Music Around the World: Albania

Before I dive into this week's post, I can't let the events that have unfolded over this past week go by without at least saying something. As a white middle-class American female, I can never know what my loved ones who are people of color have dealt with over the course of their lives, but what I do know is that I can be an ear to listen, a hand to hold, and a mouth to speak up if I see something happening that I know in my heart is absolutely wrong. If it scares me to say something, good, maybe then I'll know I'm doing the right thing without a doubt. I know that my loved ones who are people of color have the exact same right to want their family members to come home to them safe at the end of the day, just like my loved ones who are in law enforcement and their families. I am registered and prepared to vote to help make changes to ensure equality and safety for everyone, not just people who look like me. I sincerely hope that if you're reading this, you are as well.

Now back to our regularly scheduled programming.

Albania has ended up being a really fun musical culture to research. I had no idea so many popular artists that we hear on the radio here have Albanian ancestry, such as Rita Ora and Bebe Rexha, and I really enjoyed looking up notable Albanian artists to showcase here that I know I hadn't heard of before but am glad that I was able to find.

As usual, here is a quick rundown of the country for those unfamiliar:

-Capital City: Tirana

-Official Language: Albanian

-Government: Unitary parliamentary constitutional republic (currently under the leadership of President Ilir Meta

-Originally recognized as the Principality of Arabnon in 1190, adopted current constitution on November 28th, 1998

-Land Area: 11,100 square miles (140th largest nation in the world)

-Population (estimated as of 2020): 2,845,955

-Religion: 58.79% Muslim, 16.92% Christian, 2.5% Atheist, 5.49% Non-Affiliated Believer, 13.79% preferred not to answer

-They drive on the right side of the road

Folk music is a BIG DEAL in Albania, with the Gheg style in the north and the Lab and Tosk styles in the south. Themes of honor, hospitality, treachery, and revenge can be found woven throughout the lyrics and through the years. We've got a decent amount of ground to cover, so let's go ahead and jump on in.

Lulet E Dasmes by Adriana Ceka, Aleksandër Peçi, & Muharrem Herri (written by A. Peçi)

Albanian composer Aleksandër Peçi is one of the most well known and influential names in Albanian classical music. In 1979, he became the artistic director of the National Ensemble of Popular Songs and Dances, which I can probably safely assume was part of the inspiration for this piece. Lulet E Dasmes translates in English to Wedding Flowers, and is sung as a duet between a male and a female vocalist. An English translation of the original Albanian lyrics is below.

One day, I said, "Do you remember, do you remember/The flowers that bloom have your name, your name"/And I spoke to you, full of light in my eyes/Flowers opened life for both of us/We have been waiting for you this Sunday, this Sunday/I brought you a bouquet of flowers, a bouquet of flowers/This bouquet speaks of happiness/And the paths we will take together in life/Other days will come, but between us, Sunday/The new will remain forever in our lives/With love for the earth, with love for life/This is our time, we will always be

Duart Lart by Alban Skënderaj (composer unknown)

Albanian singer/songwriter/composer/record producer/actor/TV personality Alban Skënderaj brings a more modern feel to the playlist now with this bop of a single, which in English translates to Hands Up, from 2016. Skënderaj has been on the Albanian music scene since winning reality TV competition Top Fest in 2005, and is currently on the Judge's Panel for X Factor Albania. I really enjoy his voice, and this song is definitely both a good one to dance to AND very profound and relevant in its lyrics. An English translation of the lyrics from the original Albanian is listed below.

They stop, I carry forward/They think twice, I take the risk/They laugh, they despise/They decrease, I fly away/They are silent, I listen/They talk, I ignore/They press where it hurts the most/But when I fall down, I fall down on my feet/And if there is no game on game/They tell me to be with my hands up/To be with my hands up/In captivity with hands up/But I say, "No, no, no/My principle knows no hands up"/I say, "No, no, no/We were born and will die equally/No, no, no/It's not your life, it's my life"/I am saying, "No, no, no/Only one beat like this holds my hands up"/Only one beat like this holds my hands up

Fustani by Aurela Gaçe (composer unknown)

This single from 2017 by Albanian singer/songwriter Aurela Gaçe may have been my favorite find from this week. Gaçe has been making music since 1993, winning multiple awards at various Albanian music festivals as well as serving on the Judge's Panel for Season 3 of The Voice of Albania. Fustani, which translates in English to Dress, has a hell of a beat to it in my opinion. I think it's a really awesome blend of modern and traditional music both in the beat, the lyrics, and the instrumentals. An English translation of the lyrics from the original Albanian is below.

One day, I saw a bride/I was prevented from doing so/Friends ran away and left/Do you expect me, do you expect me/The dress flew, flew/Do you expect me, do you expect me/How to grow myself, ah

Toccata by Çesk Zadeja, performed by Kirsten Johnson (written by Ç. Zadeja)

Albanian composer Çesk Zadeja is known to many as the Father of Albanian Music and, after completing his studies in Moscow, was a loud advocate of the arts in the capital city of Tirana throughout his life and career. The Toccata piece played here by pianist Kirsten Johnson is one of his most well-known compositions, and I thought it was absolutely lovely. A toccata is traditionally a piece of music composed for piano or another plucked-string instrument and features fast, light finger movements and comes from the Italian word toccare, which literally means to touch.

