Silk Road Secret Agents: Rough Guide to 70s Estradayin
04.22.25
“Estradayin”, more broadly known throughout the former USSR as “estrada” (“variety music”), is a sentimental blend of jazz, funk, and classical music inspired by folk traditions, Soviet urban life, stage performance, and pop trends from the other side of the Iron Curtain fueling a great sociopolitical rivalry. All former subjects of the USSR produced a local version of estrada music, distributed by the state-run label Melodiya and resulting in an incredibly diverse catalog of cultural identities sewn together via the values that enforced Soviet hegemony. Upon deeper inspection, one can encounter many compelling answers to Western disco, R&B, funk, soul, and jazz music underneath the blanket genre of estrada music.
This set dives into the Soviet Armenian estrada scene during its golden age; the 1970s. Naturally, these songs glorify the familiarities of life in the capital city of Yerevan, and also provide an insightful glimpse into the core of the Armenian musical spirit. Special thanks to the Armenian Radio Archive for making this music available for listening on their smartphone app and YouTube channel!
Tracklist:
With permission from, and thanks to, the Armenian Radio Archive
Konstan Orbelyan – “Astghatap” (“Starfall”) [1976]
Artashes Avetyan, Lola Khomiants – “Koghba Yelan Selere” (“They Went To Koghba”) [1979]
Robert Ghasabyan – “Du Im Hpart Hay Aghchig” (“You’re My Proud Armenian Girl”) [1972]
Adiss Harmandian – “Mi Khantir” (“Don’t Be Jealous”) [1976]
Eduard Israyelyan – “Paraphrase” [1972]
Elvina Makaryan – “Ur Ek Tghaner?” (“Where Are You Guys?”) [1973]
Georgy Minasyan – “Yerevan” [1973]
Raisa Mkrtchyan – “Loosabats” (“Sunrise”) [1977]
Aramayis Abrahamian – “Aynpes Uzum Em” (“I Want It That Way”) [1979]
Arno Babajanian – “Tonakan Yerevan” (“Festive Yerevan”) [1979]
Hovhannes Badalyan – “Yerevani Djur” (“Water of Yerevan”) [1977]
Karpis Libaryan – “Heravor Im Mayr Hayastan” (“My Distant Mother Armenia”) [1974]
Melik Mavisakalyan – “Dvin” [1979]
Roksana Babayan – “Vorqan Tsankatsa” (“How Much I Wanted”) [1976]
Raisa Mkrtchyan – “Yerevani Aravode” (“Morning of Yerevan”) [1973]
Artashes Avetyan, Lola Khomiants – “Sev Acher” (“Black Eyes”) [1979]
Bella Darbinyan – “Zepyuri Nman” (“Like A Breeze”) [1973]
Ruben Matevosyan – “Sarer” (“Mountains”) [1976]
Ruslan Galstyan – “Oosh Gisherin” (“Late Night”) [1978]
Tatevik Babloyan – “Garnan Ganche” (“Spring Call”) [1978]
Varduhi Khachatryan – “Makhmur Aghchig” (“Innocent Girl”) [1977]
Zara Tonikyan – “Du Im Yergn Es” (“You Are My Song”) [1979]
Artemi Ayvazyan – “Caravan” [1976]
Elvina Makaryan – “Patanekootyan Janaparh” (“The Way Of Youth”) [1974]
Georgy Minasyan – “Sev Acherov Aghchig” (“Black-Eyed Girl”) [1977]
Melania Abovyan – “Kartsiknerov Oorishi” (“In The Opinions of Others”) [1973]
Konstantin Petrosyan – “Garniyi Dzoroon” (“In Garni Canyon”) [1978]
Raisa Mkrtchyan – “Hey Astgher, Astgher” (“Hey, Stars”) [1970]
Artashes Avetyan, Lola Khomiants – “Ganchum Em” (“I’m Calling”) [1979]
Robert Amirkhanyan – “Astghalits Yerginq” (“Starry Sky”) [1979]
Tatevik Hovhannisyan – “Zhpta” (“Smile”) [1976]
Zara Tonikyan – “Im Kapuyt Yeraz” (“My Blue Dream”) [1975]
Raisa Mkrtchyan – “Sirtis Aygoo Hovitoom” (“In The Valley of My Heart’s Park”) [1977]
Aleksey Hekimyan – “Im Hayastan” (“My Armenia”) [1976]
