In a surprising move, Chechnya has put its foot down on dance music. They’ve banned tunes that are either too fast or too slow. But what’s the deal behind this decision?
According to Oddity Central, Chechnya’s Minister of Culture, Musa Dadayev, dropped a bombshell on Wednesday (April 17, 2024), essentially outlawing a big chunk of modern dance music. Think house, techno, dubstep – the works. These genres, popular in clubs worldwide, are now on shaky ground in Chechnya.
Dadayev declared that all music, vocals, and choreography must hit the sweet spot tempo-wise, clocking in at a modest 80-116 beats per minute.
“Our aim is to showcase Chechen culture and values to our people, especially the younger generation. This means sticking to our own groove, morally and ethically,” he added.
The powers-that-be in Chechnya, led by Ramzan Kadyrov, want to keep things traditional by axing anything outside the 80-116 BPM range. It’s a unique way to fend off Western influences in this conservative corner of the world.
“I’ve made the call, backed by Ramzan Akhmatovich Kadyrov, that all tunes, vocals, and moves gotta stay within 80 to 116 beats per minute,” Dadayev told the Russian news agency, TASS.
If this rule sticks, it spells bad news for many Western hits across pop, disco, and rock genres. Chechens might have to stick to homegrown jams like khalkaran yish or orilli yish.
But here’s the twist: Chechen artists reportedly have until June 1st to tweak their tracks and keep them in line with the new rules.
Chechnya, an autonomous region under Russia, is making a statement with this move. After years of failed attempts to break away, it’s now firmly under the control of Russia-appointed leader Ramzan Kadyrov, according to the BBC.