Ederlezi (song)

"Ederlezi" is a popular traditional folk song of the Romani people in the Balkans.

The song got its name from Ederlezi, which is a festival celebrating the return of springtime, especially by the Romani people of the Balkans, and elsewhere around the world. ''Ederlezi'' is the Romani name for the Feast of Saint George. It is celebrated on (occurring approximately 40 days after the spring equinox),. 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 frontman of Bijelo Dugme, wrote lyrics in Serbo-Croatian. He later said that he took two verses from an Albanian folk song, objecting to the fact that "Đurđevdan" is sometimes perceived as a nationalistic song. Bregović also recorded a version with Greek lyrics, titled "Tou Ai Giorgi" ("Saint George's", Greek: "Του Αη Γιώργη"), with Greek singer Alkistis Protopsalti 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''. It was performed by the Macedonian singer Vaska Jankovska.

"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. 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".

Lyrics

See also

* Romani music

References

Literature

*

External links

Musique et droit d’auteur, l’affaire Bregović - Julien Radenez, ''Le Courrier des Balkans'', 05/09/2015

Ederlezi, retour aux sources - Julien Radenez, ''Le Courrier des Balkans'', 01/01/2022
* Videos
''Ederlezi'' song (3:43)(4:28)(4:22)

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ederlezi (Song)
Romani music
1988 songs
1988 singles