Regular readers of RFE/RL's "Silly Dictators" series will be familiar with Gulnara Karimova's musical ambitions.
For some time now, the daughter of authoritarian Uzbek leader Islam Karimov has been pulling out all the stops to launch an international musical career.
She's collaborated with some of the best pop talent that the former Soviet bloc has to offer in her search for an elusive international hit single.
Googoosha (as her daddy calls her) has even joined the likes of Guns 'N' Roses and Rage Against The Machine by recruiting the talents of director Avi Cohen to shoot a video for her most recent single "Round Run."
This week, the video was made accessible to a global audience by being uploaded to YouTube.
It's a pretty slick affair, showing Gulnara strutting her stuff in some slinky finery as she meanders through the majestic streets of Bukhara while an acrobatic ninja emphasizes the narrative thrust of the song's lyric by, well, running around and around.
WATCH: Gulnara (Googoosha) Karimova sings "Round Run"
http://www.youtube.com/embed/qSQmhH8796E
Music fans might be surprised to learn that, just a few days after being posted to the world's most popular video-sharing site, more than 50,000 people have already clicked to hear the tune, which Googoosha describes as a "dance floor pumper."
Nonetheless, despite the obvious attractions of Karimova's self-described "bouyant rhythms," "sultry vocals," and "empowering ear-candy beats," perhaps some of these viewers have been lured to click on the video for reasons other than an interest in Euro dance-pop.
That's because the musical clip undoubtedly showcases one of Uzbekistan's most beautiful and dazzling jewels.
Despite Googoosha's best efforts, it is Bukhara that emerges as the real star of Cohen's video.
The Silk Road city is thousands of years old and its rich architectural heritage is one of the reasons why UNESCO has listed it as a World Heritage Site.
Here's a quick selection of some of the many intriguing and spectacular sights that Bukhara has to offer:
PHOTO GALLERY: The ancient Silk Road city of Bukhara
-- Coilin O'Connor
For some time now, the daughter of authoritarian Uzbek leader Islam Karimov has been pulling out all the stops to launch an international musical career.
She's collaborated with some of the best pop talent that the former Soviet bloc has to offer in her search for an elusive international hit single.
Googoosha (as her daddy calls her) has even joined the likes of Guns 'N' Roses and Rage Against The Machine by recruiting the talents of director Avi Cohen to shoot a video for her most recent single "Round Run."
This week, the video was made accessible to a global audience by being uploaded to YouTube.
It's a pretty slick affair, showing Gulnara strutting her stuff in some slinky finery as she meanders through the majestic streets of Bukhara while an acrobatic ninja emphasizes the narrative thrust of the song's lyric by, well, running around and around.
WATCH: Gulnara (Googoosha) Karimova sings "Round Run"
http://www.youtube.com/embed/qSQmhH8796E
Music fans might be surprised to learn that, just a few days after being posted to the world's most popular video-sharing site, more than 50,000 people have already clicked to hear the tune, which Googoosha describes as a "dance floor pumper."
Nonetheless, despite the obvious attractions of Karimova's self-described "bouyant rhythms," "sultry vocals," and "empowering ear-candy beats," perhaps some of these viewers have been lured to click on the video for reasons other than an interest in Euro dance-pop.
That's because the musical clip undoubtedly showcases one of Uzbekistan's most beautiful and dazzling jewels.
Despite Googoosha's best efforts, it is Bukhara that emerges as the real star of Cohen's video.
The Silk Road city is thousands of years old and its rich architectural heritage is one of the reasons why UNESCO has listed it as a World Heritage Site.
Here's a quick selection of some of the many intriguing and spectacular sights that Bukhara has to offer:
PHOTO GALLERY: The ancient Silk Road city of Bukhara
Bukhara -- Uzbekistan's Ancient Silk Road City
-- Coilin O'Connor