I'm genuinely so moved by Albania's entry for Eurovision this year - I gave up on this song contest long ago, but this entry; Zjerm by Shkodra Elektronike speaks so much to me as Albanian diaspora, I really can't help but be brought to tears each time...and I just want to talk about it
There's already the understanding of the song being about just a minute of pure peace in an ideal world and Kolë's part encompassing the actual reality; the clash between this hope for the ideal and the grounding in what's real is so beautifully orchestrated. What I want to talk about is the lyrics and why the fire element is so prominent, how they really encapsulate the Albanian spirit, the way she says "Njer'z't e mirë / E njer'z't pa emër / Kërcejnë valle n'shpirt" which translates "the good people and the nameless people dance valle in their souls". Valle is traditional Albanian dance and it has many versions across the country but we all dance in a circle, and we dance to celebrate, to mourn, to enjoy, to get excited - for anything for anyone. And throughout history we have always danced around fire. Fire and the sun was what we worshiped before organized religion was introduced.
We have a lot of folklore and pagan deities around fire, for us it has always symbolized prosperity, the continuation of the tribe, the hope to continue generation after generation and connection with our ancestors. Fire brings together the community that gathers around it and this belief exists in our culture today at all times, the bright red and the spirited songs and our dynamic dances, we are and have always been passionate people.
And it is further elaborated in Kolë's part "Zjerm / Bjer' mbi vallet tona tribale / Që ushtojnë sa orteku kur bjen n'male" translating to "fire, falling upon our tribal dances, echoing as loud as avalanches falling on mountains" to signify the other side of fire; the danger, imbalance its uncontrollable nature, which has also been part of our culture and the violence we have experienced in our history. It's a song that recognizes our prehistoric traditions of praising the fire and the sun and knowing when to fear it, when to look at its reality but also when to utilize its warmth and protection to continue to hope and remain spirited. They also mention this in their interview here (starting at 4:47)
I'm very taken by them using pagan and folk Albanian themes! They're interwoven in our culture no matter how much organized religion has intervened and demonized or nitpicked so much of it... and it's still what keeps us united and spirited. I also enjoy the visuals of the staging, especially these symbols remind me a lot of tribal tattoos from Northern Albanian highlands where Shkodra is located!
It genuinely felt so refreshing to come across this song, I'm so happy with Shkodra Elektronike’s uniqueness and understanding of highlighting the very spirit that's been passed down through the Albanian generations, because this is it, it's the fire, it's the Zjerm, it's what's always brought us together through the centuries.
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