Nargiz Zakirova (Наргиз Закирова; or Nargiz Zokirova in Uzbek) is an Uzbek-American singer who sings mostly in Russian. Better known by her stage name, Nargiz, Zakirova made her big break after winning the Russian music contest Voice (Голос). She is known for her strong voice, striking appearance (with a shaved head and powerful body covered in tattoos), and her quiet work to advance women’s issues in Russia.
Nargiz was born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, in 1970. A large portion of her family were well-known Uzbek musicians. Nargiz’s mother, Luiza Zakirova (Луиза Закирова), was popular in the 1960s and ’70s as a pop singer, especially for her duet with Nargiz’s uncle Batyr Zakirov (Батыр Закиров). Nargiz’s father, Pulat Mordukhaev (Пулат Мордухаев), was a famous ensemble drummer.
Nargiz first performed publicly at age 15 with her song “Remember Me” (“Помни меня”). The track was performed to the music of Farruk Zakirov (Фаррух Закиров), Nargiz’s uncle, with lyrics by Russian poet Ilya Reznik (Илья Резник). Then her song “Bride from Vuadil,” along with a few other tracks, was used in the film Bride from Vuadil (Невеста из Вуадиля; Uzbek: Vodiyllik kelin), which successfully aired at a major Uzbek film festival.
In 1995 Nargiz and her family emigrated to the United States. Living in New York City, Nargiz spent her first few years in America working in a convenience store, a video store, a tattoo salon, and various restaurants. In 2001 Nargiz wrote her first album, Golden Cage (Золотая клетка), which was released by Sweet Rains Records. This album was heavily influenced by Uzbek music. During this period Nargiz also performed often around New York, both with various groups and solo.
In 2013 Nargiz attempted to participate in the American televised music competition X-Factor, but when the producers did not get back to her quickly enough she applied for Russia’s Voice (Голос) instead. Singing in English and charming the judges along the way, Nargiz made it to the final round of the show and took second place, which she said she considered a victory.
After this major success, Nargiz began working with producer and Monolit Records owner Maksim Fadeev (Максим Фадеев). Fadeev wrote the lyrics for Nargiz’s successful 2014 single “I Am Not Yours” (“Я — не твоя”), for which she released a music video that same year. Fadeev also wrote Nargiz’s next two major singles, “You Are My Delicacy” (“Ты — моя нежность,” 2014) and “I Don’t Believe You!” (“Я не верю тебе!”). Most recently, Nargiz released her 2016 single “The Two of Us” (“Вдвоём”) in support of her debut full-length album, Noise of the Heart (Шум сердца).
Nargiz, a 48-year-old mother of three and grandmother of one, has also been vocal on women’s issues. She’s made waves by posting non-revealing nude photography of herself on instagram and often taking off a fair amount of clothing while in concert to show pride and comfort in her body and call attention to women’s body issues. In 2018, she released “It’s Not Love,” (“Нелюбовь“) a song made in conjunction with several other artists about abusive relationships. It encourages women to leave those relationships and support each other in the healing process afterwards.
Here is Nargiz’s single “You are my Delicacy” (“Ты — моя нежность”):
Lyrics for “Ты — моя нежность”:
стояла на краю Земли
Больше точно не могу лететь
И уходят наши корабли
Нам уже, наверно, не успеть
Эту песню нам вдвоём допеть
Ты моя нежность, ты моё небо
За тобой встану, где бы ты не был
Ты моё сердце, ты моё чудо
Обниму нежно и с тобой буду
Ошибалась много раз
Не хотела делать я больней
Знаю, ты не веришь больше в нас
И маршруты наших кораблей
Я не отпущу, держу сильней
Ты моя нежность, ты моё небо
За тобой встану, где бы ты не был
Ты моё сердце, ты моё чудо
Обниму нежно и с тобой буду
Ты моя нежность, ты моё небо
За тобой встану, где бы ты не был
Ты моя нежность, ты моё небо
За тобой встану, где бы ты не был
Ты моё сердце, ты моё чудо
Обниму нежно и с тобой буду
Here is Nargiz and Fadeev’s recent single, “The Two of Us” (“Вдвоём”):
Lyrics for “Вдвоём”:
Мы можем стать с тобой сумасшедшими,
И нас разместят с тобой в разных палатах,
А может мы с тобой как два гения,
Как будто два нобелеуриата,
Мы можем стать с тобой океанами,
И нас разделят с тобой материками,
Мы можем стать с той вечно пьяными,
А может мы ангелы над облаками.
Мы вдвоем, вокруг солнце на земле день за днем,
И под ярким самым и под дождем вдвоем,
Все на свете вместе пережим и когда-нибудь в один день умрем,
Мы вдвоем…
Мы вдвоем…
Мы можем снять с тобой фильм на Оскара,
И не получить его из-за погоды,
Можем стать с тобой в море мокрыми,
И нас за своих примут пароходы,
Мы можем стать с тобой океанами,
И нас разделят с тобой материками,
Мы можем стать с той вечно пьяными,
А может мы ангелы над облаками.
Мы вдвоем, вокруг солнце на земле день за днем,
И под ярким самым и под дождем вдвоем,
Все на свете вместе пережим и когда-нибудь в один день умрем,
Мы вдвоем…
Here is Nargiz singing an Uzbek song, “Unutma Meni”:
Lyrics for “Unutma Meni”:
Sen ketarsan jonginam, sen ketarsan,
olis yo’llar seni chorlar chorlar zamon
orzularing olamiga yor yetarsan
men qolarman ko’zim giryon
dilda hijron…
sen ketarsan meni tashlab sen ketarsan
gohi shon gohi shonma deydi hayol
ammo o’zing hayolingga keltirmaysan
hayotimsan bormi sensiz menda majol
unutma meni qaylarda chekma firoq
yaqindami yo yiroq meni esla
unutma meni nur topgan chog’ quyosh oqshomlar berib bardosh, meni esla…
unutma meni oshganda dolvon yoqqanda dovi hijron, meni esla…
kulib boq sinib bol bahtimiz topmay zavol, meni esla…
sen ketarsan ortingdan yetolmam sira,
yurakkinam o’tlarga tashlab ketarsan,
diydoringga to’ymadim to’ymadim zarra,
boshginamni cho’lg’agan hayol qadar sal,
qo’lim siltab qolaman
bag’rim o’rtanib
yulduz yulduz ko’zlarim boqar intizor
nigoh solsam keng samo ketar to’lg’onib
talpinarman jonginam vaslingga bedor…
