Three Georgian girls “Mandili. Three Georgian girls “Mandili Trio of Georgian girls
Three cheerful young Georgians could not imagine that they would soon become an Internet sensation when they recorded a song while walking along the countryside.
Three cheerful young Georgians had no idea they would soon become internet sensations when they recorded a video selfie while walking along country lanes this month. But already on the same day, three girlfriends watched with surprise as the number of views on YouTube, coupled with mentions on Reddit and the social network Facebook, soared.
The story of the rise to stardom of the girls who call themselves the Mandili (Curtain) trio testifies to the power of the Internet, as well as how small the world is becoming with its help.
Initial interest in the video appears to have been driven in part by the mystery of the event: few viewers were able to identify the language in which they were singing. “Does anyone know where they are from? Are they Serbian? I don’t understand the words, but their singing makes me want to cry,” the Internet was buzzing.
Only later did Georgian Internet users appear with explanations about the song. This is a folk ballad typical of the highland regions of Georgia, especially the Khevsureti region in the north-west of the republic. The song tells of a mystical encounter with a young man named Apareka.
Two of the three singers, 19-year-old Shorena Chincharauli and 16-year-old Ani Tsiskarauli, are natives of this region of the Transcaucasian republic, literally dotted with medieval towers.
“Look at the sky, Apareka. Look at the moon on the Datvisjvari mountain pass,” says the third singer, 19-year-old Tatuli Mgeladze, in a strong, low voice. “I’ll come to you tonight, we’ll talk all night long.”
The song is picked up by Shorena Chincharauli and Ani Tsiskarauli, producing a smooth melody in three voices. In such harmony, characteristic of Georgian choral singing, the middle voice leads the melody, the first voice accompanies it with parallel thirds, and the bass basically leads a constant melody without words. This tradition, vividly reflected in the choral chants of the Georgian Orthodox Church, goes back to pagan times and is included in the UNESCO List of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Some social media users from Georgia, where harmony singing is almost commonplace, could not understand all the fuss around the Mandili trio’s video. And despite requests from foreigners for the lyrics of the song, even Georgian users have difficulty fully understanding it. The trio sings in the Khevsur dialect, and some words remain unclear to ordinary Georgian speakers.
However, for representatives of the outside world, shaken by news of ISIS and armed clashes between Ukraine and Russia, this song, in the words of The Huffington Post, seems to “transport to another time.”
Embarrassed by the worldwide attention, the trio, who have neither performing experience nor musical education, believe that factors such as the very ordinary setting in which the video was filmed and their modest manners also contributed to the resounding success of the video. The number of views on YouTube is approaching a million, and it seems that this is actually enough.
In the photo - the Georgian trio "Mandili" ("curtain" - Georgian). 19-year-old Shorena Chincharauli, 16-year-old Ani Tsiskarauli and19-year-old Tatuli Mgeladze. Cute young girls with beautiful voices and soulful Georgian songs. In general, Georgians are extremely powerful singers. The breakdown of songs into voices, transitions... You listen and are literally transported to this beautiful country. Mountains, rivers, hospitality, generosity and positivity. Yes, this is about Georgia.
The Mandili trio were no exception. They owe their popularity, first of all, to their talent, and secondly, to the Internet. Their first video, shot with the front camera of a smartphone, quickly began to gain popularity on the Internet and after a while the girls were already known in many countries. Russia was no exception.
The song performed by the trio in the video isa folk ballad typical of the highlands of Georgia, especially the Khevsureti region in the north-west of the republic. The song tells of a mystical encounter with a young man named Apareka. Girlsproduce a smooth melody for three voices. In such harmony, characteristic of Georgian choral singing, the middle voice leads the melody, the first voice accompanies it with parallel thirds, and the bass basically leads a constant melody without words. This tradition, which is vividly reflected in the choral chants of the Georgian Orthodox Church, has its roots in pagan times and is included in the List of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Peoplesheep UNESCO.Unexpectedly even for them, the video attracted a lot of attention, probably due to the modest manners of the performers, the usual shooting environment, without any special effects, folk costumes and some kind of sincerity mixed with sincere positive emotions. The most interesting thing is that none of the three girls had any professional experience or musical education. They simply sang from the heart, representing that very amateur performance that is sometimes better than the popular names.
However, the coming popularity forced them back to earth. A producer appeared, the tour began, and the trio ended up in Voronezh, where...
Where, oh horror!!! First they danced in Russian folk costumes to the Russian folk song “Kalinka”, and then they performed a remake of the song in the Georgian language and to the interpretation of the music in the Georgian manner.
That's all. We've arrived. The Georgian Internet and Facebook were buzzing... They hit rock bottom, fools - these are the most positive statements about girls.
The story is clear. The conflict between Russia and Georgia regarding Abkhazia and South Ossetia does not have the most positive effect on relations between the two countries. However, which is typical, ordinary Russians and Georgians for the most part don’t care. And the Russians don’t care even more, because no one will seriously consider the need for Abkhazia and South Ossetia as part of Russia, just as few people understand the motives and the history of the conflict.
