Azis
Encyclopedia
Azis (born Vasili Troyanov Boyanov Katsuras (Васил Троянов Боянов) on 7 March 1978) is a Bulgaria
n Romani chalga
(pop-folk
) singer known for, among other things, his atypical gender expression and his flamboyant persona.
His discography includes: "Celuvai Me" (2003), "Na Golo" (2003), "Kraliat" (2004), "Together" with Desi Slava
(2004). Azis has recorded and performed many songs with some of the most popular Bulgarian pop-folk singers, like Gloriya, Malina, Sofi Marinova
, Toni Storaro, singer Indira Radić
and also the rap performer Ustata.
Azis also performed alongside Mariana Popova
in the Semi-Final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2006 with the song Let Me Cry. The song, however, did not qualify for the grand finale.
He began his political career in 2005 as a member of the Evroroma political party and ran in the general elections campaign in the summer of 2005, but did not receive enough votes to become a member of Parliament.
In the 2006 TV programme Velikite Balgari
(the Bulgarian version of the 2002 Greatest Britons
from BBC
), Azis was elected as the 21st greatest Bulgarian of all time (and was in fact the second ranking living person on the list, after football player Hristo Stoichkov
, who was 12th).
On 1 October 2006, Azis married his husband Niki Kitaetsa. Their marriage is not legally recognized given the laws of Bulgaria.
Azis appeared on the VIP Brother 2 version of Big Brother Bulgaria alongside Niki Kitaetsa. Azis left the house voluntarily after nineteen days.
On 5 August 2007 Azis became a father to a daughter conceived via artificial insemination
; the baby's name is Raya and her mother is Azis' life-long friend Gala.
Azis appears on Episode 2 of Michael Palin
's New Europe, in which he is interviewed through use of an interpreter.
At the end of November 2007, scandal erupted when Boiko Borisov, then-mayor of Sofia, elected to take down billboards with pictures of Azis kissing his husband. Both men were shirtless in the campaign. Although Borisov said the posters were too graphic, much more explicit advertising could be found all over Sofia, which has led the LGBT social movement
Gemini and the director of TV2 that hosts the show to speculate that the same-sex nature of the ad, as opposed to its racy content, led to its removal. These posters are to be removed from towns all over the country.
Beginning from 2008, Azis is the host, alongside with actress Ekaterina Evro, of the critically acclaimed talk-show entitled "Azis's Late Night Show". It airs on the national channel PRO.BG.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n Romani chalga
Chalga
Chalga is a Bulgarian music genre. It is a blend of Arabic, Balkan, Bulgarian, Greek and Turkish influences, as well as motives from flamenco, filmi and klezmer music...
(pop-folk
Pop-folk
Pop-folk is the umbrella term for the popular musical genres originating in the Balkans and Eastern Europe that are characteristic by the fusion of commercial folk music and "nightclub" music. The term is used alternatively for Turbo-folk and Chalga and is mostly used in Bulgaria...
) singer known for, among other things, his atypical gender expression and his flamboyant persona.
His discography includes: "Celuvai Me" (2003), "Na Golo" (2003), "Kraliat" (2004), "Together" with Desi Slava
Desi Slava
Desislava Ivanova Doneva , better known as Desi Slava is a Bulgarian singer of pop-folk and pop music. Desi Slava is considered to be one of the greatest voices of contemporary Bulgarian music, being able to perform in different styles, from jazz to rock and pop-folk.Slava had a son in 2000, who...
(2004). Azis has recorded and performed many songs with some of the most popular Bulgarian pop-folk singers, like Gloriya, Malina, Sofi Marinova
Sofi Marinova
Sofi Marinova is a chalga singer from Bulgaria.Her boyfriend as of 2010 is "Dacho", who appeared on the third season of VIP Brother in Bulgaria.-Albums:*Edinstven moi/Only Mine *Moiat sun/My Dream...
, Toni Storaro, singer Indira Radić
Indira Radic
Indira Radić is a Serbian folk, turbo-folk, pop-folk and pop singer. She has established herself on the Balkan music scene without creating controversy in the mass media.-Early life:...
and also the rap performer Ustata.
