Albania’s Flamingo Movement Said ‘No’, Now It Needs the Courage to Say ‘Yes’

You’ll often hear the song Seven Nation Army during the ongoing street protests in Tirana. Written by the White Stripes more than 20 years ago, the song has been taken apart and rebuilt by the Albanian protesters. The familiar riff, which has been used by demonstrators and football fans around the world, turns into a techno beat. The original words fade away. And then, from the crowd: “Rama, jepe dorëheqjen!” Rama, resign! It is loud and angry, joyful and powerful. The reimagining of the song is an act of creative appropriation: taking something that already exists and making it into something else. That is what protest does. It takes public space back. It takes language back. It takes the feeling that nothing can change and turns it into a crowd insisting that something must. Subscribe to Balkan Insight Premium to read the full article. Please login to your account below if you are already a Premium Subscriber. Buy Premium Subscription Our Premium Service gives you full access to all content published on BalkanInsight.com, including analyses, investigations, comments, interviews and more. Choose your subscription today and get unparalleled in-depth coverage of the Southern and Eastern Europe. Buy Premium Subscription If you have trouble logging in or any other questions regarding you account, please contact us