Early 2004 Gregor formed the Antwerp Gipsy Ska Orkestra. The concept was to take the pure, raw energy of authentic Roma Gipsy music and combine it with the ultra-danceable ska rhythm.
Their debut concert in Antwerp's Museum of Beautiful Arts (Museum van Schone Kunsten) was a huge success. It was the opening of Antwerp Book City, and attended by lots of renowned writers and other famous people.
Now the band played several big festivals in the netherlands and germany and many more to come.
The Musicians:
Gregor and Mukti are old friends, they played together in Moss, a hardcore punk band with Mukti on drums. At the same time Mukti played in Tachyon, at that time also a punk band (he also joined Belgian Asociality later on)... one thing led to another and Gregor became the singer of Tachyon. As this group gradually became a ska band, Kike was asked to join them on sax. After Tachyon split up in 2003 these three friends found each other again in AGSO.
Suhamet Latifi, a gipsy born in servie plays the keyboards
Gregor Engelen(belgium), Vincent Robin(france) and Enrique Noviello(argentina) are part of the Ambrassband, a fanfare that grew out of the Antifare.
Gregor and Kike also form the horn section of Donkey Diesel.
Filip played bass with Le Trio Perdu. After their breakup, he formed the klezmer formation On Fidldikn Mamzer with the accordeonist. He's active in the gipsy scene apart from AGSO and you also can hear him perform with Bobby's Evil, Bacalhou (Fado), Tagsim (Arabo-Andalusisch) en Delicatessen (Free). He's also recording with Lais.
Alfredo Bravo was born in Chili and also drums with blackie and the oohoo's
De Kampioen
Antwerp Gipsy-Ska Orkestra Lyrics
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Ma ge moogt gerust uw kans is komen wagen
Laten we de rest dan maar geschiedenis noemen
Ons verhaald word er geen over rozen en bloemen
Ik zen de kampioen in verhalen opdissen
Maar altijd gasten da men vuur willen uitwissen
Maar die houden zich schuil in verleden tijd
Ik zen de voorzitter van het poker bluffen
Den aas den baas van het rooie pluche
De slippendrager van den harlekijn
Ik zen geratificeerd zonder certificaten
Dat heb ik geleerd van disco diplomaten
Ik zen een straat vol leven op het witte doek
Ik zen het recept dat ge al jaren zoekt
Wel ik draag men leed als een bokaal zen vissen
Een boetekleed da zen schuld wilt wissen
De slippendrager van den harlekijn
ik zen de kampioen in verhalen opdissen
Maar altijd gasten da men vuur willen uitwissen
Maar die houden zich schuil in verleden tijd
The lyrics of Antwerp Gipsy-Ska Orkestra's song "De Kampioen" explore themes of self-confidence, storytelling, and the struggle against those who seek to extinguish one's fire. The singer declares themselves unapologetically bold and occasionally unbearable. They invite others to take a chance and try their luck. The lyrics suggest that the singer's story is not one filled with ease and happiness, as it is not about roses and flowers.
The singer identifies themselves as the champion of storytelling, always facing individuals who want to extinguish their passion. However, these opponents hide in the past, implying that they have already been defeated. The singer also claims to be the president of poker bluffing, the master of deception in a world where power and influence are dominated by the "rooie pluche" (the red plush, symbolizing authority and prestige). They mention being the supporter or follower of the harlequin, someone who dresses in multicolored clothes and entertains others through comedy and mischief.
The lyrics convey a sense of resilience and defiance, as the singer acknowledges their flaws and challenges but remains proud of their abilities. They explain that their expertise does not come from official certificates but from the knowledge gained through interacting with experienced people. They describe themselves as a vibrant street on the silver screen, representing a recipe that people have been searching for, implying their uniqueness and value.
Line by Line Meaning
Ik zen ongegeneerd en soms ni te verdragen
I am unabashed and sometimes unbearable
Ma ge moogt gerust uw kans is komen wagen
But you can certainly come and take your chance
Laten we de rest dan maar geschiedenis noemen
Let's just call the rest history
Ons verhaald word er geen over rozen en bloemen
Our story is not one of roses and flowers
Ik zen de kampioen in verhalen opdissen
I am the champion of spinning stories
Maar altijd gasten da men vuur willen uitwissen
But there are always people who want to extinguish my fire
Ma ge moogt gerust uw kans is komen wagen
But you can certainly come and take your chance
Laten we de rest dan maar geschiedenis noemen
Let's just call the rest history
Ons verhaald word er geen over rozen en bloemen
Our story is not one of roses and flowers
Ik zen de voorzitter van het poker bluffen
I am the chairman of poker bluffing
Den aas den baas van het rooie pluche
The ace, the boss of the red velvet
De slippendrager van den harlekijn
The lackey of the harlequin
Ik zen geratificeerd zonder certificaten
I am certified without certificates
Dat heb ik geleerd van disco diplomaten
That is what I learned from disco diplomats
Ik zen een straat vol leven op het witte doek
I am a street full of life on the silver screen
Ik zen het recept dat ge al jaren zoekt
I am the recipe that you have been searching for years
Wel ik draag men leed als een bokaal zen vissen
Well, I wear my sorrow like a cup for fish
Een boetekleed da zen schuld wilt wissen
A penitential garment that wants to erase guilt
De slippendrager van den harlekijn
The lackey of the harlequin
Ik zen de kampioen in verhalen opdissen
I am the champion of spinning stories
Maar altijd gasten da men vuur willen uitwissen
But there are always people who want to extinguish my fire
Ma ge moogt gerust uw kans is komen wagen
But you can certainly come and take your chance
Laten we de rest dan maar geschiedenis noemen
Let's just call the rest history
Ons verhaald word er geen over rozen en bloemen
Our story is not one of roses and flowers
Maar die houden zich schuil in verleden tijd
But they hide in the past
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Eduardo Vega, Filip Vandebril, Frederik Van Den Berghe, Gregor Engelen, Suhamet Latifi, Thomas Morzewski
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind