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.
Zosto Si Me Majko Rodila
Esma Redzepova Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Леле ле
Цел живот не си ме видела
Ти си машко чедо створила
Оф леле
Ти на друг си радост мајко дарила
Леле оф аман леле ле
Ти на друг си радост мајко дарила
Леле леле
Пеам, свирам, играм и плачам
Твојот лик го гледам секој и пат
оф леле леле
На тебе долгови ти враќам јас
Оф аман аман
На тебе долгови,
долгови те враќам јас
Херој биди мила мајко ти
Леле ле
Што си среќна ѕвеѕда родила
Јас ќе светам мајко
Како сјај, оф леле
За мојот мила мајко роден крај
Леле оф амам, леле ле
За мојот мила мајко роден крај
The Macedonian song “Zosto Si Me Majko Rodila” by Esma Redžepova is a poignant lamentation about a son's relationship with his mother, who has been absent throughout his life. The lyrics begin with a cry of frustration and desperation, as the son asks his mother why she bothered to give birth to him, only to abandon him for his entire life. He highlights the irony of her having given birth to a male child who would grow up never knowing her, and how another woman bestowed on her the gift of joy that she could not.
The son paints a picture of a restless wanderer, who travels day and night, singing, playing music and dancing, but also crying as he sees his mother’s face in every street corner. He expresses his guilt and debt towards his mother for abandoning him, and how he hopes to return the gift of joy that she gave to someone else. The son ends his lament by asking his mother to be a hero and to allow him to bring brightness to his homeland in her name.
This song portrays the sorrow and anger that the singer and the composer Esma Redžepova felt that many people can relate to as they wonder about the circumstances surrounding their birth and the role their mothers played (or didn't play) in their lives. The song's lyrics, combined with Redžepova’s powerful voice and the traditional Macedonian instrumentation, make this song a moving tribute to maternal love lost.
Line by Line Meaning
Зошто си ме мајко родила
Why did you give birth to me, mother?
Цел живот не си ме видела
You haven't seen me all your life.
Ти си машко чедо створила
You have created a male child.
Ти на друг си радост мајко дарила
You have given joy to another, mother.
Дење ноќе одам, скитам јас
I wander day and night.
Пеам, свирам, играм и плачам
I sing, play, dance and cry.
Твојот лик го гледам секој и пат
I see your face every time.
На тебе долгови ти враќам јас
I owe you, mother, and I'm paying you back.
Херој биди мила мајко ти
Be my hero, dear mother.
Што си среќна ѕвеѕда родила
You have given birth to a happy star.
Јас ќе светам мајко
I will shine, mother.
За мојот мила мајко роден крај
For my dear mother and my birthplace.
Contributed by Ryan P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@djordjevicljiljana5932
Hvala ti velika ženo sa velikim Ž. uz tvoje pesme sam odrasla i živela i ostarela. Ti si zvezda koja nikada neće da se ugasi. I mlađe generacije poštuju tvoju energiju koju si unela u ceo tvoj život i profesionalno i privatno. Retko koja pevačica je mogla da peva tako iz duše kao ti. Moj naklon za herojsku borbu kroz život.
@Mladenovskitv
2023 Браво македонци да сте живи и здрави за многу години❤🇲🇰
@robertrobert4210
Esma je diva romske glazba avantgarda kakva se više ne rađa.Pozz! Iz Zagreba.
@dragancvetkoviccvele9235
Kkakav glas , kakva dusa <3
@gogs7458
Kakva zena.dokazala je svojim zivotom da ljubav moze biti jaca od smrti. 46 muskih i jedna djevojcica.pa sta reci osim plakati.kraljice
@vaidnikaj2551
Izvinite ali sta 46 muskih i jedna djevojcica
@senkanikitovic6606
@@vaidnikaj2551Toliko je dece odgajila
@zladz1
Placem svaki put dok slusam ovu pjesmu. Pocivaj u miru draga Esma:-)
@vojomk3
Legenda koja zasekogas ke ostane vo srceto na coveckoto bitie!❤
@spider-man2354
Esma Kraljica jedna jedina i neponovljiva!!!