When asked about the meaning of this song, the members of Luna - usually a lively bunch - suddenly become quiet and thoughtful. “It's complicated, it’s all about death and sadness,” says Patrik Ferčak, one of the vocalists on this track. The song expresses itself with...
Džives le Devleha (You’ve Lived With God)
Sometimes a song is the best way to express what we’re feeling – this song is a perfect example. It’s a plea to those who have wandered away from God – come back! Can you feel the pull in the words and the melody? It calls to mind Jesus’ well-known parable of the...
Od kanastar avľom (From the Time I Arrived)
Only a few generations ago, many Roma lived a nomadic lifestyle. They moved in camps from one village to the next, repairing metal tools, training horses, doing odds and ends… and of course, entertaining the locals with their music. Today, very few Roma still travel...
Pašo hrobos (At My Mother’s Grave)
Many of our artists have said that Roma musicians strive to express all the strongest emotions that Roma experience. If that’s true, it’s no wonder so many Roma songs are also about sadness, death and dying. Pašo hrobos tells, in words and music, the...
Kejša
Kejša is a short and catchy Roma pop love song that, like most Rom-pop, has been covered countless times by many artists. If you were to visit the Lunik IX settlement in Kosice, you’d likely hear a version of this song playing out someone’s...
Šukar jakha (Beautiful Eyes – Instrumental)
This is an instrumental version of a well-known Roma folk song, Šukar Jakha (Beautiful Eyes). This version, performed by student musicians from the Galakticka school, is in the popular Čardaš style, but is also inspired by the popular “Gypsy Jazz” style of guitar...
Kamav te phenel (“I Want to Declare”)
A simple and joyful declaration of faith – that’s what so many Romani worship songs capture so well! Because these two songs have such similar melodies and styles, the worship band of Devleskero Kher church combined them into one recording. They are in the popular...
Šun phrala (Listen, Brother)
This is one of many Roma folk songs director Ružena Klemparova learned in her childhood from her musician father. It’s origins are unknown. While many of those songs are about love, others like this one are about sadness and the hard realities of everyday...
Christmas Song: Vianoce Hrejú (Christmas Warms Us)
Vianoce Hrejú (Christmas Warms Us) is a Slovak Christmas song written and made popular by the Slovak singer-songwriter Marian Cekovsky. This time of year (at least before COVID) most elementary schools present a Christmas program for parents and family... not...
Christmas Song: Šťastné a Veselé (Merry Christmas)
For this year's Christmas release, we offer you these two songs recorded by the Romano Hangos Band from Lunik IX in Kosice. Both of them are covers of popular Slovak Christmas songs. The first song, Šťastné a Veselé (Merry Christmas), is one you’ll hear in malls and...