Subject matter and style
Manele are widely criticized for their lyrical content, which often consists of boasts about the singer's supposed sex appeal, intellect, wealth, social status, and superiority over so-called "enemies". Many singers use bad grammar, repetitive and simplistic rhymes suitable for
chanting and are sometimes vulgar and/or misogynistic. Singers sometimes make trilling or yelling sounds during instrumental parts of their songs, an aspect that has been parodied many times.
Some manele also have music videos, of which many are of poor quality while others are recorded in nightclubs or during private parties.
Manele composers and players also use the term "oriental music" or "party music" for their creation, and consider their music a sub-genre of traditional, folk
Roma music.
Traditional Roma music is usually played on classical instruments by a live band (taraf) of
lăutari and has classical lyrics, while manele is usually sung by only one performer using modern instruments (generally
synthesizers) as backup. Most manele are recorded in small recording studios, owned by the singer himself or by a group of singers, since major recording labels refuse to contract them. However, there are some exceptions: for example,
Stana Izbaşa and
Nicu Paleru sing live, often with traditional instruments.
(...)
Public opinion
Manele are a strongly disputed genre in Romania, with many representatives of Romanian upper-middle and intellectual class opposing this "musical" movement (and its popularization) mostly because of its usage of faulty grammar, overly simplistic or childish lyrics and subject matter and/or encouragement of demeaning behaviours towards other people, as well as an antisocial overall message. The fact that manele lyrics are considered by many to be rude and of poor taste, coupled with widespread racist feelings against Roma ethnics (Țigani/Gypsies),
[5] who account for the bulk of manele performers, has led to increasing hostility between fans and opponents.
[1] This has generated frequent conflicts between the two, often in the form of internet flame wars.
In the media, manele have been repeatedly called by journalists and academics (such as the literary critic
George Pruteanu) "pseudo-music",
[3] "pure stupidity, inculture and blah-blah" or even "society's bed-wetter".
[6] C. Tepercea, a National Audio-visual Board member who did a study on the genre for the board considered it "the genre for the mentally challenged" in an interview.
[7] Even proposals to ban this type of music have been voiced.
[3]
Romani-Romanian classical musician and politician
Mădălin Voicu distinguishes between the original genre and today's interpreters, calling their work "kitsch and bad taste", "bad merchandise, easy to sing, and only sold to fools at a high price", but considers them to be "harmful", "simple music and brain damaging", "a representation of the lack of musical culture in society" and "a fad that is poised to vanish in the future".
[8]
