Kaliopi pays quiet, emotional tribute to Esma Redzepova with boat video
Kaliopi posted a short video filmed on a boat and sang "Bel den" to honour Esma Redzepova on her birthday.
On August 8, pop icon Kaliopi shared a personal, emotional video on her social media accounts to mark the birthday of Esma Redzepova. In the clip she appears alone on a small boat, letting the water and the moment set the atmosphere while singing the song the two artists once performed together, "Bel den."
The recording is spare but charged: voice, a simple melody and the open air — a private tribute made public.
Kaliopi chose the date deliberately: August 8 is both Esma Redzepova's birthday and a moment for many Macedonians to remember the performer born on August 8, 1943 in Skopje. Redzepova became internationally known as the "Queen of Romani music" and left behind a vast musical legacy and a life dedicated to humanitarian causes.
In the post accompanying the video Kaliopi addressed her longtime colleague and friend with a short, powerful message translated from Macedonian: "Esma my... I will NEVER forget you... Uncrowned Queen!" The clip and the words underline the personal loss and the public respect Kaliopi feels toward Redzepova's memory.
Viewers responded quickly on social platforms, praising Kaliopi's gesture as sincere and intimate. Many users commented that the boat setting and the stripped-down performance amplified the sense of nostalgia and reverence.
The tribute is another reminder of Redzepova's standing in North Macedonia's cultural history and of the bonds between artists who shared stages and songs; Kaliopi's video brought those memories to the surface for thousands who still cherish the late singer's voice.
Photo: press material from the event