A m'don by Elvana Gjata (written by A. Zeqo, E. Gatja, Loudcom Media)

Albanian singer/songwriter/composer/actress/entrepreneur Elvana Gjata (also known simply as Elvana) is currently one of the most viewed Albanian artists on YouTube, with a total of over 664 million views, and one of the most followed Albanian artists on Instagram with 1.5 million followers. This single of hers from 2019, which translates in English to Do You Love Me, is a fun dance track with a really good beat. An English ttranslation from the original Albanian lyrics is below.

Do they have what they tell me/Do they have what they tell me/Paranoia/Do they have what they tell me/Paranoia, paranoia/Do they have what they tell me/Tell me what they say/Tell me what they say/Does that make you fall/Do you tell me that you are missing me a lot/I don't know how I did it, not to mention, and don't talk to me/Do they tell you that if you don't come, you're probably wrong/Where you know, maybe you're wrong, love/Alele, uh, allele/Alele, I can't take it anymore/My soul does not sleep me/I want to know more/Alele, uh, alele/Alele, I can't take it anymore/My soul does not sleep me/I want to know more

Bonbon by Era Istrefi (written by E. istrefi)

Albanian singer/songwriter Era Istrefi hopped on the music scene with this breakout single in 2016 at the age of 22, and has since been compared to artists such as Rihanna and Sia. She's gone on to make music with artists like Nicky Jam and Will Smith, as well as having Bonbon remixed by the likes of Post Malone and Tep No. Bonbon conveniently has both an Albanian and an English version available, but honestly listening to both of them I like the Albanian one better. I really like Istrefi's voice and think this style of music fits her very well, and this song was definitely fun to listen to.

Un Tom Era/I am Era and I'm coming for the light/All or nothing, no or never/Coming straight from the KO/And my heart knows the way, oh/Never get in my way, oh/Sun e bon, sun e bon, sun e bon, sun e bonbon/Bonbon, I know what you want/Bonbon, bet you wanna taste it/Bonbon, bet you wanna taste it/I know what you want, want, want/Bonbon, can you get it done, done/Bonbon, bet you wanna taste it/Bonbon, my sip will get you wasted/I know what you want, want, want

Për ty Atdhe by Inva Mula (composer unknown)

Albanian operatic soprano Inva Mula is probably most widely known in our neck of the woods as the singing voice for Plavalaguna in the 1997 film The Fifth Element (starring Bruce Willis and Gary Oldman). She comes by those absolutely amazing vocals totally honest, as both her mother and father were opera singers as well. Just a small sampling of her operatic credits includes Verdi's La traviata, Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor, and Puccini's La bohème. Për ty Atdhe translates to For You, Homeland, and the sweeping orchestra behind Mula's insane vocals is a really intense musical experience. An English translation of the lyrics from the original Albanian is below.

For you, Homeland, the most beautiful song/With the power of this heart, I will sing/For these mountains, for these long valleys/For this land where today, I live happily/For these mountains, for these long valleys/For this land where today, I live happily/You are pretty, you get raised magnificent/Like a castle defeated, you stand up/Between waves, a mammoth granite rock/You didn't bend in every storm and windstorm/Between waves, a mammoth granite rock/You didn't bend in every storm and windstorm

Zare Dil Ke Fiku by Tefta Tashko Koço (composer unknown)

Albanian soprano Tefta Tashko Koço was hugely influential on the regional music of Albania and is to this day considered one of the most influential people in the Albanian speaking world. Although she passed away unexpectedly at the age of 37 in 1947, she was posthumously awarded the People's Artist of Albania, a prestigious award that honors outstanding artists in the fields of theatre, music, cinema, and art. I was unable to find a good English translation of the lyrics, but I still really enjoyed listening to this piece and appreciating what a great vocalist Tashko Koço was.

Himni I Flamurit by The One World Ensemble (written by C. Porumbescu, A Drenova)

Himni I Flamurit, or Hymn to the Flag, is the national anthem of Albania and was adopted as such in 1912. The music is based on a composition by Romanian composer Ciprian Porumbescu and the lyrics are from Albanian poet Asdreni. The English translation of the original Albanian lyrics is below.

Around our flag, we stand united/With one wish and one goal/A sacred oath we bestow upon it/Proclaiming loyalty for our salvation/From war abstains only he/Who a traitor is born/He who is a true man is not frightened/But dies a warrior to the cause

Rrjedh Në Këngë E Ligjërime by Vaçe Zela (written by F. Ibrahimi, G. Beci)

Albanian singer/songwriter Vaçe Zela was a huge leader in the Albanian music industry and considered to be one of the most influential Albanian musicians of the 20th century. With a career that spanned 52 years until her death in 2014, she won a huge amount of awards and decorations for her music, and if all her pieces are as good as this one (which translates in English to Stems in Songs and Lectures) I totally get it. I really loved her voice a lot and the amount of power and passion she was able to put behind it - you can just tell by listening to her that she was proud of her work and really loved what she did. An English translation fo the lyrics from the original Albanian is below.

The sun is shining brightly/And the source conveys the song to the valleys/Strong, the sun is warming/Even the brave ones come to mind/He caresses me from this sun of my time/Centuries turn into dawns/And the Albanian natant fires/Oh, where is it like you, my Albania/O noble above stone/It flows into songs and lectures, flagheads

I hope you enjoyed learning more about this musical culture this week just like I did. See ya'll next week!