Classical music radio whisperings how to#

'And when my father came home, she explained to him and he was a little angry. Her mother was preparing a bath for the kids a few days later when her daughter's secret slipped out.

So she hid the prize money in her underwear. Redzepova hadn't told her family about the contest, because she knew her father wouldn't approve. The award for the competition was 11 million Yugoslav dinars - at that time, four to five months' salary.īut this was a problem. Though she plays the diva, she admits that she'd probably never have become a star but for a lucky break: When she was 14, her school principal signed her up for a singing competition on the radio. Sitting at her kitchen table in Skopje, Redzepova is wearing gold earrings and a tasseled black scarf over her hair. In 'Chaje Shukarije,' she sings, 'Beautiful girl, don't go in front of me, turn to me, see me, and when you'll see me try to love me.' In whoops, warbles and whispers, she sings about Roma culture, life's disappointments and especially unrequited love.

Classical music radio whisperings how to#

Chalovski says everyone there is a fan of Redzepova: 'She knows how to make a good atmosphere, and she is very happy.'įor more than 50 years, Redzepova has flourished as a performer and recording artist, despite political upheaval and prejudice against Gypsies - or Roma, to use the more acceptable term. Gago Ivanovski and Ognan Chalovski are university students in Skopje, the capital of Macedonia, where Redzepova was born. People there have been dancing to it - and singing it - for years. 'Chaje Shukarije,' or 'Beautiful Girl,' is an anthem in the former Yugoslavia. Millions around the world have heard Redzepova's 'Chaje Shukarije,' which was featured in the opening credits of the movie Borat. In the former Yugoslavia, one woman has had more hits over more years than just about anyone else: Esma Redzepova, also known as 'Queen of the Gypsies.' Then there are those who stay popular for generations. Some singers are one-hit wonders, while others make a few albums before fading away.