She started to sing while she was a teenager in the 1950s, and her career spans over five decades. Her musical success was closely linked to her marriage with Stevo Teodosievski, who was a composer, arranger and director of a musical ensemble, the Ansambl Teodosievski. He wrote many of her songs and fully managed her career until his death in 1997. Her musical style was mostly inspired by traditional Roma and Macedonian music. Some other influences are also noticeable, such as pop music. Esma Redžepova started her career at a period when Romani music was very denigrated in Yugoslavia and Roma people considered it shameful for women to sing in public. Redžepova was one of the first singers to sing in Romani language on radio and television.
Redžepova was particularly noted for her powerful and emotional voice. In 2010, she was cited among the 50 great voices in the world by NPR, a prominent American media organization. Redžepova was also noted for her extravagant attires and her turbans, as well as the use she makes of typical stereotypes about Roma women, such as sensuality and happiness. In 2010, she was awarded the Macedonian Order of Merit, and she was entitled National Artist of the Republic of Macedonia in 2013 by the Macedonian President, Gjorgje Ivanov.
With her late husband Stevo Teodosievski she has fostered forty-seven children, and has received numerous accolades for her humanitarian work. She supports Roma and women rights and was also involved in local politics in her hometown, Skopje.
Redžepova, together with Vlatko Lozanoski, represented Macedonia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 in Malmö, Sweden.
Esma was born in the predominately Romani Šuto Orizari municipality of Skopje, now capital of the Macedonia. She was the second youngest of six children. Her mother was a Turkish Muslim, while her father was a Serb born in Tirana, Albania. His grandmother and grandfather were an Iraqi Jew and a Catholic Roma respectively. Her family was relatively (but not abjectly) poor growing up, her father working variously as a porter, singer, drummer, circus strongman and shoe shine. Her parents stressed that all six children finish primary school. At age nine Esma was introduced by one of her brothers to a local Romani music organisation, where she was able to quickly learn complicated rhythms. Her mother encouraged her musical gifts and Esma and her brother soon joined their school’s folklore group.
In 1957, age 14, she was personally invited to sing at a school talent contest for Radio Skopje. This concert proved to be a turning point—not only did she place first, beating out 57 other schools and winning 9000 dinars, but national band leader and future husband Stevo Teodosievski also happened to be in attendance. After securing permission from her parents, Esma began touring with his musical ensemble. Legend has it she left home with a single suitcase filled with one dress and one Čoček costume.
In recent years, Esma has remained popular throughout the Balkans. In 2004, she recorded a duet with Eurovision performer Toše Proeski called “Magija”.
Her best known single Čaje Šukarije is the feature song on the 2006 Borat movie soundtrack, which she claims was used without her permission. As of December 16th, 2006 together with Naat Veliov from Kočani Orkestar she is planning an 800,000 euro ( USD 1,000,000) lawsuit against the producers of the film. The movie Gypsy Caravan (2007) features Esma as one of five Romani music acts on their tour through the USA.
Esma died on December 11, 2016.
Caje Sukarije
Esma Redzepova Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
ma phir urde pala mande,
ma phir urde pala mande, čaje!
Haljan, pekljan man, — čaj' šukarije!
mo vodži liljan, — čaj' šukarije!
Irin, dikh man, čaje!"
Tele dikhe, vogi tare, pani ane,
Čajorije, šukarije,
ma phir urde pala mande,
ma phir urde pala mande, čaje! – čaje
Haljan, pekljan man, — čaj' šukarije!
mo vodži liljan, — čaj' šukarije!
Irin, dikh man, čaje!
The lyrics of "Caje Sukarije" by Esma Redžepova describe the joy and celebration of Roma culture, specifically the music and dance of the Roma people. The song is sung in a Romani dialect, with some Turkish and Serbian words mixed in. The opening lines, "Čajorije, šukarije, ma phir urde pala mande," roughly translate to "Beautiful girls, sugar girls, come and dance with me." The lyrics encourage the listener to join in the fun and enjoy the music.
The chorus repeats the phrase "Čaj' šukarije" several times, which can be translated to "Dance, sugar girl." The verses contain more poetic lines, such as "Tele dikhe, vogi tare, pani ane," which means "I can see your eyes, your beautiful face, and the water flowing." These lines evoke a sense of beauty and wonder, encouraging the listener to fully immerse themselves in the experience of the music and dance.
Overall, "Caje Sukarije" is a lively and joyful celebration of Roma culture and the beauty of music and dance. The lyrics encourage the listener to let go of their inhibitions and join in on the fun.
Line by Line Meaning
Čajorije, šukarije,
ma phir urde pala mande,
ma phir urde pala mande, čaje!
Come, sugar,
and fly with me,
and fly with me, my dear!
Haljan, pekljan man, — čaj' šukarije!
Laughing, crying,—
with sugar in my mouth!
mo vodži liljan, — čaj' šukarije!
I want to dance,—
with sugar in my mouth!
Irin, dikh man, čaje!"
Look, come with me, my dear!"
Ahaaah Ahaaaa Aaaaaa Aaaaa
Instrumental solo
Tele dikhe, vogi tare, pani ane,
I see your silken clothes, your bright scarf, your shining eyes,
Čajorije, šukarije,
ma phir urde pala mande,
ma phir urde pala mande, čaje! – čaje
Come, sugar,
and fly with me,
and fly with me, my dear! – my dear
Contributed by Nathan H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@milanavujmilovic827
Sanja Vučić za 40 godina na rts-u u emisiji "najlepse narodne pesme"
@valentinabublic5410
Imal koga u 2020 osim nas dvije
@milanavujmilovic827
@@valentinabublic5410 Ima valjda
@valentinabublic5410
@@milanavujmilovic827 VALJDA Hahahahahahahhahahhaha
@pavlevisak867
valentina Bublić ima :)
@borvlad1
@@valentinabublic5410 ima, ima ali ne često! Ako ujutro počnem slušati Esmu i ostale, eto suza i prođe dan u plakanju a ako slušam naveče, nema spavanja cijelu noć 😢😔💔
@konstantinpolyakov9458
I am an American Rom. I was stolen and adopted and mostly disconnected from my heritage. Without knowing I was a rom until age 20 I still began learning guitar at age 8 and plan to change the world as another Romani guitarist. All of the love to Esma, the Queen.
@user-hs3mu3xb4q
Roms survived thanks to Slavs.
They where protecting them becouse of theyr soul senitivity.
@web3wizard381
thank the people who stole you from your shithole
@icytakaqi9en947
@@user-hs3mu3xb4q Uhm, BS. Roma people fought their own fight for their own culture.
Since Roma and Slavs had the same enemies (Nazis) at some point - it was more of an alliance. But you would be more than surprised how many Romas still were killed by Slavs.
"Slavs saved Roma" is not the truth.