Esma Redžepova (Macedonian: Есма Реџепова) (8 August 1943 - 11 December 201… Read Full Bio ↴Esma Redžepova (Macedonian: Есма Реџепова) (8 August 1943 - 11 December 2016) was a Macedonian vocalist, songwriter, and humanitarian of Romani ethnicity. Because of her prolific repertoire, which includes hundreds of songs, and because of her contribution to Roma culture and its promotion, she was nicknamed Queen of the Gypsies.
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.
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.
Hajri Ma Te Dike
Esma Redzepova Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Esma Redzepova:
Caje Sukarije Čajorije, šukarije, ma phir urde pala mande, ma phir urde pa…
Chaje Shukarije Cajorije sukarije, mapir urde palamande mapir urde palamande…
Dzelem Dzelem Gelem, gelem, lungone dromensa Maladilem bakhtale Romensa A …
Mangava Tut Uste srce moe te ceka Vecno da sme zaedno doveka Dojdi mili…
Zosto Si Me Majko Rodila Зошто си ме мајко родила Леле ле Цел живот не си ме…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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@ivi1703
Translate in English:
You will pay for this, o mother
For give me away there
To a village, where people (Roma)
Work too much
They work too much, o mother
But eat too little bread
You made, o mother,
Me, the young one, cry.
You made, o mother,
Me, the young one, cry.
I sleep in a furrow, o mother,
And i eat too little bread(or, i have nothing to eat)
@juiceymik
i saw her in concert in Sydney ....and she sang this song ....i remember the was not a dry eye in the whole room !! ....i don't know what the words mean ... by my heart bleeds everytime i hear the song !! ..Esma is a QUEEN !! ... A TRUE LEGEND !
@HK-pp9ig
She sang her heart out; she left this earth, but her soul is in her songs. RIP Roma Queen!
@dominikdiba3543
Ako postoji perfekcionizam, onda je to ova izvedba ❤️💔
👑Esma👑
@krank027
A universal singer. Amazing, GREAT voice. Love from Greece, and peace guys! Music connects.
@lmharry7875
What an exceptional woman! She saw her music with such intensity! Magical!
@shmileblik4338
Great singer, great song from great poeple. ESMA is Great. Respects from Morrocco
@berivantekiner6408
I've been listening to the Norig version of this song for years now, not knowing who was the original author, nor the meaning of this heartbreaking cry... Thank you so much for this video <3
@dragicavladic5111
Bravo,Esma,ženo,majko i kralice:)))
@carlosestrada5361
I heard about this grand lady, thanks to the doco-movie "where the road bends" fantastic film and the moment I heard her sing I was mesmerised, left in awe. I already liked gypsy music thanks to my Father's Andalusian guitar (flamenco) collection, but after hearing Esma I explored this genre even more so. I LOVE GYPSY MUSIC ! thanks for sharing.
@ilmatajar2349
Svi orkestri svijeta u jedan glas stali.