If you are in Skopje and ask any taxi driver to take you to Esma's house, they will know the way. That's how famous she is. Her trademark is the "Shhh finger" and it was invented to shut up her numerous children. And her audience in the concerts. The Queen of gipsies is still going strong but what keeps her going? And in what the other countries in the world should take example of Macedonia? And is there any diplomacy left for your question who should represent the country next year? Find out here:
Mrs. Redzepova, thank you very much for this interview opportunity. You have an impressive career that covers 55 years. Your album The Queen of the Gipsies has been selected as one of the 20 best albums in world music selection ever. How do you look back your musical career?
First of all, hello to everybody reading. I was born. And I have lived. I hope to leave to all my fans and the people of Macedonia a museum, that will open next year. All my career will be visible there, in one place. Many people will be surprised to see all that but it's one true life of two people, me and my husband. And all of my 47 children. Their pictures will be there, their instruments, what they do in music. Almost all my concert dresses will be there as well.
But what do you feel? What kind of feeling these 55 years give to you?
I feel like if I started yesterday! Ha ha! My body might be old but inside it there's a little child that is happy for little things, happy to live. Every morning I say: Thank you God, you gave me one more day!
Can you name one highlight in your career that was so extraordinary that you still cherish it?
Yes, it was in 1976, in Chandighar, India in a festival. There were participants from 23 different countries and I won, I was announced the Queen of gipsy music! I think that's the high point of my music career. How they thanked me for all I had done for the gipsy music. And I have kept that title since. It's an honour. I haven't done mistakes, I have always kept my music in a high level. Kept the style and the tradition. Always wanted to present the gipsy culture the best possible way.
Has your career been continuously succesful over the 55 years?
Yes. As I get older my career is going up! There's a lot of interest for me, I do a lot of concerts, media is interested. There are many documentaries in the making of me. All this gives me power to continue. They don't let me retire! Ha ha!
How do you keep your voice in shape?
I have a very normal life. I don't drink. I don't smoke. I don't drink cold drinks. If I don't sing for ten days or more I might practise a few days before a concert.
Let's go back to 1971. You sung in the Yugoslavian preselection for Eurovision! You sung Malo, malo and came 3rd. Do you remember that song? And did you ever record it as I'm still looking for that vinyl record! Ha ha
Yes I remember and I did record it. I'll put it on Youtube for you......
That was 42 years ago. Have you concidered Eurovision in these years in between, for Yugoslavia or Macedonia?
It might have been good to do it for Yugoslavia as it was a big country but many people know I come from Macedonia so it would have been good for Macedonia... This year the Macedonian TV made an internal choise and .... thought about me, their biggest star! Ha ha ha! And who know, maybe 2013 is the right year to do this!?
You mentioned earlier you are an adoptive mother of 47 children. You raised nnd educated them. Makes me think of Josephine Baker. Why you wanted to do this, why so mnay children?
Josephine Baker had a lot of help from various institutions, me and my husband have done this alone.
How come you became the ambassador of Skopje, Macedonia and and gipsy music? How did that happen? What drives you to do that? Have you felt discriminated before?
I started feeling different only when I started school. To get over that barrier of being different I started working hard, wanted to be the best one and that way the people started to look at me in another way.
In the end I was very popular at school as I was a member of every activity. But if we want to talk about the gipsy minority in Macedonia, I think every country in Europe, or in the world should take example how Macedonia treats their gipsies. Macedonians and gipsies love each other. There are two gipsy radio stations in Macedonia, and the national broadcaster, both TV and radio, have programmes for gipsies every day. Gipsies are mentioned in the Macedonian constituion. We are everywhere in the society, in the parliament there are two members, there's one mayor, lawyers, a lot of educated people. Education is the most important thing! Every child should have the opportunity to finish school, no matter what ethnicity. Other countries don't give gipsies the chance.
Ok, last question: Who would you like to see for Macedonia in Eurovision 2014?
There are a lot of young good singers in Macedonia. Maybe someone from the minorities? There are a lot of minorities in Macedonia....
But I want a name! Ha ha
Upmh, there's no diplomacy! Hmm... Adrijan Gadza. Tanja Stankovic...
Ok, that will do! Thank you very much for this interview and good luck on Thursday! See you in the final!
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