It’s been more than a day since Serbia picked its Eurovision 2015 entry — and we are still shaking. Bojana Stamenov, Serbia’s answer to Aretha Franklin, cruised to victory with her ethnic dubstep ballad “Ceo Svet Je Moj” (The Whole World Is Mine). Yes, Bojana: It is!
It took some time to decipher what the Ceo Svet Je Moj lyrics mean — forgive us, we’re an English-language blog. But once we did, we realized that Bojana is giving poetry rhythm. In it, she talks about tearing down the walls she’s erected around her, and softening up for her beloved. It’s an excercise we’ve all been through…
As with the song’s melody, its lyrics are divided into two parts. A calm opening section shows her vulnerability and insecurity as she waits for the one who will stand by her side. I never let anyone/Until I found you/With you/I am everything I have never been. The second part is all about accepting the new her. She removes her masks and that act makes her a lot lighter. Empowered by her new-found freedom, the whole world is hers.
After reading the lyrics below, we finally understand why the white wrap covered her red dress. It’s the veil that hides who she is, and all the vulnerability that lies beneath.
Will she sing in English?
Serbia has a proud tradition of sending songs in its native language (and doing well with them). It’s difficult for us to imagine RTS ever sending something in English, or even in a mix of Serbian and English.
But over the weekend we learned that Bojana wouldn’t mind singing in English, and that she had, in fact, already recorded the song in English. During Serbia’s presentation show on Saturday evening, composer Vladimir Graic said that he would decide what language the song should be sung in after the national selection was complete. For now we’ll have to wait…
As much as Bojana’s singing abilities in English are beyond perfect, do you think singing “Ceo Svet Je Moj” might reduce the soul of this very soulful singer?
You can read the Ceo Svet Je Moj lyrics and English translation below. Please note: the English translation below is NOT what Bojana would sing if she chose English.
Update on February 17 at 13:05 GMT: Bojana has chatted with Novosti.rs and confirmed that the English-language title of the song would be “Beauty Never Lies”. The lyrics are written by American songwriter Charlie Mason, who famously wrote “Rise Like A Phoenix” for Conchita Wurst.
Ceo Svet Je Moj lyrics / text — Bojana Stamenov
Dobrodosao u svet
Sakriven i lep
Nikog nisam pustila
Dok te nisam pronasla
Sa tobom sam ja
Sve sto nisam bila
Bele zastave tebi sam razvila
Ceo svet je moj
Gledaj me
Letim slobodna
Ceo svet je moj
Nebo je granica
Nek’ sam drugacija
Ali u tvojim je o?ima
Istina
S tobom sam ja
Meka kako svila
Bele zastave
Tebi sam razvila
Ceo svet je moj
Gledaj me
Letim slobodna
Ceo svet je moj
Nebo je granica
Nek’ sam drugacija
Al’ u tvojim je o?ima
Istina
To sam ja
I jaka kao grom
I crna kao noc
Takva sam bila
Sve se to srusilo
Kada si došao
Ceo svet je moj
Ceo svet je moj
Nek’ sam drugacija
Ali u tvojim je ocima
Istina
To sam ja
The whole world is mine — English translation
Welcome to the world
Hidden and beautiful
I let nobody in
Until I found you
With you
I’m everything I have never been
White flags
For you, I shattered
The whole world is mine
Look at me
I’m flying freely
The whole world is mine
Sky is the limit
May I be different
But in your eyes
Is the truth
With you
I am soft as silk
White flags
For you I shattered
The whole world is mine
Look at me
I am flying freely
Look at me
Sky is the limit
May I be different
But in your eyes
Is the truth
That is me
And strong as thunder
And black as dark
I was like that
It all went down
When you came
The whole world is mine
The whole world is mine
May I be different
But in your eyes
Is the truth
That is me
Mislim da bi Bojana postigla ve?i uspeh sa pesmom na engleskom,a ona to svakako zna i zaslužuje.
Don’t break down the tradition of singing in your native language, that makes Serbian entries unique
I think world need the voice like Bojana. It will be good if she recorded in English so we will know how will sounds on another language. It will be good if she can change probably song but she can work what she have. She will have my voice from Australia. this year we can vote 🙂 Maybe on English will be better then on Serbian. She can mix two languages what sounds nice on Serbian to use Serbian & if sound nice on English to use English. If she change the song to be more stronger to her voice… Read more »
English
Serbian 🙂
in SERBIAN!
oh no please Serbian! Countries as Serbia, Croatia and Macedonia do have an amazing language, in my eyes the most beautiful ones in the world.. from serbian – english will ruin everything. i’ll freak out if she does
Serbian, please. Too much translations already. Lyrics DO matter.
Bojana sings in English very well, that’s why she’s been chosen. This is going to be the first song from Serbia which will be performed in English at Eurovision. 😉
Oh no, it must be in Serbian! It already sounds great, and Serbia has the distinction of last winning with a Serbian song! My greatest Eurovision heartbreak was when they translated Hersi’s song from the Albanian. I would hate to see this song suffer the same fate. Besides, with all the English songs, being in Serbian would help this to stand out!
I’ll just quote this, since I think exactly the same:
“davved
FEB 17, 2015 @ 11:22:50
If she sings in english..possible top10. if she sings in serbian.. no qualification or if she qualifies she will place like 20th in the final….
simple as that.”