On the good side, the confrontation between Russia and Georgia is a confrontation between certain departments and authorities with the participation of the army, which is supported on both sides by the media and active members of society who have writing skills and have accounts on LJ, FB, VK, and so on. The war of paper and words is being waged with such fervor that it seems that in just a little while the participants in the discussions will be at each other’s throats in reality. Which is unlikely.
Because most scribblers still prefer to write than actually do something.
I note that situations occur as if they were carbon copies. The Ukrainian conflict, the Georgian conflict - Crimea, Abkhazia, South Ossetia - are links in one chain. Which, in fact, went back to 1991, when the rulers had to agree on how and on what territorial principles the USSR would be torn apart. And by signing without discussing these issues, they themselves actually gave rise to conflicts that smoldered for decades.
And now, when the specter of democracy has reached the borders of Russia, similar hot spots have formed, which, in fact, do not allow initially friendly states to interact normally. No one really cares about the people. And people don't care.
Russians travel to Georgia and Ukraine. Georgians and Ukrainians travel to Russia. No one kills or burns anyone at the stake.
Yes, you shouldn’t, for example, walk around on the streets of Russian cities with a Ukrainian flag and sing “It’s not yet dead.” Although, for example, with the Georgian flag and anthem it is quite possible. The difference is in mentality. Georgians do not know how to spew such streams of shit and fight their Soviet past in such a way. Everything somehow turned out more peacefully and smoothly for them.
In the same way, you shouldn’t walk along Ukrainian streets with the Russian flag and sing the anthem, for example. And in Georgia it’s not worth it either. In general, who the hell needs to show off their nationality in a foreign country? And even so obvious?
But let's get back to the topic. The Georgian trio, in the opinion of the Gurzin public, made a big mistake by performing in the national costumes of the occupiers and singing the song of the people who occupied the Georgian territories. Some Georgian artists do not come to Russia on tour as a matter of principle. Boycott, you understand. If Georgian singer so-and-so doesn’t come to the country, then Russia will perk up and say “oh, how can this be, we really need him to perform with us, let’s satisfy Georgia’s demands and we can go to his concerts again.” Aren't you funny?
Culture and art have always been international. Music, cinema, fine art are outside politics in its best manifestations.
And when it comes to popular music, which should reach the masses, this is generally a separate issue. And the fact that the girls from the Mandili trio sang and danced “Kalinka” only emphasized their talent and the capabilities of their voices. Because it was really beautiful.
It would be logical that in response to such outbursts from the Georgian side, Russian “network fighters” would be outraged by the fact that a Russian folk song is sung in the Georgian language, and not in the original language. Then the conflict would be complete.
In general, this is all nonsense. Such nonsense that it’s amazing how people’s brains work on such topics. After all, you really need to live this. And it’s such a waste of nerves and strength every day to be in such anger. I don't understand.
Addition: regarding the issues of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, I prefer not to speak very categorically on this topic. Because it is necessary not only to study this situation, but to be in it on both sides of the barricades. And this is extremely difficult. Therefore, I prefer to remain silent about the correctness of one side or another. However, I can only say one thing - resolving controversial issues by limiting the rights and freedoms of the people, by adopting legislative acts that limit the ability of nationalities and peoples to self-determinate and resolve their issues, by police or military methods of keeping the territory under their control - this is a path to nowhere. Absolutely nowhere. In grief, in loss, in interethnic and interstate strife and loss of life. Remembering the Chechen war, I understand that each side had a minimum of rightness there. Although I was immersed much deeper in that story, I still am of the opinion that the Russian authorities could not have acted differently. Although the methods and tactics were very bad and such large losses could have been avoided. Negotiations, search for consensus, division of powers - this is the way out of any conflict between the territories of one country. But politicians, they crave absolute power. They are not good at negotiating when it comes to control. Hence all the troubles. They were, are and will be.
Let's negotiate and live peacefully. It will be more useful for everyone. Absolutely.
15 March 2015 03:10:01 34742
“This song is a dialogue between a guy and a girl. And this song is about an interesting traditional institution in this corner of Georgia, which is not found in other parts of the country. This institute is called “skorperoba” and literally translated means “equal in color.” End of quote.
Let me start by saying that I have been endlessly in love with this song from the moment I first saw it, yes, I saw it on YouTube. What can we do, a tribute to fashion - now we watch many songs, not just listen, but it is precisely thanks to the fact that this Georgian song appeared on the Internet in the format of an amateur video that it became so popular and in a matter of days gained more than a million views/listenings. And when, some time later, the so-called heavy version came out, I became a fan of it.
And the story of the creation of the video is as follows: “We were at the dacha, just fooling around and filmed it all on video, and then posted it on the Internet. I was shocked when two days later I saw that the video was viewed by 300 thousand users and every day the views became more and more,” says Anna Chincharauli, a member of the Mandili trio.
The spontaneity with which the friends performed the most complex polyphony impressed many. They began to be invited to radio, concerts and shows. Offers began pouring in to create studio recordings and then broadcast them. That’s when the idea was born to create a trio group “Mandili”, the TV and radio channel “Mir” tells us.
They sing wonderfully, beautifully, but about what? Interesting? Undoubtedly!
