"Ktheju tokës " means Return to (your) Land, (place you were born). This song is about immigration of Albanian people in the world. Jonida in her song confesses the pain when you leave your home, and the feelings when you are far away from the place you were born, your land. It's a very powerful song with a significant meaning for Albanian diaspora. Hopefully they will get the message, and Jonida will do good in Eurovision televoting this year.
@eurovoxx Can you guys from the rest of Europe *finally stop* comparing TYPICAL south-eastern EUROPEAN music as "middle easter"? Drums and flutes are the oldest instruments; there were not brought into europe by middle eastern ppl. Irish and Scottish use bagpipes and bagpipes are ALSO used in the middle east. Do you see us comparing their music with middle eastern bagpipe music? No. Do you care or know about f.e. bulgarian bagpipes? most probably no. A shame, bc in balkan they still have bagpipes in their original form; made out of goat or sheep skin. Just bc there are muslims in Balkan that doesn't mean that their traditions and folklore is also "muslim". Jonida is singing in a mourning style; which is a no-go when it comes to Islam. But this type of singing is part of albanian, hence also european, culture. This kind of singing was described by Homer, practised in Ancient Greece era and before that. Sometimes I feel really sorry for Europeans. You guys are beyond fascinated with the ancient Romans and Greeks; but when you're confronted with archaic elements that have been preserved by Balkan folks - you're quick to lable it as "middle eastern" and what not. Always trying to distance it from "your pure european" culture and "more european and civilized" side of Europe. This kind of attitude is beyond disrespectful. Not only towards the albanians, but the rest of Balkan ppl and the european culture itself.
@A G Even if all albanian were muslims - hat wouldn't make our folklore to "muslim" music, neither "christian" music if all albanians were christian by faith. If ppl are searching for typical muslim or middle eastern music; google arabic music. Balkan folklore does not have muslim, nor arabic roots. I remember when we had to talk about our grandparents at school and I told that my grandparents (paternal side) don't live anymore. So my teacher asked me if I have seen a funeral (of course I did) and if I could describe an albanian funeral. I told her about my grandmothers funeral _(bc I don't remember my grandpas funeral, I was way to young to remember that)_ and that women or/and men sing about and for the dead one. but children don't sing and not happy songs but sad songs. My teacher and classmates (exceot one) could not relate, swiss ppl don't sing at funerals, but in a church. When I told that my oldest aunt put two coins on my grandmas eyes during the funeral process all looked me like I said something wrong - including my teacher. Back then I thought all ppl do it the same way - obviously not. My teacher then said "we don't do stuff like this here" (in Switzerland). A classmate, a greek girl called Eugenia, said that they put coins in the mouth of the dead one in Greece and not on their eyes. We were the only immigrant children in our class. Years and years later I saw the movie "troy". There's a scene before the cremation of King Menelaus; where they put coins on his eyes. A pagan tradition that is STILL practised in Balkan. And here you see some english man trying to lable our folklore, which is part of our culture, as "middle eastern". At the end of the day Albania is a secular country and the *albanian identity is based on ethnicity and mothertongue.* Our ethnicity is albanian and not "muslim" or "christian". Our mothertongue is albanian. We don't speak "muslim", nor "christian". But this is what the others are trying to force on us since antiquity - a foreign identity. We are "too muslim" to be "european", our folklore is "too middle eastern" to be "european". Albanian is an independant branch in the *Indo-European language* family. Which seems to go against some ppls selfcreated imagine of albanian. I've met a lot ppl that thought Albanian is some sort of "a mix of yugoslavian and turkish". Asking about a source, *where they red something like that* - the answer is "I thought bc you are muslims", "balkan was yugoslavia". Wrong! Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, etc. never joined Yugoslavia. Balkan isn't only slavic; Greeks, Vlachs/Aromanians, Albanians are non-slavic speakers and non-slavs. Balkan is not middle east; middle east isn't in europe. But our folklore seem to be "not european" at all to him. Which is an insult towards the entire south-eastern european folklore and culture! Disrespectful. Only a chauvinistic thought could lead you to claim it as somehow "middle eastern". "Vajtim" *(Mourning) has pagan, pre-christian and pre-islam roots.* This *was practised by paleo-balkanic folks before Ottoman, Roman (let alobe Byzantine Empire) even existed!*
