Connecting Armenians through
culture, art, and achievement

Skip intro
Skip intro
Skip intro
Skip intro

'Mokatz Shuken': A commentary on the market of Moks

Apo Sahagian

June 15, 2018

Music

By Lilly Torosyan

210 views

'Mokatz Shuken': A commentary on the market of Moks

The lyrics of this fun tune tell of a young woman watching two young men walk by—one with a mustache and one without. What then ensues is a hilarious commentary on the fashion and stereotypes of the time.

Genre

Ethno folk; alternative rock; contemporary; funk

Released

2013

Location

Jerusalem; Moks

Duration

3:42

"Mokatz Shugen," meaning “The Market in the Town of Moks” (an ancient Armenian province, located in present-day Van), is narrated by a young woman who essentially represents people watching at the market. This funky version by Apo Sahagian (of Apo and the Apostles) will be stuck in your head for hours—and you won’t even feel bad about it, because it’s that good.

Liked this? Listen to another version

●        Listen to Zulal Folk Trio’s short, but sweet, a cappella rendition of this tune below.  

Excerpts

Thank you to Music of Armenia for the English translation of the refrain:

“The one with the mustache has wealth and a home and looks like my sweetheart! The one without the mustache is not someone I would speak highly of. I built a home at the mouth of the river with two types of wood—one of peach, one of apricot. Apricot melts in the mouth like the warm kiss of your beloved.”

You need to be logged in to add a comment, click here to log in