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"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[1] 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 6 May [O.S. 23 April] (occurring approximately 40 days after the spring equinox),[2]. The various Balkan spellings (Herdeljez, Erdelezi) are variants of the Turkish Hıdırellez.
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 the Serbo-Croatian lyrics. Bregović also recorded a version with Greek lyrics, titled "Του Αη Γιώργη" ("Tou Ai Giorgi", "Saint George's"), with Greek singer Alkistis Protopsalti in 1991.[3] The Greek lyrics are credited to Lina Nikolakopoulou. Bregović also worked with Turkish singer Sezen Aksu on her album titled Düğün ve Cenaze (A Wedding and a Funeral) featuring a version with Turkish lyrics, titled ("Hıdrellez") in 1997. The lyrics were adapted by Aksu and Pakize Barışta. 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, titled "Гергьовден" ("Gergyovden", "St. George's Day"); Serbo-Bulgarian lyrics, titled "Свети Георги" ("Sveti Georgi", "St. George"); and Romani-Serbo-Bulgarian lyrics, titled "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.
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.
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.[4]
"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.[5][6] 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 (or Lenivko Kvadratjić) unofficial "Russian art film" reimagining of The Simpsons popular opening sequence "couch gag".[7][8]
| 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, dad, they slaughter lambs The Roma give, dad, 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 |