Interesting that it will be held in Tel-Aviv cause Jews are the only other small nations that like Albanians they have a very large diaspora. There's not an Albanian family that doesn't have half of it's members in diaspora. It's absolutely heartbreaking and it gives me goosebumps hearing her lamentation. A lot of Albanian mothers had never had a holiday where all their children and family were together sitting around a dinner table at the same time. It also brings back that whole BESA thing when Albanian families risked their lives to protect Hebrews during the Holocaust. I can't keep my eyes dried listening to this lamentation cause that is exactly what it is, Albanians have a unique way the way they mourn the best fit example l can think of would be the lamentation on the Movie *Troy* when *Hector* dies and is given the final rituals. Greetings from an Albanian descendants in America. Edited: The melody l was talking about starts at the 0:43 seconds ua-cam.com/video/bFWJ6KiTYKM/v-deo.html
Andy, the song is about the immigration problem in our country and in almost all balkan countries. The title of the song means sth like Come back to your roots. Jonida's sister is an immigrant in Cyprus and she feels this song because her other half is abroad (that's what Jonida said). I think that for us Albanians this topic is really emotional because we all have a relative that lives abroad and feel this message. I hope you appreciate this song more now that you know the meaning of it Love from Albania😘😘😘
Hi Andy thanks for your amazing reactions! The new revamp version and video clip is already out. That deserves a reaction from you. Looking forward 😁🇦🇱🦅
I've listened to it for a few days and her powerful and amazing vocals are a standout every time. I didn't like it when I first heard it but then I researched the meaning of the song and the story behind it and I thought that she showed the story in a beautiful way and this song has grown on me a lot. Cannot wait for Tel Aviv to see what she can bring to the stage.
I too always anticipate Albanians entry,they are really beautiful, so much mystic, all in all very good taste in ballads,the standard has gone already high with this entry,it would be nice if Eurovision credits Albania more for showing respect and passion on this stage and yet beautiful and powerful songs and singers,imho this song will go places, good luck Albania.
I love this song, i'm sure it will be in my top 10, maybe my winner, because I don't think that another song would be better than this, but I'll wait until march ...
I found it hard to pick a favorite from this year's FiK, but I think this was a great choice for Albania. Nothing beats last year's "Mall", with that being said.
Thank you for the reaction video. BUT there's nothing "middle eastern" here and yes I feel low key offended. Ppl should explore a little bit more balkan folklore and not just lable it as "middle eastern". I don't know why you guys feel the need to connect specific regions of europe (like Balkan) with others (especially non-europeans)? Do you really think ... balkan ppl needed Middle eastern ppl to show them how to make music? Mourning, as in this song, was already practiced in South-eastern europe, today also called "Balkan", since antiquity.
Iris we think you would make a good Albanian teacher for Andy! Next year we want to see him do the reaction in full Albanian 😂 will he accept the challenge 😂😂
"Ktheju tokës " means Return to (your) Land, (place you were born). This song is about immigration of Albanian people in the world. Jonida in her song confesses the pain when you leave your home, and the feelings when you are far away from the place you were born, your land. It's a very powerful song with a significant meaning for Albanian diaspora. Hopefully they will get the message, and Jonida will do good in Eurovision televoting this year.
mhd krtsh thank you so much for this info! And thank you for watching 🙏🏻🙏🏻🇦🇱🇦🇱
@@eurovoxx Andy, thank you for positive energy.
If Albania get in their semifinal Macedonia, Montenegro, Greece, Switzerland + Italy and Germany voting, sure
@eurovoxx Can you guys from the rest of Europe *finally stop* comparing TYPICAL south-eastern EUROPEAN music as "middle easter"? Drums and flutes are the oldest instruments; there were not brought into europe by middle eastern ppl.
Irish and Scottish use bagpipes and bagpipes are ALSO used in the middle east. Do you see us comparing their music with middle eastern bagpipe music? No. Do you care or know about f.e. bulgarian bagpipes? most probably no. A shame, bc in balkan they still have bagpipes in their original form; made out of goat or sheep skin.
Just bc there are muslims in Balkan that doesn't mean that their traditions and folklore is also "muslim".
Jonida is singing in a mourning style; which is a no-go when it comes to Islam. But this type of singing is part of albanian, hence also european, culture. This kind of singing was described by Homer, practised in Ancient Greece era and before that.
Sometimes I feel really sorry for Europeans. You guys are beyond fascinated with the ancient Romans and Greeks; but when you're confronted with archaic elements that have been preserved by Balkan folks - you're quick to lable it as "middle eastern" and what not. Always trying to distance it from "your pure european" culture and "more european and civilized" side of Europe. This kind of attitude is beyond disrespectful. Not only towards the albanians, but the rest of Balkan ppl and the european culture itself.
