Maggie Halvadzhiyan for Lili Ivanova: The Bulgarian music queen!

MAGGIE HALVADJIANfilm and television producer:
“LILY IVANOVA IS EVERYTHING A LEGEND SHOULD BE”

I don’t think she’s been appreciated enough, as far as awards go lately, for the pinnacle of music that she is. Yes, the world has its King of Rock and Roll, and that’s Elvis Presley, it’s got its King of Pop, and this is michael jackson. And we have our Bulgarian, local music queen! And this is Lily Ivanova! And yes, she should be heralded as such because her career is truly remarkable.

Interview of Prof. Dr. Margarita Pesheva

1. What is Lili Ivanova for you? A national musical icon who expresses the Bulgarian song tradition in an inimitable way? Or is the “Lili Ivanova” phenomenon a vivid proof of this very high professionalism, which inevitably leads to great and indisputable successes in the profession?

– Lili Ivanova is everything a legend should be in order to be called one. Lily embodies several things:– first of all, iron professionalism, which means – to be able to turn your back on everything for the sake of a goal, to be 1000% dedicated to your profession, to constantly set an example for young people who think that the sea is up to their knees, and that creative successes happen just like that, somewhat by accident. Lily actually proves that there is nothing accidental in life and in the profession. Those who know her closely know very well the hardships she has undergone throughout her life in order for her career to be what it is and to be able, even at this age, to comfortably perform two-hour concerts.

There are very few people in Bulgaria who can be called “Legend”. And we need such Legends. Because a nation unites around people who set an example throughout their lives. For Bulgarians, Vasil Levski is a saint, he fought to the end for the realization of the Bulgarian ideal. That is why we all bow down to Levski, we teach our children who Levski is and what he fought for.
In the same way, in songwriting we have our own Lili Ivanova.

Lily is not an artist about whom you can enter into an argument, to explain why someone likes her, and another does not like her. There are simply things that are truly above these arguments. These are things far above the low passions of the disputants. In music, these are creative phenomena that you cannot deny, simply because to deny them shows how incompetent and, unfortunately, limited you are. Because only limited people do not recognize talent, do not respect authority, do not respect legends.

2. What do you appreciate most about her songs? The exceptional texts of Ivan Vazov, Pencho Slaveikov, Peyo Yavorov, Damian Damyanov, Pavel Matev? Or the magnificent music of Alexander Yosifov, Toncho Rusev, Nayden Andreev? Or the modern arrangements of the songs that fit the current trends in fun music? Or, above all, is her exceptional talent as a performer constantly evolving and changing, her gift not just to sing, but to experience each song, offering it to the heart and soul of the audience?

– All the greatest Bulgarian poets, composers and musicians worked with Lili Ivanova by chance. Simply because there are no random things with her. And there is a reason for that! The reason is her amazing voice and extraordinary talent. The main reason I like Lily is her 1000% dedication to work, and her immense talent. I like these qualities of hers, and I believe in her success. The combination of poetry, music and arrangements combined with her voice practically build that whole package of creative qualities for a music to live for decades. Lili Ivanova offers her audience exactly that. She emotionally touches her with songs that carry the messages of many great Bulgarian poets and composers. In general, her songs are truly a first-class creative product, which the Bulgarian listener badly needs. She sings not only about love, but also about the meaning of human life, about good and evil in the difficult life path. That’s why the audience just adores her.

3. How has the media image of Lili Ivanova changed for you over the years? Does it become more vivid, understandable and desirable – in the context of her enormous popularity, love and dedication to the audience, which are truly unparalleled in our musical culture?

– Many of Lily’s songs have been undisputed hits for decades. For me, the most valuable thing about her is that she was able to go through the years and keep her musical style. She’s not a Madonna who switches styles and thus ensures her longevity. While Lili Ivanova managed to keep what she was before. At the same time – without taking into account the years, time and fashions, she managed not only to preserve, but also to constantly increase her audience. It is undoubtedly a unique phenomenon. Usually, singers who don’t change their musical style quickly get tired of the audience and they forget them. It’s just that new generations of performers are coming on the scene. Audiences mostly want trendy tracks, original mannerism and singing style, etc. While Lily, preserving her musical style, managed to be interesting to her audience for many decades. There are young people who have not yet been born when she is already a favorite singer who has her own huge audience. And even these young people listen to her songs today. This speaks, in itself, of what a unique phenomenon Lili Ivanova is.

4. How big is the role of Bulgarian Television and Bulgarian Radio in building its public image as the leader in Bulgarian entertainment music? In your opinion, is the BG Radio award given to Lili Ivanova in 2023 deserved? for “the greatest Bulgarian pop artist of all time”?

– I have said many times that there is no established star system in Bulgaria. This is a very special system that exists in much of the Western world. In this system, the media come together and create an exclusive image of a certain artist, movie star, famous athlete, etc. This is not the case in Bulgaria. In our country, things happen randomly, chaotically, and for that reason I don’t think that modern television and radio in the last 30 years have decisively contributed to Lily being as big a star as she really is.
What makes Lily who she is is herself. Her strength of character, fierce discipline, and immense musical talent made her what she is. Her approach to things, the way she does the concerts, sells the tickets, the way she shrouds her private life in mystique – it’s all uniquely hers. achievements. She is not so much a product of the media, which in most cases lacks the necessary competence to build her image as a music star.

Lily has won an award for the most pop artist of all time, but she’s not exactly a pop artist. She is more of a pop singer, a style that is widespread in Italy. This type of singing is still present today at the San Remo Festival. It’s not exactly pop music, but rather musical hits that are very harmonious and touch people’s hearts. I don’t think she’s been appreciated enough, as far as awards go lately, for the pinnacle of music that she is. Yes, the world has its King of Rock and Roll, and that’s Elvis Presley, it’s got its King of Pop, and this is michael jackson. And we have our Bulgarian, local music queen! And this is Lily Ivanova! And yes, she should be heralded as such because her career is truly remarkable. Even the very fact that the moment she announces a concert, no matter in which town, the tickets are sold out in a flash – that says a lot more than a thousand words in the world.

5. Do you think that Lili Ivanova is a kind of “national musical brand” of Bulgarian culture and national soul?

– I don’t think that Lili Ivanova should be defined or placed in any stereotypes, what exactly is she really like? The media still owes her a lot today, since it is they who create a halo around an artist. I think we need a Legend like Lily. Together with other big names in music such as Pasha Hristova, Emil Dimitrov, Yordanka Hristova. These are huge names that the media really owes! Because we ultimately have so few things we can be proud of, that when we have such people, the media has a national task to take care of the great artists, the real musical talents. Because the Bulgarian nation needs to believe, to support the good things it has created. This role of the media has somehow been lost in time. I think the media is to blame. They mostly prefer to show only the bad things, because they think that the bad news is more sought after. No! It disgusts the nation, it inevitably lowers the bar. The exact opposite should happen! Because we have creative personalities who are an example of national pride! Lili Ivanova is one of them.