I took up the translation. My Georgian is, to put it mildly, bad, or rather, not at all, considering that the original looks like this:
”… რაებს ვაზრობ ღმერთმა მარისხას და…” -
შერცხვა, გადაეკრა სახადის ფერ,…
ნელა გადავიდა დათვისჯვარს და
ბილიკს გადაუყვა ხახმატისკენ.
And Google translate translates it something like this:
"...God mariskhas vazrob in chat and..." -
Shame, shapes convection color,...
And moved slowly datvisjvars
Gadauqva Khakhmati path.
I found a couple of translations online, started adapting it, it turned out to be a mess, nothing was clear. I also googled and found this translation, viacheslav kosyakoff is listed as the author (Vyacheslav Kosyakov, thank you!), and on one of the sites it was indicated that the verses of this song were written by G. Arabuli. (The information is unverified, so don’t blame me).
But it turned out that translating the song is only half the battle; without footnotes and explanations, little is clear. In general, a little educational information from the Internet:
Song "Apareka"(guy's name) performed by a trio ( Anna Chincharauli, Tatia Mgeladze and Shorena Tsiskarauli ) "Mandili"(scarf, part of a woman’s headdress, common in the high mountain regions of Georgia) is about love and loyalty to traditions. Further, as they say, according to the text:
Bear Cross(Datvijvari) - pass in Khevsureti (North-East Georgia).
"Equicolor"- - An ancient mountain custom accepted among the Khevsurs, Pshavs, and Mtiuls of Stsorperoba (Equicolor). This is close, non-sexual communication between single girls and boys, allowing them to spend time together. They were allowed to show each other signs of attention, give gifts, be alone and even sleep together, provided that their stomachs and legs did not touch. Equal color automatically ended after the marriage of a girl or the marriage of a boy. Their communication ended there forever.
Araka(araki) is an anise-flavored strong alcoholic drink common in the Middle East and Central Asia. Depending on the country and region, it varies in strength, raw materials and manufacturing procedure. In this case, it is an artisanal alcoholic drink like fruit vodka.
Khevsurs- an ethnographic group of Georgians, the indigenous population of the Khevsureti mountain region - on the southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus in the basin of the Khevsur Aragvi River and in the upper reaches of the Argun River on the northern slopes (BSE).
Khakhmati- a village in Khevsureti.
("heavy version" delivers!)
It will also be interesting to read this commentary, which I found on one of the sites. Judging by the context, this is written by a certain Georgian to his Russian friend (the style is the author’s, slightly corrected):
“Georgia, despite the fact that it is a rather small country, is very rich and known for its cultural (or rather subcultural) diversity. Each region of Georgia speaks its own unique dialect of Georgian and, moreover, in Georgia there are two regions where, along with Georgian, they communicate in a related Georgian - Mingrelian (Samegrelo region - western part of Georgia - Black Sea region from the Adjara region to the Abkhazia region) and Svan ( Svaneti is a high mountain region also in western Georgia).
Each corner of Georgia also has its own peculiarities in customs and even mentality. The song that the girls sing in the video is Khevsurian. Khevsureti is a highland region of eastern Georgia. This region borders the Greater Caucasus Range in the north with Chechnya and Ingushetia. The Khevsurs are one of the ethnic groups of mountain Georgians; they, like most Georgians, are Christians, however, in all mountainous regions there are still pre-Christian (Georgia adopted Christianity in the 4th century) cults and customs. The Khevsurs are known for organizing verbal battles as a form of entertainment, this is when there is a playful argument in verse between male rivals. One of the most brilliant poets of Georgia in the 19th and early 20th centuries, Vazha Pshavela, was from this region.
This song is a dialogue between a guy and a girl. And this song is about an interesting traditional institution in this corner of Georgia, which is not found in other parts of the country. This institute is called “szorperoba” and literally translated means “even in color.” A young man can choose a girl as his “equal” in his village, of course, only with her personal consent. This means that they can have a romantic relationship, he can give her gifts, and she, for example, knit clothes for him, etc. They can physically touch each other if they wish, including kissing and sleeping together, but only with clothes on. A man does not dare have sexual contact with her, and she also has no right to allow this. Their legs and stomachs should not touch while they sleep together; they can only touch their chests and faces.
As a rule, these couples have a platonic relationship and spend their evenings and nights talking about the joys of life. And in the morning they fall asleep either with their backs to each other, or the man is on his back, and the woman puts her head on his chest. When morning comes, there is a rule that a woman serves her “equal” a horn of vodka (in mountainous Georgia there are no vineyards and there is no wine culture there, as in valley Georgia) and food. He drinks, thanks and leaves on business. Equals cannot marry and start a family; they must leave pure, romantic relationships between themselves.
In this song the dialogue is even and the moon leaves, like him, in the morning))).”
End of quote.
This is such a story, such a beautiful song. I wish the girls good luck and creative success, the main thing is not to go to any Eurovision, do not spoil your karma, like our so-called folk group “Buranovskie Babushki” (they will not be remembered by nightfall).
…Perhaps I’ll listen to it one more time!))