@A G
Even if all albanian were muslims - hat wouldn't make our folklore to "muslim" music, neither "christian" music if all albanians were christian by faith. If ppl are searching for typical muslim or middle eastern music; google arabic music. Balkan folklore does not have muslim, nor arabic roots.
I remember when we had to talk about our grandparents at school and I told that my grandparents (paternal side) don't live anymore. So my teacher asked me if I have seen a funeral (of course I did) and if I could describe an albanian funeral. I told her about my grandmothers funeral _(bc I don't remember my grandpas funeral, I was way to young to remember that)_ and that women or/and men sing about and for the dead one. but children don't sing and not happy songs but sad songs. My teacher and classmates (exceot one) could not relate, swiss ppl don't sing at funerals, but in a church. When I told that my oldest aunt put two coins on my grandmas eyes during the funeral process all looked me like I said something wrong - including my teacher. Back then I thought all ppl do it the same way - obviously not. My teacher then said "we don't do stuff like this here" (in Switzerland). A classmate, a greek girl called Eugenia, said that they put coins in the mouth of the dead one in Greece and not on their eyes. We were the only immigrant children in our class.
Years and years later I saw the movie "troy". There's a scene before the cremation of King Menelaus; where they put coins on his eyes. A pagan tradition that is STILL practised in Balkan. And here you see some english man trying to lable our folklore, which is part of our culture, as "middle eastern".
At the end of the day Albania is a secular country and the *albanian identity is based on ethnicity and mothertongue.* Our ethnicity is albanian and not "muslim" or "christian". Our mothertongue is albanian. We don't speak "muslim", nor "christian". But this is what the others are trying to force on us since antiquity - a foreign identity. We are "too muslim" to be "european", our folklore is "too middle eastern" to be "european".
Albanian is an independant branch in the *Indo-European language* family. Which seems to go against some ppls selfcreated imagine of albanian. I've met a lot ppl that thought Albanian is some sort of "a mix of yugoslavian and turkish". Asking about a source, *where they red something like that* - the answer is "I thought bc you are muslims", "balkan was yugoslavia". Wrong! Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, etc. never joined Yugoslavia. Balkan isn't only slavic; Greeks, Vlachs/Aromanians, Albanians are non-slavic speakers and non-slavs.
Balkan is not middle east; middle east isn't in europe. But our folklore seem to be "not european" at all to him. Which is an insult towards the entire south-eastern european folklore and culture! Disrespectful. Only a chauvinistic thought could lead you to claim it as somehow "middle eastern".
"Vajtim" *(Mourning) has pagan, pre-christian and pre-islam roots.* This *was practised by paleo-balkanic folks before Ottoman, Roman (let alobe Byzantine Empire) even existed!*
Interesting that it will be held in Tel-Aviv cause Jews are the only other small nations that like Albanians they have a very large diaspora. There's not an Albanian family that doesn't have half of it's members in diaspora. It's absolutely heartbreaking and it gives me goosebumps hearing her lamentation.
A lot of Albanian mothers had never had a holiday where all their children and family were together sitting around a dinner table at the same time. It also brings back that whole BESA thing when Albanian families risked their lives to protect Hebrews during the Holocaust.
I can't keep my eyes dried listening to this lamentation cause that is exactly what it is, Albanians have a unique way the way they mourn the best fit example l can think of would be the lamentation on the Movie *Troy* when *Hector* dies and is given the final rituals.
Greetings from an Albanian descendants in America.
Edited:
The melody l was talking about starts at the 0:43 seconds
ua-cam.com/video/bFWJ6KiTYKM/v-deo.html
E ke qar komentin. 👏👏👏👏
Dea Pershendetje. Dhe faleminderit per kete shkrim kaq te bukur dhe interesant.
An excellent selection by Albania . The voice and instrumentals truly seem to tell a story and come together in perfect harmony .
Jonida will keep the song in Albanian. YESSS!!! She said it in an interview.
carlo R R we are definitely happy to hear that! Thanks for the info 🙏🏻🙏🏻
Albania tiene cantantes con voces espectaculares desde siempre Enhorabuena Jonida Maliqi
Thank you so much for reacting. I’m glad you liked the song!!! 😍 lots of love from Albania
Andy, the song is about the immigration problem in our country and in almost all balkan countries. The title of the song means sth like Come back to your roots. Jonida's sister is an immigrant in Cyprus and she feels this song because her other half is abroad (that's what Jonida said).
I think that for us Albanians this topic is really emotional because we all have a relative that lives abroad and feel this message.
