Kazakh Pop Stars Ninety One Break 'Taboo' on Political Lyrics

 ALMATY (Reuters) - References to George Orwell and Aldous Huxley aren't precisely what one expects to pay attention in a pop music, least of all within the vital Asian nation of Kazakhstan in which the political scene has been ruled by means of one celebration for nearly three many years.

So while 91, a popular local band, launched a music and a music video titled "Taboo" in the very last days of 2020, it became possibly to attract interest from beyond their regular fanbase.

Having garnered more than 3 million perspectives on YouTube, the music appears to have struck a chord with Kazakhs fatigued with the aid of the pandemic, financial woes, corruption and a lack of significant political opposition.

Written by and large in Kazakh, the tune uses intricate wordplay to make references, among others, to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and effective former President Nursultan Nazarbayev, earlier than list a few popular grievances.

"Orwell would not have been surprised by our united states of america, Huxley could were silent and in full agreement," move the lyrics, relating to the authors of the dystopian technology fiction novels "1984" and "brave New global".

The music mentions the limitless depreciation of the tenge foreign money and the "dementors" of kingdom procurement - twinning the wraithlike soul-suckers from the Harry Potter books and movies with a place of public life typically seemed because the domain of corrupt officials.

"Say 'Neo, wake up!' and you are a dissident," it is going on - a nod to the Keanu Reeves cult film "The Matrix" - earlier than making an obvious connection with a extensively criticised selection to have fun Nazarbayev's eightieth birthday last July with fireworks amid a spike in COVID-19 cases and deaths.

authorities of the capital metropolis Nur-Sultan - named after the ex-president - defended the circulate by means of saying the fireworks were prepared in advance, paid for with the aid of private sponsors and intended to raise the spirits of scientific people. Kazakhstan held a countrywide day of mourning for COVID-19 victims per week later.

'SELF-CENSORSHIP'

91, whose name refers to the yr oil-rich Kazakhstan gained independence, have constantly been mavericks on the former Soviet republic's pop scene.

refrained from with the aid of nearby tv stations, the band have depended on YouTube and social media to set up themselves as mainstream trendsetters of the "Q-Pop" - the country is spelt "Qazaqstan" in its personal Latin script - style.

also unusually, 91 in no way perform at the non-public parties which can be a key supply of income for plenty Kazakh performers.

The band's producer, Yerbolat Bedelkhan, stated whilst the idea of freeing a track that specialize in social problems has been at the desk for a long term, the band become guided to a big extent by using what they had been hearing from fans.

"Our fanatics are young humans and the voice of the youths must be heard," he stated in an interview. "tune is tender strength."

in keeping with band member Zaq, the music, produced in collaboration with local rap band Irina Kairatovna, additionally highlights self-censorship followed with the aid of Kazakh society in trendy and showbusiness especially.

"Why 'Taboo'? because it seems we aren't allowed to say many stuff," he stated. "however nobody has in reality stated that this isn't allowed... it is people themselves who think that they should not say sure matters."

Fellow band member Ace described the song as an workout in "musical journalism".

In contrast to the rest of the lyrics, the tune's chorus is positive, with traces along with "darkish days are over, there may be no limit in advance".

but, at the cease of the music video, wherein all performers are sat at a spherical desk, all people angrily leaves the assembly, refusing to shake hands with the two refrain performers - who some viewers noticed as symbolising Tokayev and Nazarbayev.

The band and its producer, but, might not touch upon the tune's allegories, referring to its personal lyrics: "The meaning is in your head and those are just letters".AZlyrics