Serbian students use folk song as anthem for political victory

The 1988 folk song ‘Lijte kiše’ by Zorica Marković has emerged as an unofficial anthem for the Serbian student movement following recent parliamentary elections. During the campaign leading up to the October 25 elections, students and citizens modified the song’s famous chorus, replacing the original lyrics about a lost lover with the phrase ‘Vučić ode’ (Vučić is gone).

The Student List secured victory in the elections, and Aleksandar Vučić, the former president and leader of the ‘Aleksandar Vučić – United Serbia’ list, conceded defeat. Originally a ballad written by Marina Tucaković about a woman facing heartbreak, the song has transitioned from a traditional kafana hit to a symbol of political change.