Zdob și Zdub - Moldovenii s-au născut (official video)

my friends and ex-colleagues just released a new song and video… the message is somehow local, but I’m sure foreigners will find it cute, too, especially the ones that already like Zdob si Zdub :)

the music is based on the Italian Tarantella, the lyrics are about Moldovans being born somewhere on the edge of the world, where God wanted, on a bright day… among woods and hills, near a vine trunk, near a flock of white sheep, on a day full of joy etc etc :) very positive-like.

and of course the video is based on Moldovans (people, places) and is connected with Eurovision (the Grandma that beats the drum - 2005, and the pointy hats - 2011) and the Moldovans working abroad, especially Italy (at the end, the Taxi driver asks the Italian tourist to take that jar of sheep/feta cheese and give it to his wife that works in Rome…and tell her that he really misses her, loves her a lot and waits for her to come home)

link to the news on Zdob si Zdub website

Mama Illegal - Why Poverty?


this is an excerpt from a documentary film called “Mama Illegal”… i was thinking i wrote about it before, but searched my tumblr a bit and haven’t found anything.

anyway,

the official website

it’s a film by Ed Moschitz (Austrian journalist, working for ORF)

the film is the result of 7 years of work…

They gave the smugglers all their money and risk their life on their journey across borders: Three women from a small town in Moldavia, living now in Austria and Italy as cleaning women. On top of their hard job they live a life in illegality without documents, far away from their children and family for years. A film about the price of the dream of a better life.

the screening (here and there) of the film started at the end of summer… hopefully it will reach as many venues as possible

p.s.: the soundtrack is by Zdob si Zdub.

a sunny September Sunday in Chisinau

yesterday, Sunday, was a good day, for several reasons:

1. I got out of the house after almost 3 days of isolation, of physical and moral suffering. why the suffering? got braces. yes, at my age of 29. and yes, I know nobody cares, but I just like to publically pity myself :))

2. the weather in Chisinau (and Moldova generally) was great, sunny, but not too hot. we are having a late kind of summer now and it’s wonderful.

3. a great event took place in Chisinau - “Velohora” or, translated, “The Bikes’ Dance”. It’s more than an event, it’s a holiday, I would say, even if I’m not really biking and I didn’t really participate… but for Chisinau these pictures are amazing

source

source

more pictures - locals.md

they say there were more than 8000 people on bikes and they biked around 20 km. i was lazy enough to not wake up in the morning and see this happening :( but i went to the city center in the afternoon…and there was still this celebration feeling

but the main reason of me being there - the concerts (as part of the bike event) of my ex-colleagues: Cuibul and Zdob si Zdub, in the main square of the city. a friend also joined and we danced with lust :)) just in front of the stage.

here’s one of Zdob si Zdub’s songs that i like - Cucusor.

then lay a bit in hay (for a couple of pictures, not longer :)) ), in the middle of the square

then the friend and I met another friend and had a nice coffee drink.

4. and again ‘then’, ended up at the closing night of the Ethno Jazz Festival that took place last week in Chisinau. my camera was already too lazy to take ok pictures

musicians from Romania, India, Germany, Italy, Senegal, Brasil. was fun.

many good people, beautiful events. i like this kind of Sundays too.