I hope you appreciate this song more now that you know the meaning of it
Love from Albania😘😘😘
ALB guy. Thank you so much for the backstory behind the song! It definitely has a strong meaning that will resonate with many people! 🙏🏻🇦🇱
ALB guy. i could care less for that shot. they robbed many favorite singers, corrupt shit. they can go fuck themselves with this shit.
Votoni
@Iam Albanian psr
@Iam Albanian pse
Its not middle eastern, its Albanian folk mixed
I like this song, her voice and her stage presence. This needs a very spectacular staging. Good luck Albania.
Hi Andy thanks for your amazing reactions!
The new revamp version and video clip is already out. That deserves a reaction from you.
Looking forward 😁🇦🇱🦅
You're the most positive person out there 😂😂✌️❤️
Yes =)
I've listened to it for a few days and her powerful and amazing vocals are a standout every time. I didn't like it when I first heard it but then I researched the meaning of the song and the story behind it and I thought that she showed the story in a beautiful way and this song has grown on me a lot. Cannot wait for Tel Aviv to see what she can bring to the stage.
ESC 2019 has officially started! :)
I too always anticipate Albanians entry,they are really beautiful, so much mystic, all in all very good taste in ballads,the standard has gone already high with this entry,it would be nice if Eurovision credits Albania more for showing respect and passion on this stage and yet beautiful and powerful songs and singers,imho this song will go places, good luck Albania.
I love this song, i'm sure it will be in my top 10, maybe my winner, because I don't think that another song would be better than this, but I'll wait until march ...
Same here my Winner
Love jonida so glad I’m not the only one who hears the Middle Eastern sound to the song i was left speechlesss by it
Em frem glad you hear it too!
well, non of you is right. It doesn't sound like that at all.
Pls google middle eastern music and tell me again WHAT and WHICH part sounded "middle eastern" to you?
I love you Andii ahahah thanks for the First reaction
Shqiperia ka kenhetare me te talentuara se Jonida , por gjithsesi suksese Jonida
Wow i like the song 💖
Nothing "Middle Eastern" here!
Amazing reaction, amazing guy 🙏🙏
Very balkanish style .....Love ❤ Balkans
I found it hard to pick a favorite from this year's FiK, but I think this was a great choice for Albania. Nothing beats last year's "Mall", with that being said.
👍
Good interpretation of the song despite the fact that you knew nothing about the lyrics. Well done!
Amazing 😍💐🤗🤗
Didn't Cyprus technically select their song first (despite not releasing it publically)?
Love ♥ Albania .🇦🇱
Thank you for the reaction video. BUT there's nothing "middle eastern" here and yes I feel low key offended.
Ppl should explore a little bit more balkan folklore and not just lable it as "middle eastern".
I don't know why you guys feel the need to connect specific regions of europe (like Balkan) with others (especially non-europeans)?
Do you really think ... balkan ppl needed Middle eastern ppl to show them how to make music?
Mourning, as in this song, was already practiced in South-eastern europe, today also called "Balkan", since antiquity.
Special Uninvited Guest no offence intended. We suggest you watch some of Andy’s other reactions to Balkan songs.. we’ll post some links
Special Uninvited Guest ua-cam.com/video/Lo_5xVZIZ70/v-deo.html
Special Uninvited Guest ua-cam.com/video/dnm9kK3Up9g/v-deo.html
Special Uninvited Guest ua-cam.com/video/JT6TF-XpIKw/v-deo.html
Special Uninvited Guest ua-cam.com/video/9txb3K6tgO8/v-deo.html
Andy if you need to find out how to say the name (you got her name right btw) or the title then just ask me !!! X
Iris we think you would make a good Albanian teacher for Andy! Next year we want to see him do the reaction in full Albanian 😂 will he accept the challenge 😂😂
eurovoxx Hahahaha that would be amazing! Followed by a bloopers video 😂🔥
Are you Going to do more reaction videos? If yes, could you react to Serbia and montenegro 2005? One off my all-time favourites
to me the studio version is better :/ live it misses something to me :/ but the instrumentals are wild !!!!
Kevin ESC we cant wait to see how it is staged in Tel Aviv! Still a long wait though!
Wanna find out the message to this great song? Learn Albanian..! 😂😊
I've seen better from my country (Alb). I can tell you there are far more better songs but they wanted to spread a message with this one.
It does NOT sound like middle eastern music!!!
ALBANIA 🇦🇱 WINNER 🏆 EAGLE ♥
lol Middle eastern???
TIRANA 2020 ...
Maybe I will change my mind later, but first listen to it, I'm NOT IMPRESSED 👎
Martin Buchtrup same handsome
awful song no final
Mystical Middle Eastern? U haven’t heard European folk?