Latin American beats had been joined with flamenco by gitanos since at least the 1950s, mixing complex strumming with rhythmic, percussive tapping on their guitars' tops. The new Reyes generation — soon to meet and join up with three guitar-playing brothers from the Baliardo family — began creating more pop-oriented songs. They played at roma parties and at street corners until they got their chance to record under the group's new name, Gipsy Kings.
Sharp-eyed individuals might have noted that all the left-handed members of the group play guitars strung upside-down; this is usually as a result of the individuals' not having their own guitars when growing-up. Borrowing and playing a right-hander's the wrong way up was the only way to learn.
Band's story
They became popular with their self-titled first album, Gipsy Kings, which included the songs "Djobi Djoba ", "Bamboleo " and the romantic ballad "Un Amor". The song "Volare" on their second album Mosaique is a rumba version of Domenico Modugno's Italian hit "Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu". The Gipsy Kings were enormously popular in France and throughout Europe along with the middle east. In 1989, Gipsy Kings was released in the United States and it spent 40 weeks on the charts, one of very few Spanish language albums to do so. Their cover version of "Hotel California" is an excellent example of fast flamenco guitar leads and rhythmic strumming (this version was featured in the Coen Brothers' movie The Big Lebowski).
In 1991 the Gipsy Kings provided flamenco guitar and backing vocals on Bananarama's version of "Long Train Running", using the pseudonym "Alma de Noche" ("Soul of the Night"). Also in '91, for a multi-artist project called "Simply Mad About the Mouse" — a compilation of new versions of songs from Disney films — the Kings contributed an annaly-crafted, fast-paced rumba flamenca version of "I've Got No Strings" from "Pinocchio" - replete with feverish flamenco guitar leads and rhythmic hand-claps (palmas). The lyrics' enthusiasm for freedom, not being tied down, fit the gipsy creed perfectly.
Their 1993 album "Love and Liberte" won the Latin Grammy Award for "Best Pop Album of the Year," and contained the enduring song "Montana," an emotional account of Roma chased from their birthplace by prejudice and persecution.
The '95 compilation "The Best of the Gipsy Kings" went platinum, staying on the charts more than one year. Albums "Mosaïque," "Allegria," "Este Mundo," "Gipsy Kings Live," "Love & Liberte," "Tierra Gitana," "Cantos de Amor" and "Volare! - the Very Best of the Gipsy Kings" went gold.
Lead guitarist Tonino Baliardo — who has always written the group's instrumentals — released his first solo album, Essences, in 2001; a second self-titled one followed in 2003.
Flamenco purists criticized their use of drum kits, electronic bass, and electronic keyboards and rock and reggae beats. Defenders say they helped create a new style.
Gipsy Kings' total album sales worldwide now exceed 18 million; they toured worldwide again in 2007. They are the world's best-selling music group from France in history, according to their website, where dates and places of their current tour can be found.
Years active: from 1987 till present.
Members
Gipsy Kings are members of two related families: the Reyes and the Baliardos (Reyes means Kings in Spanish). They are cousins of the flamenco great Manitas de Plata, lead guitarist Tonino Baliardo married his granddaughter. Nicolas, Canut, Paul, Andre and Patchai Reyes are sons of flamenco singer Jose Reyes. The Gipsy Kings are:
Nicolas Reyes: lead vocals, guitar
Paul Reyes: backup vocals, guitar
Canut Reyes: backup vocals, guitar
Patchai Reyes: backup vocals, guitar
Andre Reyes: backup vocals, guitar
Diego Baliardo: guitar
Paco Baliardo: guitar
Tonino Baliardo: lead guitar
Chico Bouchikhi was also a member of the Gipsy Kings, but quit after the album Mosaique.
Bamboleo
Gipsy Kings Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No tiene la culpa
Caballo de danza vana
Porque es muy despreciado por eso
No te perdondo llorar
Ese amor llega así, esta manera
No tiene la culpa
Amor de compra y venta
Amor de en el pasado
Ben-de-lein, ben-de-lein, ben-de-lein
Bein, ben-de-lein, ben-de-lein
Bamboleio, bamboleia
Porque mi vida yo la prefiero vivir así
Bamboleio, bamboleia
Porque mi vida yo la prefiero vivir así
No tenés perdón de Dios
Tú eres mi vida la fortuna del destino
En el destino del desamparado
Lo mismo ya que ayer
Lo mismo soy yo
No te encuentro el abandon'
Era imposible, no te encuentro de verdad
Por eso un día no encuentro si de nada
Lo mismo ya que ayer
Lo pienso en ti
Bamboleio, bamboleia
Porque mi vida yo la prefiero vivir así
Bamboleio, bamboleia
Porque mi vida yo la prefiero vivir así
Bamboleio, bamboleia
Porque mi vida yo la prefiero vivir así
Bamboleio, bamboleia
Porque mi vida yo la prefiero vivir así
Bamboleio, bamboleia
Porque mi vida yo la prefiero vivir así
Bamboleio, bamboleia
Porque mi vida yo la prefiero vivir así
Bamboleio, bamboleia
Porque mi vida yo la prefiero vivir así
Bamboleio, bamboleia
Porque mi vida yo la prefiero
Vivir así
The lyrics of Gipsy Kings' "Bamboleo" speak of love in a way that arrives unexpectedly, without fault, blame or responsibility. Love comes and goes like a vain dance, constantly changing partners. The references to "love of purchase and sale" reflect the fleeting and temporary nature of relationships in modern society. The singer forgives the one who might cry for love lost because it is an inevitable part of the cycle of love. The chorus mentions "bamboleo," a word that comes from "bambolear" or "to sway," suggesting an existence in motion, without a fixed destination. The singer prefers to live this way, accepting the ups and downs of life and love as they come.
The verses of the song feature musical phrases of Spanish flamenco and Latin pop music. The guitar riff is prominent and represents the Spanish Gypsy tradition, while the upbeat melody underscores the cheerful chorus. This upbeat melody made the song an instant hit when it was first released in 1987. The combination of Spanish and French lyrics made the song appealing to a wide international audience. The song was later covered by many musicians, including Julio Iglesias, who had a hit single in France with his version.
Line by Line Meaning
Ese amor llega así, esta manera
Love comes in this way, there's nothing to blame
No tiene la culpa
It's not to blame
Caballo de danza vana
Horse of vain dance
Porque es muy despreciado por eso
Because it is very despised for that
No te perdondo llorar
I won't forgive you for crying
Amor de compra y venta
Love of buying and selling
Amor de en el pasado
Love from the past
Ben-de-lein, ben-de-lein, ben-de-lein
Vocalization without meaning
Bamboleio, bamboleia
Swaying, sways
Porque mi vida yo la prefiero vivir así
Because I prefer to live my life like this
No tenés perdón de Dios
You have no forgiveness from God
Tú eres mi vida la fortuna del destino
You are my life's fortune of destiny
En el destino del desamparado
In the destiny of the forsaken
Lo mismo ya que ayer
The same as yesterday
Lo mismo soy yo
I am the same
No te encuentro el abandon'
I don't find you abandoned
Era imposible, no te encuentro de verdad
It was impossible, I couldn't find you for real
Por eso un día no encuentro si de nada
That's why one day I couldn't find anything in you
Lo pienso en ti
I think about you
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Nicolas Reyes, Jalhoul Bouchukhi, Tonino Antoine Baliardo, Simon Diaz
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Recep Halil Gültekin
on Un Amor
Vuoi amare Bedla