another cool place in Zurich - Schiffbau, which is another former industrial building transformed into a cultural center (i really like this concept). These are historic shipbuilding halls…now used for a theater, restaurant, bar and club - Jazzclub Moods where Zdob si Zdub played this past weekend. and the wonderful benches outside…on which one can comfortably take a nap.
Zoom Info
another cool place in Zurich - Schiffbau, which is another former industrial building transformed into a cultural center (i really like this concept). These are historic shipbuilding halls…now used for a theater, restaurant, bar and club - Jazzclub Moods where Zdob si Zdub played this past weekend. and the wonderful benches outside…on which one can comfortably take a nap.
Zoom Info
another cool place in Zurich - Schiffbau, which is another former industrial building transformed into a cultural center (i really like this concept). These are historic shipbuilding halls…now used for a theater, restaurant, bar and club - Jazzclub Moods where Zdob si Zdub played this past weekend. and the wonderful benches outside…on which one can comfortably take a nap.
Zoom Info
another cool place in Zurich - Schiffbau, which is another former industrial building transformed into a cultural center (i really like this concept). These are historic shipbuilding halls…now used for a theater, restaurant, bar and club - Jazzclub Moods where Zdob si Zdub played this past weekend. and the wonderful benches outside…on which one can comfortably take a nap.
Zoom Info
another cool place in Zurich - Schiffbau, which is another former industrial building transformed into a cultural center (i really like this concept). These are historic shipbuilding halls…now used for a theater, restaurant, bar and club - Jazzclub Moods where Zdob si Zdub played this past weekend. and the wonderful benches outside…on which one can comfortably take a nap.
Zoom Info
another cool place in Zurich - Schiffbau, which is another former industrial building transformed into a cultural center (i really like this concept). These are historic shipbuilding halls…now used for a theater, restaurant, bar and club - Jazzclub Moods where Zdob si Zdub played this past weekend. and the wonderful benches outside…on which one can comfortably take a nap.
Zoom Info
another cool place in Zurich - Schiffbau, which is another former industrial building transformed into a cultural center (i really like this concept). These are historic shipbuilding halls…now used for a theater, restaurant, bar and club - Jazzclub Moods where Zdob si Zdub played this past weekend. and the wonderful benches outside…on which one can comfortably take a nap.
Zoom Info

another cool place in Zurich - Schiffbau, which is another former industrial building transformed into a cultural center (i really like this concept). These are historic shipbuilding halls…now used for a theater, restaurant, bar and club - Jazzclub Moods where Zdob si Zdub played this past weekend.

and the wonderful benches outside…on which one can comfortably take a nap.

