Habibi / Хабиби

Azis, a Bulgarian artist known for his flamboyant persona and emotive performances, delves deep into the anguish of unrequited love in his song 'Habibi / Хабиби'. The term 'Habibi', an Arabic word meaning 'my love' or 'my dear', sets the tone for a deeply personal and emotional narrative. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a love that is not reciprocated, filled with longing, pain, and a sense of abandonment.

The song opens with a series of questions directed at the beloved, asking if they are well and if they miss the singer. This immediately establishes a sense of separation and yearning. The singer confesses to not being able to take care of himself, indicating that the absence of the beloved has left him in a state of despair. The repeated exclamations of love and the desire to die without the beloved underscore the intensity of his emotions. The use of the word 'Habibi' throughout the song emphasizes the deep affection and connection the singer feels, despite the lack of reciprocation.

A poignant metaphor is introduced with the image of a small dog that the singer gifted to the beloved, only to find it abandoned and wandering the streets. This dog symbolizes the singer himself—once cherished, now discarded and left to fend for himself. The parallel between the dog's plight and the singer's emotional state is striking, highlighting the sense of betrayal and neglect. The singer's self-description as a 'poor, wounded boy' who continues to yearn for the beloved, despite being mistreated, further amplifies the theme of unrequited love.

The song concludes with a powerful declaration of the singer's identity being tied to the beloved. Without them, he feels less than human, questioning his own worth and purpose. The imagery of being kicked like a dog and the rhetorical question of who he should be beautiful for if not for the beloved encapsulate the depth of his sorrow and the impact of unrequited love on his sense of self. Azis masterfully uses vivid imagery and raw emotion to convey the pain of loving someone who does not love you back, making 'Habibi / Хабиби' a hauntingly beautiful exploration of heartache and longing.