That’s it! 🙂
so long as its in tune – I don’t mind.
DEFINITIVELY IN SERBIAN. It’s sad to see Eurovision becoming an 100% English contest. Serbia is one of the few countries that has never sent a song in English, why break the tradition? Singing in Serbian ISN’T a disadvantage.
Bojana & her team must improve the staging, singing etc, but NOT the language.
I have just heard the song in Serbian, and although I have not understood a single word, I am in LOVE with it <3 <3 <3 It would be nice to have an English version on Youtube, so it doesn't really matter in which language she performs during the contest.
Just sing in Serbian !
That’s language is really beautiful, you should be proud of it.
Serbia always sings in Serbian, no need to change that.
@Miss Uncongeniality
It’s interesting when people say “sorry” and actually don’t mean at all.
SERBIAN
Im not impressed by this lady and the song, sorry but the old days that serbia sent good songs to eurovision are gone… about english or serbian, i think the real question is that the name of the song should change to: I Ate the Whole World
Considering she’s very good at singing in English, I wouldn’t mind with it at all … after all this “I will survive” rubbish would benefit from the English lyrics so that every single gay man in the world, myself included, still know that in Eurovision, we’re unstoppable … because for some reason we need that … do we? Conchita? Do we? Oh sorry you’re busy taking selfies at the red carpet. Anyway … Either in Serbian or English … it’s not the language that can change the awfulness of this song.
Don’t you dare change it to English, that will ruine everything.
Serbian is a very beatiful language to sing! But I always prefer english because there you can understand everything! But if they sing in serbian, I won’t have a problem with that!
Serbian! 😀
Serbian, it probably is best song this year, the number of comments show it. The other good song so far is Italy.
I hope they do not change the language into English. It’s a negative trend that every country sings in English, I hope Serbia keep their tradition alive 😉
It will most likely be Serbian anyway, which is good for me because I love the Serbian language. And also more countries should feature their own language because then it is all in English which would be boring. I would love it if the UK sent a song that wasn’t in English.
serbian. there’s a disappointing bland anglo centric safeness so far.
she should lose weight because she doesnt look healthy at all
Serbia runs as Israel last year. The result can be tragic. Serbians had to choose two disco craps and one weak ballad, but with good ending. That’s why they should choose Danica Krsti?, but they chose wrong song, and they will suffer for this reason.
If she sings in english..possible top10. if she sings in serbian.. no qualification or if she qualifies she will place like 20th in the final….
simple as that.
Every year people say that singers from Serbia etc etc should sing in Serbian… but then at Eurovision they almost never get rewarded for it…
Molitva was a one off… it was a universal song. but that only did win ESC.. never placed on any international charts……
she should sing in english if she wants to place high in Vienna.
Ofcourse she should sing in English. atleast if she has the ambition to place high at ESC.
Serbian
why should she lose weight? it’s a freaking song contest, not european next top model
Definitely SERBIAN ! It’s my favourite so far.
She should lose weight.
I think it would be better if she changes the song. Something that would compliment her soulful voice because it feels wasted if she sings a song that is really similar to the prior well-known songs from the previous contests.
And if they will do that, I think singing in Serbian language alone will do. Let’s all hear an “Aretha Franklin voice” in Serbian style. Would want to listen to it for authenticity’s sake.
I like her voice but hate the song. It’s not special. It’s not unique. It’s just a song… To me it doesn’t make any difference in which language she sings it. I’m sure she’s going to sound great but I don’t think this song is for ESC.
I was really happy 4 her that she won and will represent Serbia in Vision but unfortunately i did not really like her song… :(( I really hope though that she will change it and compete to Vienna with something better…I would prefer her to sing in english to be honest..
Is that a Question? Please, god no, Serbian please.
I’d like to listen to an English version (just to see what it sounds like), but i would still prefer Serbian.
Absolutely not
It sounds beautiful in serbian, but I wouldn’t mind hearing a version in english, just to get the song a little more 😛 just like Zeljko did with Nije Ljubav Stvar in 2012 for instance, when he released the song in several languages, including english and spanish… but send it to ESC in serbian.
Nooooo! Leave it in Serbian, thanks! Stop Anglicizing everything. <–Native English speaker.
Serbian, please. Vladimir, if that is indeed a rule, I hope RTS does not change it!
Why not considering changing the song?
Bojana just go for it!!!We are with YOU!!!Even Zeljko should make his performance on English before two years,take your chance!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
After listening to “Ceo svet je moj” a few more times, I’ve realised it really isn’t anything special. The Serbian lyrics sound good with the Balkan-styled instrumentals so I think switching it to English would be a terrible decision.
I’m not sure if Mario is familiar with the rules of our national broadcaster RTS for Eurovision selection. All our entries have to be in Serbian. I think we are the only country with Eurovision entries in our mother tongue – we have never sent one in English or some other language.
There is also the way people in Serbia see Eurovision. We see it as an opportunity to present our country and no one thinks that could be done through a song in English – most people in Serbia would find that fake and embarrassing.
I have no problem with it being in Serbian, I guess because I understand it hah
I almost prefer when countries sing in their native languages because half of the songs when translated don’t come across as eloquently and as smooth.
Maybe bilingual could be a good option like Italy did in 2012.