Zdob si Zdub in Zurich Yesterday the Moldovan band Zdob si Zdub performed in Zurich, in Jazzclub Moods. Today they are playing in Munich and this will be the last concert of their club tour related to the release of the new album “Basta Mafia”. For me it was double pleasure… I like their music and they are very good live. Then, it’s always nice to meet friends and ex-colleagues. Some might think it’s pretty weird, but I still enjoy dancing at their concerts, in the first row :)) although I’ve been to so many Zdob si Zdub live performances… first one was in 1999… :) The guys looked and sounded great… the club was relatively full, people were happy dancing and singing along. It was a mixed crowd, of course… there is a diaspora effect, but it’s not like every Romanian, Moldovan or Russian would come to their concert, it’s mostly the ones that know and like ZsZ’s music. But there were also pretty many Swiss people and other nationalities… for example, after the concert we met 2 cool guys from the French part of Switzerland, that didn’t know about ZsZ but came to check them out… curiosity is great :) and also - different ages, from like 5-7 years old ones to 50. This is a common feature of ZsZ concerts. The musicians also enjoyed the gig. I wish them to have more in Switzerland and other countries :)
Zoom Info
Zdob si Zdub in Zurich Yesterday the Moldovan band Zdob si Zdub performed in Zurich, in Jazzclub Moods. Today they are playing in Munich and this will be the last concert of their club tour related to the release of the new album “Basta Mafia”. For me it was double pleasure… I like their music and they are very good live. Then, it’s always nice to meet friends and ex-colleagues. Some might think it’s pretty weird, but I still enjoy dancing at their concerts, in the first row :)) although I’ve been to so many Zdob si Zdub live performances… first one was in 1999… :) The guys looked and sounded great… the club was relatively full, people were happy dancing and singing along. It was a mixed crowd, of course… there is a diaspora effect, but it’s not like every Romanian, Moldovan or Russian would come to their concert, it’s mostly the ones that know and like ZsZ’s music. But there were also pretty many Swiss people and other nationalities… for example, after the concert we met 2 cool guys from the French part of Switzerland, that didn’t know about ZsZ but came to check them out… curiosity is great :) and also - different ages, from like 5-7 years old ones to 50. This is a common feature of ZsZ concerts. The musicians also enjoyed the gig. I wish them to have more in Switzerland and other countries :)
Zoom Info
Zdob si Zdub in Zurich Yesterday the Moldovan band Zdob si Zdub performed in Zurich, in Jazzclub Moods. Today they are playing in Munich and this will be the last concert of their club tour related to the release of the new album “Basta Mafia”. For me it was double pleasure… I like their music and they are very good live. Then, it’s always nice to meet friends and ex-colleagues. Some might think it’s pretty weird, but I still enjoy dancing at their concerts, in the first row :)) although I’ve been to so many Zdob si Zdub live performances… first one was in 1999… :) The guys looked and sounded great… the club was relatively full, people were happy dancing and singing along. It was a mixed crowd, of course… there is a diaspora effect, but it’s not like every Romanian, Moldovan or Russian would come to their concert, it’s mostly the ones that know and like ZsZ’s music. But there were also pretty many Swiss people and other nationalities… for example, after the concert we met 2 cool guys from the French part of Switzerland, that didn’t know about ZsZ but came to check them out… curiosity is great :) and also - different ages, from like 5-7 years old ones to 50. This is a common feature of ZsZ concerts. The musicians also enjoyed the gig. I wish them to have more in Switzerland and other countries :)
Zoom Info
Zdob si Zdub in Zurich Yesterday the Moldovan band Zdob si Zdub performed in Zurich, in Jazzclub Moods. Today they are playing in Munich and this will be the last concert of their club tour related to the release of the new album “Basta Mafia”. For me it was double pleasure… I like their music and they are very good live. Then, it’s always nice to meet friends and ex-colleagues. Some might think it’s pretty weird, but I still enjoy dancing at their concerts, in the first row :)) although I’ve been to so many Zdob si Zdub live performances… first one was in 1999… :) The guys looked and sounded great… the club was relatively full, people were happy dancing and singing along. It was a mixed crowd, of course… there is a diaspora effect, but it’s not like every Romanian, Moldovan or Russian would come to their concert, it’s mostly the ones that know and like ZsZ’s music. But there were also pretty many Swiss people and other nationalities… for example, after the concert we met 2 cool guys from the French part of Switzerland, that didn’t know about ZsZ but came to check them out… curiosity is great :) and also - different ages, from like 5-7 years old ones to 50. This is a common feature of ZsZ concerts. The musicians also enjoyed the gig. I wish them to have more in Switzerland and other countries :)
Zoom Info
Zdob si Zdub in Zurich Yesterday the Moldovan band Zdob si Zdub performed in Zurich, in Jazzclub Moods. Today they are playing in Munich and this will be the last concert of their club tour related to the release of the new album “Basta Mafia”. For me it was double pleasure… I like their music and they are very good live. Then, it’s always nice to meet friends and ex-colleagues. Some might think it’s pretty weird, but I still enjoy dancing at their concerts, in the first row :)) although I’ve been to so many Zdob si Zdub live performances… first one was in 1999… :) The guys looked and sounded great… the club was relatively full, people were happy dancing and singing along. It was a mixed crowd, of course… there is a diaspora effect, but it’s not like every Romanian, Moldovan or Russian would come to their concert, it’s mostly the ones that know and like ZsZ’s music. But there were also pretty many Swiss people and other nationalities… for example, after the concert we met 2 cool guys from the French part of Switzerland, that didn’t know about ZsZ but came to check them out… curiosity is great :) and also - different ages, from like 5-7 years old ones to 50. This is a common feature of ZsZ concerts. The musicians also enjoyed the gig. I wish them to have more in Switzerland and other countries :)
Zoom Info
