ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Balkan music

Balkan music is music that comes from a bunch of countries in Europe called the Balkans. These countries are really close to each other, but they all have their own different cultures and traditions. When people talk about Balkan music, they are usually talking about music that has a lot of unique instruments, lively rhythms, and lots of different voices singing or playing together.

One of the most popular instruments in Balkan music is the accordion. This is a big squeezebox that makes a funny sound when you push and pull on it. There are also a lot of different types of drums, like the tapan and the darbuka. Some bands even play weird instruments like the shepherd's flute, which is made out of a stick!

Balkan music can sound really different depending on which country it comes from. For example, in Serbia, they have a style of music called "Turbofolk" which is really loud and poppy. In Bulgaria, they have a kind of singing called "yodeling" where people go really high and then really low. In Romania, they have this cool instrument called a cimbalom, which is like a big hammer dulcimer.

One thing that a lot of Balkan music has in common is that it is really upbeat and energetic. People like to dance to it a lot! When you hear Balkan music, it might make you feel like moving around, clapping your hands, or even jumping up and down.

So, there you have it, Balkan music is like a fun musical party with lots of cool instruments and people from different countries all singing and dancing together!