Soviet pressure (1940–1991) widely known as popularising meykhana during
Soviet period Meykhana was performed among the youth of
Baku settlements in the pre-
Revolutionary time. Although during the
Soviet period meykhana was banned, the poetry of
Aliagha Vahid was often rhymed as a contemporary meykhana. This could be related to the meykhana's popularity among the residents of
Baku and
Absheron regions.
Popular acceptance (1991–2001) After
Soviet Union's downfall, meykhana found mainstream acceptance in Azerbaijan, though many
fundamentalists still protested the genre, saying that it was still too liberal and in contrast to traditional national values. They claimed the musical genre still promoted sexuality, alcohol, drugs and Western consumer culture, but critics of the fundamentalist viewpoint stated that fundamentalists and meykhana musicians were ultimately seeking converts from the same population, the youth, who often had to choose where they belonged between the two cultures. New performers emerged in this era with their distinctive takes on meykhana:
Aghasalim Childagh, Kabir Azeri, Aghamirza Mammadov, Aghakarim Novruzov, Elchin Mashtagaly and
Mashadibaba Aydamirov started the meykhana wave, combining Azerbaijani national music-influenced meykhana music with
electronic music.
Nizami Ramzi was first meykhana master to be ever performed in national television and in popular movies.
Contemporary mainstream meykhana (2001–present) As the 90s progressed, meykhana's sound became more standardized as newer performers drew inspiration for the same collective set of influences that included Aydin Khirdalanli,
Rashad Daghly, Elshan Khazar, Vahid Gadim, Mahir Ju'rat, Oktay, Vugar Mashtagaly and Namig Mana. Namig Garachukhurlu, in particular, with its romantic dissonance and duos with Azerbaijani pop singers like
Aygun Kazimova, created the sonic template for a new movement, which became known as popular music-meykhana songs. However, this produced division among meykhana performers. The fundamentalist meykhana performers decided to keep the classical style which they have used through last decades, while the new wave of meykhana performers decided to combine meykhana with different
musical genres. With the increased popularity of meykhana in the 1990s and the 2000s, television channels started broadcasting and creating meykhana tournaments. The television programs such as
De, Gəlsin! (Say, Come On!) in
ANS TV led meykhana to popularize even more among local residents and demand for meykhana increased significantly in Azerbaijani weddings. == Derivatives and offshoots ==