Zdob si Zdub in Zurich Yesterday the Moldovan band Zdob si Zdub performed in Zurich, in Jazzclub Moods. Today they are playing in Munich and this will be the last concert of their club tour related to the release of the new album “Basta Mafia”. For me it was double pleasure… I like their music and they are very good live. Then, it’s always nice to meet friends and ex-colleagues. Some might think it’s pretty weird, but I still enjoy dancing at their concerts, in the first row :)) although I’ve been to so many Zdob si Zdub live performances… first one was in 1999… :) The guys looked and sounded great… the club was relatively full, people were happy dancing and singing along. It was a mixed crowd, of course… there is a diaspora effect, but it’s not like every Romanian, Moldovan or Russian would come to their concert, it’s mostly the ones that know and like ZsZ’s music. But there were also pretty many Swiss people and other nationalities… for example, after the concert we met 2 cool guys from the French part of Switzerland, that didn’t know about ZsZ but came to check them out… curiosity is great :) and also - different ages, from like 5-7 years old ones to 50. This is a common feature of ZsZ concerts. The musicians also enjoyed the gig. I wish them to have more in Switzerland and other countries :)
Zoom Info
Zdob si Zdub in Zurich Yesterday the Moldovan band Zdob si Zdub performed in Zurich, in Jazzclub Moods. Today they are playing in Munich and this will be the last concert of their club tour related to the release of the new album “Basta Mafia”. For me it was double pleasure… I like their music and they are very good live. Then, it’s always nice to meet friends and ex-colleagues. Some might think it’s pretty weird, but I still enjoy dancing at their concerts, in the first row :)) although I’ve been to so many Zdob si Zdub live performances… first one was in 1999… :) The guys looked and sounded great… the club was relatively full, people were happy dancing and singing along. It was a mixed crowd, of course… there is a diaspora effect, but it’s not like every Romanian, Moldovan or Russian would come to their concert, it’s mostly the ones that know and like ZsZ’s music. But there were also pretty many Swiss people and other nationalities… for example, after the concert we met 2 cool guys from the French part of Switzerland, that didn’t know about ZsZ but came to check them out… curiosity is great :) and also - different ages, from like 5-7 years old ones to 50. This is a common feature of ZsZ concerts. The musicians also enjoyed the gig. I wish them to have more in Switzerland and other countries :)
Zoom Info
Zdob si Zdub in Zurich Yesterday the Moldovan band Zdob si Zdub performed in Zurich, in Jazzclub Moods. Today they are playing in Munich and this will be the last concert of their club tour related to the release of the new album “Basta Mafia”. For me it was double pleasure… I like their music and they are very good live. Then, it’s always nice to meet friends and ex-colleagues. Some might think it’s pretty weird, but I still enjoy dancing at their concerts, in the first row :)) although I’ve been to so many Zdob si Zdub live performances… first one was in 1999… :) The guys looked and sounded great… the club was relatively full, people were happy dancing and singing along. It was a mixed crowd, of course… there is a diaspora effect, but it’s not like every Romanian, Moldovan or Russian would come to their concert, it’s mostly the ones that know and like ZsZ’s music. But there were also pretty many Swiss people and other nationalities… for example, after the concert we met 2 cool guys from the French part of Switzerland, that didn’t know about ZsZ but came to check them out… curiosity is great :) and also - different ages, from like 5-7 years old ones to 50. This is a common feature of ZsZ concerts. The musicians also enjoyed the gig. I wish them to have more in Switzerland and other countries :)
Zoom Info
Zdob si Zdub in Zurich Yesterday the Moldovan band Zdob si Zdub performed in Zurich, in Jazzclub Moods. Today they are playing in Munich and this will be the last concert of their club tour related to the release of the new album “Basta Mafia”. For me it was double pleasure… I like their music and they are very good live. Then, it’s always nice to meet friends and ex-colleagues. Some might think it’s pretty weird, but I still enjoy dancing at their concerts, in the first row :)) although I’ve been to so many Zdob si Zdub live performances… first one was in 1999… :) The guys looked and sounded great… the club was relatively full, people were happy dancing and singing along. It was a mixed crowd, of course… there is a diaspora effect, but it’s not like every Romanian, Moldovan or Russian would come to their concert, it’s mostly the ones that know and like ZsZ’s music. But there were also pretty many Swiss people and other nationalities… for example, after the concert we met 2 cool guys from the French part of Switzerland, that didn’t know about ZsZ but came to check them out… curiosity is great :) and also - different ages, from like 5-7 years old ones to 50. This is a common feature of ZsZ concerts. The musicians also enjoyed the gig. I wish them to have more in Switzerland and other countries :)
Zoom Info
Zdob si Zdub in Zurich Yesterday the Moldovan band Zdob si Zdub performed in Zurich, in Jazzclub Moods. Today they are playing in Munich and this will be the last concert of their club tour related to the release of the new album “Basta Mafia”. For me it was double pleasure… I like their music and they are very good live. Then, it’s always nice to meet friends and ex-colleagues. Some might think it’s pretty weird, but I still enjoy dancing at their concerts, in the first row :)) although I’ve been to so many Zdob si Zdub live performances… first one was in 1999… :) The guys looked and sounded great… the club was relatively full, people were happy dancing and singing along. It was a mixed crowd, of course… there is a diaspora effect, but it’s not like every Romanian, Moldovan or Russian would come to their concert, it’s mostly the ones that know and like ZsZ’s music. But there were also pretty many Swiss people and other nationalities… for example, after the concert we met 2 cool guys from the French part of Switzerland, that didn’t know about ZsZ but came to check them out… curiosity is great :) and also - different ages, from like 5-7 years old ones to 50. This is a common feature of ZsZ concerts. The musicians also enjoyed the gig. I wish them to have more in Switzerland and other countries :)
Zoom Info

