“One should not sing wedding repertoire on the air. We have so many works, mugams, and estrada songs that need to be beautifully presented. I cannot accept at all that this is done by khanandas. The air has air songs, and the wedding has wedding songs. There is no need to bring the wedding repertoire on the air. You cannot dance and play all day long. Recently, when I see those performers on the air, I mute their voices and just look at their images. When vulgar performers do this, of course, they are not criticized because the audience is used to these songs in their performance. But when khanandas do this, they are doubly criticized. This shows that those khanandas are simple. I cannot do this. I do not find it suitable for my art or my character. This is not the promotion of Azerbaijani culture. I would like the music performed in the 70s and 80s to find its place on our airwaves in new arrangements.”
This was said by People's Artist, khananda Nezaket Teymurova in an interview with Medianews.az.
She added later:
“Maybe everyone needs money. They do this solely to go to weddings. It’s as if those khanandas prepare a repertoire specifically for weddings. But they should also work a bit more for art. Who doesn’t need money?! I’m not saying weddings are bad. No, weddings are our national custom and tradition. I am invited to weddings because of my own repertoire. That is why I rarely go to weddings. The audience wants it, and I do not refuse. Here, material things no longer matter to me. There are some performers who are both my students and students of my colleagues. I always advise to write new mugams and sing them. Because the voice will not always be the same. The voice changes. We have been remembered in history by the performances we made in our youth, but what will they be remembered for?! By wedding repertoires? One must work and strive for art.”
Ali Asgar,
Medianews.az