Azis also performed alongside Mariana Popova
Mariana Popova
Mariana Popova is a Bulgarian singer. She is known for representing Bulgaria at the Eurovision Song Contest 2006.- Biography :...
in the Semi-Final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2006 with the song Let Me Cry. The song, however, did not qualify for the grand finale.
He began his political career in 2005 as a member of the Evroroma political party and ran in the general elections campaign in the summer of 2005, but did not receive enough votes to become a member of Parliament.
In the 2006 TV programme Velikite Balgari
Velikite Balgari
Velikite Balgari was the Bulgarian spin-off of the 2002 Greatest Britons program produced by the BBC. Aired on the Bulgarian National Television's Kanal 1, its first stage began on 9 June 2006 and finished on 10 December, with a show on 23 December announcing the names of the Top 100 as chosen by...
(the Bulgarian version of the 2002 Greatest Britons
Greatest Britons
Greatest Britons was a one-off awards show on ITV, celebrating the best of British talent. It is distinct from 100 Greatest Britons.Greatest Britons recognises the most creative and successful people from across the UK who've achieved worldwide fame within their professional fields. The winners of...
from BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
), Azis was elected as the 21st greatest Bulgarian of all time (and was in fact the second ranking living person on the list, after football player Hristo Stoichkov
Hristo Stoichkov
Hristo Stoichkov Stoichkov , sometimes Stoitchkov; born 8 February 1966 in Plovdiv) is a retired Bulgarian footballer. He is regarded as one of the best footballers of his generation and the greatest Bulgarian footballer of all time. Nicknamed The Dagger , The Dog , The Modern Left...
, who was 12th).
On 1 October 2006, Azis married his husband Niki Kitaetsa. Their marriage is not legally recognized given the laws of Bulgaria.
Azis appeared on the VIP Brother 2 version of Big Brother Bulgaria alongside Niki Kitaetsa. Azis left the house voluntarily after nineteen days.
On 5 August 2007 Azis became a father to a daughter conceived via artificial insemination
Artificial insemination
Artificial insemination, or AI, is the process by which sperm is placed into the reproductive tract of a female for the purpose of impregnating the female by using means other than sexual intercourse or natural insemination...
; the baby's name is Raya and her mother is Azis' life-long friend Gala.
Azis appears on Episode 2 of Michael Palin
Michael Palin
Michael Edward Palin, CBE FRGS is an English comedian, actor, writer and television presenter best known for being one of the members of the comedy group Monty Python and for his travel documentaries....
's New Europe, in which he is interviewed through use of an interpreter.
At the end of November 2007, scandal erupted when Boiko Borisov, then-mayor of Sofia, elected to take down billboards with pictures of Azis kissing his husband. Both men were shirtless in the campaign. Although Borisov said the posters were too graphic, much more explicit advertising could be found all over Sofia, which has led the LGBT social movement
LGBT social movements
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender social movements share inter-related goals of social acceptance of sexual and gender minorities. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and their allies have a long history of campaigning for what is generally called LGBT rights, also called gay...
Gemini and the director of TV2 that hosts the show to speculate that the same-sex nature of the ad, as opposed to its racy content, led to its removal. These posters are to be removed from towns all over the country.
Beginning from 2008, Azis is the host, alongside with actress Ekaterina Evro, of the critically acclaimed talk-show entitled "Azis's Late Night Show". It airs on the national channel PRO.BG.
Discography
- Pain (1999) - (Болка)
- Men also cry (2000) - (Мъжете също плачат)
- Tears (2001) - (Сълзи)
- AZIS (2002)
- The Best (2002)
- The Nude (2003) - (На голо)
- Kiss me + (2003) - (Целувай ме +/Celuvaj me)
- Nude Gorda (2003) - (На голо/Na golo)
- The king (2004) - (Кралят/Kraljat)
- Together (with Desislava) (2004) - (Заедно/Zaedno)
- 2005 (2005) - (2005)
- Duets (2005) - (Дуети/Dueti)
- Diva (2006) - (Дива/Diva)
- The Best 2 (2007)
- Gadna Poroda (2011)