Ederlezi (song)
"Ederlezi" is a popular traditional folk song of the Romani minority in the Balkans.
The song got its name from Ederlezi, which is a Spring festival,[1] celebrating the return of springtime especially by Romani people in the Balkans, and elsewhere around the world. Ederlezi is the Romani name for the Serbian Feast of Saint George. It is celebrated on 6 May [O.S. 23 April] (occurring approximately 40 days after the spring equinox).[2] Mainly by Orthodox Serbs. The various Balkan spellings (Herdeljez, Erdelezi) are variants of the Turkish Hıdırellez, a holiday signaling the beginning of spring, occurring on the same day.
Versions
The song is featured on Bijelo Dugme's 1988 album Ćiribiribela under the title "Đurđevdan" ("St. George's Day"). Goran Bregović, the leader of Bijelo Dugme, wrote lyrics in Serbo-Croatian. [3] The song lyrics are that of a serb civilian in a train wagon headed to the jasenovac concentration camp objecting to the fact that "Đurđevdan" is sometimes perceived as a nationalistic song.[4] Bregović also recorded a version with Greek lyrics, titled "Tou Ai Giorgi" ("Saint George's", Greek: "Του Αη Γιώργη"), with Greek singer Alkistis Protopsalti[5] in 1991. The Greek lyrics are credited to Lina Nikolakopoulou. Finally, together with Polish singer Kayah he also recorded a version with Polish lyrics, titled "Nie ma, nie ma ciebie".
Bulgarian group Ku-Ku Band, with lead singer Slavi Trifonov, released the song on several albums with Bulgarian lyrics ("Гергьовден", "Gergyovden, "St. George's Day"), Serbo-Bulgarian lyrics ("Свети Георги", "Sveti Georgi", "St. George"), and Romani-Serbo-Bulgarian lyrics ("Erdelezi"). The band Beirut, Italian saxophonist Daniele Sepe, and the Boston-based band Bury Me Standing also do covers of "Ederlezi". The Gypsy Rebels of Toronto, Ontario also cover the song, featuring the vocals of Micheal T. Butch and his band. Kroke released a version of the song as well.
Turkish singer Sezen Aksu released the song on her album titled Düğün ve Cenaze (Wedding and Funeral) with Turkish lyrics ("Hıdrellez") in 1997. The lyrics were adapted by Sezen Aksu and Pakize Barışta. A Bosnian version was released by the folk-punk musical group No Smoking Orchestra on their 2007 album Time of the Gypsies, Punk Opera. A beatbox/trip version was released by French band "Plume Tribu" on their 2010 album Le Chainon Manquant.
In popular culture
Goran Bregović's version titled "Ederlezi (Scena Djurdjevdana Na Rijeci)") was famously used in Emir Kusturica's movie Time of the Gypsies.[1] It was performed by the Macedonian singer Vaska Jankovska.[6]
"Ederlezi (Scena Djurdjevdana Na Rijeci)" also appeared in the movie Borat, although it has no connection to the authentic music of Kazakhstan. The text in brackets in Serbo-Croatian means: "The scene of Đurđevdan on the river", a description of a Đurđevdan celebration on a river in the movie Time of the Gypsies where that song was used. Sacha Baron Cohen's movie does not have a Đurđevdan river scene.[7][8] In both soundtrack albums – Time of the Gypsies and Stereophonic Musical Listenings That Have Been Origin in Moving Film "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan" – it was credited to Goran Bregović, although he is not the author nor the singer of the song on these albums. However, he arranged the song.
"A.I. Rising" (2018), a Serbian science fiction film, was originally entitled "Ederlezi Rising".
A portion of "Ederlezi (Scena Djurdjevdana Na Rijeci)" was also featured in Lazy Square's (aka Lenivko Kvadratjić) unofficial "Russian art film" reimagining of The Simpsons' popular opening sequence "couch gag".[9]
Lyrics
| Lyrics in Romani | English translation | Bijelo Dugme's cover | English translation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sa me amala oro khelena Sa o Roma babo, e bakren chinen E devado babo, amenge bakro |
All my friends are dancing the oro All the Roma, grandma, they slaughter lambs The Roma give, grandma, a lamb for us |
Proljeće na moje rame slijeće Drumovi odoše a ja osta Ej kome sada moja draga Evo zore evo zore Njeno ime neka se spominje |
Spring is landing on my shoulder The roads are gone, but I've stayed Hey, to whom does my darling now Here comes the dawn, Let her name be mentioned |
| Greek cover | English translation | Bulgarian cover | English translation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Απ' τους ώμους να, η Άνοιξη περνά, Του ουρανού πουλιά πάρτε με αγκαλιά Το όνομα του ανθός, ευωδιάς βυθός, |
Look over the shoulders, spring passes, Birds of sky, take me in your embrace His name (is) flower, depth of perfume |
Пролетта на рамото ми кацна, Припев: Други пътища ще ни повикат, Припев: (х3) |
Spring is now upon my shoulders, Chorus: Other path will be laid in front of us, Chorus: (x3) |
| Turkish cover | English translation | Polish cover | English translation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Bahar oldu aman Dağ yeşil, dallar yeşil Kokuyor buram buram Ağlama hıdrellez Ne yolu var ne izi Sevdiğim yok, eşim yok |
The spring has come, The mountain is green, the branches are green Jonquils are smelling everywhere, Don't cry hıdrellez He/She has neither a way (known) nor a trace I don't have anyone I love, I don't have a spouse |
Zima na ramiona moje spadła Ogień tańczyć zaczął już w kominie Śnieg zasypał dzisiaj wszystkie drogi Hej moje góry i doliny Hej moje góry i doliny |
The winter has fallen on my shoulders The fire already started dancing in the chimney Snow has covered all the roads Oh, my mountains and valleys Oh my mountains and valleys |
See also
References
- Skrodzka, Aga (2014). Magic Realist Cinema in East Central Europe. Edinburgh University Press. p. 161. ISBN 978-0-74866-936-3.
- Bosić, Mila (1996). Godišnji običaji Srba u Vojvodini [Annual customs of Serbs in Vojvodina]. Novi Sad: Muzej Vojvodine. p. 446. ISBN 978-8-67639-208-7.
- Janjatović 2007, pp. 35.
- "GORAN BREGOVIĆ Volim ovu užasnu zemlju". Печат - Лист слободне Србије. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
- "Alkistis Protopsalti ΑΗ ΓΙΩΡΓΗ - ΑΛΚΗΣΤΙΣ ΠΡΩΤΟΨΑΛΤΗ (EDERLEZI)". YouTube. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
- Bertellini, Giorgio (2014). Emir Kusturica. University of Illinois Press. p. 61. ISBN 978-0-25209-685-3.
- "Borat Soundtrack". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-05-09. Retrieved 2008-04-09.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- McCarter, Reid (9 July 2019). "Embrace cartoon despair with the "Russian art film" version of The Simpsons' opening". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
Literature
- Janjatović, Petar (2003). Ex YU rock enciklopedija (Ex YU Rock Encyclopedia). Beograd: Čigoja štampa. COBISS 137175308.
External links
- Musique et droit d’auteur, l’affaire Bregović (septembre 16, 2015) https://romanimuzika.wordpress.com/2015/09/16/musique-et-droit-dauteur-laffaire-bregovic/
- Videos: Ederlezi song (3:43); (4:28); (4:22).