Earlier this week, the Wiwi Jury reviewed Lena Stamenkovic‘s Junior Eurovision 2015 entry, “Lenina Pesma“. We didn’t 100% know what she was saying, but we still sang her praises from here to the heavens. Now the 11-year-old from Serbia has released “Lena’s Song” — the English version of her Balkan ballad — and we are totally feeling her message. It’s “Heal the World” for a new generation.
Lena sings of a world ripping at its seams and the need for people and nations to come together. “I really need you to listen,” she says. “Is this the world that we live in, if children suffer in silence, are we supposed just to give in?” It’s a timely message in light of Europe’s ongoing refugee crisis.
“Lena’s Song” — English version
What do you think of the English version of “Lena’s Song”? Can Lena secure Serbia its first ever Junior Eurovision victory? Let us know in the comments below!
no similarity. Serbia should stick to Serbian because otherwise it loses the Balkan sounds and images that are conjured up without understanding the lyrics. A song’s beauty is measured by the sincerity and authenticity conveyed by the singer, especially if it’s in the child’s own mother tongue.
“I’m kinda aware that it sounds like “Jounetsu no Hana” by EXILE.”
What?!! I looked up “Jounetsu no Hana” on youtube, as I never heard it before and pulled up this which sounds nothing like Lena’s song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otacAgRU2wQ
I’m kinda aware that it sounds like “Jounetsu no Hana” by EXILE.
Some of the English words, or selected English words, work against the melody. For instance the word “end” when the song is getting higher “at the end of the day,” pulls it down there and blunts/chops the smoothness. The Serbian word for end “zavrsi” has the “ah” vowel song and then has a vowel ending which brings a lighter, lengthened sound. This version is somewhat awkward, and I don’t think she is doing as good of job singing, there is less emotion.
Wow! The English version is really nice and it makes the message of the song understood. I’ve read the translated lyrics and I must say they are really alike with this version. I still prefer the serbian version anyday. It gives it a beautiful haunting feeling. Clearly the best of this year’s jesc in my book and maybe my new all time favorite.