O'lmas Olloberganov spoke about the situations at the weddings in the valley and the unskilled singers
Born in Bukhara, originally from Khorezm, the singer O‘lmas Olloberganov gave an interview to “Daryo.” During the conversation, he criticized some trending singers for not knowing what art truly is, and he pointed out that the people themselves request light, danceable songs.
“I would try to 'hang on' because I had no money”
— There is a difference between a person who knows nothing about music and someone who can understand and enjoy it. Music educates a person; such a person cannot do evil. During our student years, there were artistic councils. Poets, composers, and singers would listen to the performers, and if there were cases of singing incorrectly, they would be reprimanded. Those who could sing well and showcase themselves were given free access to the recording studio every Wednesday. We were interested in that; we were students, after all, and we had no money. So we would try to sing 2-3 songs well to get in. Those recordings are now preserved in the Golden Heritage Fund.
“People themselves request such songs”
— Now, however, there is freedom; everything has become easy and carefree. We have come to such a time. Water either becomes muddy and returns to itself, or it remains as it is and gets worse — that is a tragedy. At weddings, people request songs that have become popular among the public. What can you say, it’s a wedding after all. Especially in Bukhara, Navoi, and Samarkand, they only dance in circles. If you play while “ringing” that circle, people will keep dancing. I don’t know if that has become the demand of the time. You can’t ask why you are doing this, why you are dancing to this. Well, we hope that whatever we criticize will improve.
“Some current singers do not know what art is, actually”
— Some of the current top singers do not actually know what Uzbek art is. They neither enjoy art nor understand it. They start to understand only at the age of 30-40. In the past, the people recognized singers who sang in a high pitch. This was the case in both Bukhara and Khorezm. If someone sang a bit lower, they could say that it was because their voice was low. However, even if they sang in a very high pitch, their health would deteriorate. I think Komiljon Otaniyozov and Jo‘raxon Sultonov also went through that. They were singers who hadn’t even reached 60. Ma’murjon Uzoqov was said to be unable to sing; it was a stroke. It is said that he passed away resting his head on the knee of Shukur Burxonov in Margilan. Those singers who passed away while singing, says O‘lmas Olloberganov.