Zdob si Zdub in Zurich

Yesterday the Moldovan band Zdob si Zdub performed in Zurich, in Jazzclub Moods. Today they are playing in Munich and this will be the last concert of their club tour related to the release of the new album “Basta Mafia”.

For me it was double pleasure… I like their music and they are very good live. Then, it’s always nice to meet friends and ex-colleagues. Some might think it’s pretty weird, but I still enjoy dancing at their concerts, in the first row :)) although I’ve been to so many Zdob si Zdub live performances… first one was in 1999… :)

The guys looked and sounded great… the club was relatively full, people were happy dancing and singing along. It was a mixed crowd, of course… there is a diaspora effect, but it’s not like every Romanian, Moldovan or Russian would come to their concert, it’s mostly the ones that know and like ZsZ’s music. But there were also pretty many Swiss people and other nationalities…

for example, after the concert we met 2 cool guys from the French part of Switzerland, that didn’t know about ZsZ but came to check them out… curiosity is great :)

and also - different ages, from like 5-7 years old ones to 50. This is a common feature of ZsZ concerts.

The musicians also enjoyed the gig. I wish them to have more in Switzerland and other countries :)

Zdob si Zdub - Basta Mafia

The Moldovan band Zdob si Zdub has released a new album - “Basta Mafia” (here is the link to the press release and online shop).

or listen on Deezer.com

As I wrote in a previous post - For people that know and love Zdob si Zdub for their previous albums, this new one will be a bit of a change :) but rash conclusions should not be drawn. when i

t is out, give it a few listens and enjoy it for what it is, do not compare :)”

I like most of the songs on it.

p.s.: with a bit of google, one can find the album in a different way (you haven’t read it here :)) )

Zdob si Zdub, the band that I worked with for a couple of years, is releasing a new album on January 27, 2012. The album is titled ”Basta Mafia”.

”So lucky”, the 2011 Eurovision song, is on the album… For people that know and love Zdob si Zdub for their previous albums, this new one will be a bit of a change :) but rash conclusions should not be drawn. when it is out, give it a few listens and enjoy it for what it is, do not compare :)

And Zdob si Zdub will do some touring in support of the album. Here are the dates and places. I am glad they are also coming to Zurich, on March 10. It will be fun!