Against all odds, a Gypsy Queen!

[Djamila]

Esma Redzepova is a Macedonian Gypsy who, over the past several decades, has risen to become an international star.

Despite all the odds - not only is she a Gypsy, she also speaks Albanian as her primary language and is clinically obese - her song "Bosno moja" (Bosnia of mina) became a #1 hit throughout the former Yugoslavia.

And one other song became a legend.

Cajorije sukadije (Beautiful girl) is one of those songs that just about anyone from the Czech Republic to Bulgaria will recognize from the first note.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z60kgPEMJEY

Countless artists have released their own versions, including the "Voice of Bosnia", Donna Ares - who doesn't even speak the language:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z60kgPEMJEY
​

 

[Djamila]

I like Donna Ares better live - hahaha. Esma is really bad in that clip, but she's much older now than she was when she released these songs.

Here's a glimpse back at the good old days, the beautiful song Bosno moja (Bosnia of mine):

http://media.putfile.com/Bosno-moja

 

[Djamila]

My favorite of her modern songs:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=5sABrmRA5s4

 

[diemjay]

I think you posted the 2nd link (Donna Ares) twice in the first post...

Here is the Esma Redzepova version of Cajorije sukadije

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyWrNKvpTwo

I like it!

 

[Djamila]

Awww! Thanks Diem!