=azis-mn0002084981|title=Azis}}
{{Music of Southeastern Europe (the Balkans)}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Azis}}
Category:Bulgarian expatriates in Germany
Category:Bulgarian pop singers
Category:Bulgarian folk-pop singers
Category:Bulgarian people of Romani descent
Category:Musicians from Sliven
Category:Bulgarian non-binary people
Category:Bulgarian LGBTQ singers
Category:Bulgarian television personalities
Category:Big Brother (Bulgarian TV series) contestants
Category:20th-century Bulgarian LGBTQ people