Zajdi, zajdi, jasno sonce
Encyclopedia
Zajdi, zajdi, jasno sonce (O Set, O Set, Clear Sun; ) is a Macedonian-language
folk-style song written and composed by Aleksandar Sarievski
. In recent times it has gained popularity throughout the Balkans
, and in the past sixty years it has become one of the songs the people of the former Yugoslavia
most often associate with the Republic of Macedonia
.
singer-songwriter Aleksandar Sarievski
in the style of newly composed folk. Though Sarievski composed the melody, he did acknowledge that the text of Zajdi, zajdi was adapted from another source, saying:
Apart from Crnej, goro, crnej, sestro, the song's lyrics also bear a similarity to another Macedonian folk song (Žali, goro, crni, sestro). Motifs from these songs are also frequent in folk songs and oral poems across the Republic of Macedonia
, Bulgaria
and Serbia
. Other lines are also comparable to those from Lyuben Karavelov
's collection of folk songs and poems published in 1878.
In 2007, greater public attention was drawn to Zajdi, zajdi after its melody was said to have been used for the song "Message for the Queen" from the 300 Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
. In an interview relating to the subsequent dispute, folklorist Nikolay Kaufman
stated that formulae analogous to those in Zajdi, zajdi are recurrent in Lyuben Karavelov's collection and claims they are adapted from it. In the same interview, another prominent folklorist, Georgi Kraev, states that the song belongs to a tradition of Balkan tavern songs.
Macedonian language
Macedonian is a South Slavic language spoken as a first language by approximately 2–3 million people principally in the region of Macedonia but also in the Macedonian diaspora...
folk-style song written and composed by Aleksandar Sarievski
Aleksandar Sarievski
Aleksandar Sarievski was a Macedonian iconic singer-songwriter whose career spanned almost six decades. He was one of the most recognizable figures in Macedonian music....
. In recent times it has gained popularity throughout the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
, and in the past sixty years it has become one of the songs the people of the former Yugoslavia
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was the Yugoslav state that existed from the abolition of the Yugoslav monarchy until it was dissolved in 1992 amid the Yugoslav Wars. It was a socialist state and a federation made up of six socialist republics: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia,...
most often associate with the Republic of Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
.
Origins
The song was written and composed by MacedonianMacedonians (ethnic group)
The Macedonians also referred to as Macedonian Slavs: "... the term Slavomacedonian was introduced and was accepted by the community itself, which at the time had a much more widespread non-Greek Macedonian ethnic consciousness...
singer-songwriter Aleksandar Sarievski
Aleksandar Sarievski
Aleksandar Sarievski was a Macedonian iconic singer-songwriter whose career spanned almost six decades. He was one of the most recognizable figures in Macedonian music....
in the style of newly composed folk. Though Sarievski composed the melody, he did acknowledge that the text of Zajdi, zajdi was adapted from another source, saying:
Apart from Crnej, goro, crnej, sestro, the song's lyrics also bear a similarity to another Macedonian folk song (Žali, goro, crni, sestro). Motifs from these songs are also frequent in folk songs and oral poems across the Republic of Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
, Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
and Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
. Other lines are also comparable to those from Lyuben Karavelov
Lyuben Karavelov
Lyuben Stoychev Karavelov was a Bulgarian writer and an important figure of the Bulgarian National Revival....
's collection of folk songs and poems published in 1878.
In 2007, greater public attention was drawn to Zajdi, zajdi after its melody was said to have been used for the song "Message for the Queen" from the 300 Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
300 Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
300 is the soundtrack to the 2007 film 300. It was composed by Tyler Bates and was released on March 6, 2007, three days before the film opened for public viewing....
. In an interview relating to the subsequent dispute, folklorist Nikolay Kaufman
Nikolay Kaufman
Nikolay Yankov Kaufman is a Bulgarian musicologist, folklorist and composer, sometimes cited as Bulgaria's foremost scholar in his field.Kaufman was born in the Danubian town of Ruse to an Ashkenazi Jewish Bulgarian family. In 1952, he graduated in trumpet and music theory from the National...
stated that formulae analogous to those in Zajdi, zajdi are recurrent in Lyuben Karavelov's collection and claims they are adapted from it. In the same interview, another prominent folklorist, Georgi Kraev, states that the song belongs to a tradition of Balkan tavern songs.
Cultural references
- The song has been included in numerous anthologies and has been covered by many singers from the BalkansBalkansThe Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
, including Toše ProeskiToše ProeskiTodor Toše Proeski was a Macedonian multi-genre singer, songwriter and actor. He was popular across the entire Balkan area and all around Eastern Europe, and locally he was considered a top act of the Macedonian music scene...
(probably the best known version), Haris DžinovićHaris DžinovicHaris Džinović is a popular Bosnian folk singer. He is also a composer, a musician and songwriter for his songs.-Career:He began his music career in 1975 in his hometown Sarajevo, as a singer and composer of folk music when pop and evergreen music were more dominant in the Balkans area, so he...
, Šerif KonjevićŠerif KonjevicŠerif Konjević is a Bosnian folk singer. Konjević was born to Bosniak parents in Sanica, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Yugoslavia. He is part of the "new wave" of Bosnian folk singers.-Discography:*Vrati se pod stari krov *Bijela vjenčanica...
, Karolina GočevaKarolina GocevaKarolina Gočeva, often credited as Karolina Gocheva is a Macedonian singer. She represented Macedonia in the 2002 and 2007 Eurovision Song Contests, ranking 19th and 14th, respectively...
, Gloriya, among many others. - An instrumental version of the song was recorded by the SerbiaSerbiaSerbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
n rock band SmakSmakSmak is a Serbian and former Yugoslav rock band. The group reached the peak of popularity in the 1970s when it was one of the top acts of the former Yugoslav rock scene...
on their album Zašto ne volim snegZašto ne volim sneg- Personnel :* Dado Topic – vocals* Zoran Živanovič – vocals* Radomir Mihajlović "Točak" – guitar* Laza Ristovski – keyboards* Zoran Milanović – bass* Slobodan Stojanović "Kepa" – drums...
, and was later re-released on the band's guitarist Radomir MihajlovićRadomir MihajlovicRadomir Mihailović , also known as Točak , is a Serbian rock guitarist. He is best known as the guitarist for the Serbian and former Yugoslav rock band Smak. Mihailović is considered one of the top and most influential guitarists of former Yugoslav rock scene.-Studio albums:*R.M...
's solo album Byzantine Blue. Serbian rock band Neverne BebeNeverne BebeNeverne Bebe are a Serbian rock band from Belgrade.- 1990s :The band was formed in 1993 by a former Nova Zemlja, Smak and Frenki keyboardist Milan Đurđević. The first lineup featured Vladan Đurđević , Bane Jelić , Čeda Macura and Billy King...
recorded a cover of Smak song "Daire", incorporating a part of Smak version of "Zajdi, zajdi" into the song. Macedonian band Mizar also covered the song as "Zlatno sonce". - A version of the song influenced by rock music is due to be released by Bulgarian singer Rosi Pandova.
External links
- pesna.org: at least 9 different versions of the song, lyrics, Latin transliteration, English, French and German translation, mp3 download
- Zajdi, Zajdi performed by Aleksandar Sarievski
- Song as originally performed by the late Aleksandar Sarievski
- Video of the song performed by the late Macedonian singer Tose Proeski
- Video of the song performed by Bulgarian singer Iva Davidova
- Bulgarian singer Nikolina Chakardakova - Zajdi, zajdi...