Balkan Beat Box is a world music group consisting of ex-Gogol Bordello memb… Read Full Bio ↴Balkan Beat Box is a world music group consisting of ex-Gogol Bordello member Ori Kaplan and Tamir Muskat of Firewater and Big Lazy. As a musical project they often cooperate with a host of other musicians, both in the studio as well as on stage. Their current live crew consists of Tomer Yosef, Billy Levy, Ben Hendler, Itamar Ziegler, Dana Leung, Eyal Talmudi, Jeremiah Lockwood, and Peter Hess. Amongst their other collaborators are Victoria Hannah, the Bulgarian Chicks,Uri Kinrot, Dessislava Stefanova and gnawa player Hassan Ben Jaffar.

Balkan Beat Box established their own unique sound by fusing the musical styles of Jewish, Mediterranean and Balkan traditions as well as the cultural influences of their home turf of New York City with electronica.

They cite Boban Markovic, Rachid Taha, Fanfare Ciocarlia, Manu Chao, and Charlie Parker amongst their musical influences.

Minimal
Balkan Beat Box Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

minimal, minimal, physical, magical
minimal, minimal, physical, magical
I used to be the man on top couldn't stop
I used to be the thinking head but it was said
I used to lead the window race put on a face
my every joke was funny I had a lot of money
and all the people are fake can't only take
I'm losing my mind and way, need to get away

away from gray and crowded places
city with many faces, my head is about to blow
I need to lay low
minimal, minimal, physical, magical
minimal, minimal, physical, magical
I used to be the man on top
used to be the man on top, couldn't stop
minimal, minimal, physical, magical
my head is about to blow
minimal, minimal, physical, magical
Under the rain I run like a train
feeding my brain, my private lane
they will never find me
I cannot be seen I'm the king of jungle, I will go and win
this is the life I need now I plan to see only myself to feed
I'm the man on top don't wanna stop
my survival is critical
minimal, minimal, physical, magical
minimal, minimal, physical, magical
I need to run away and .

before I go and lose my mind did I lose my mind
did I lose my mind

Overall Meaning

The first thing that stands out about the lyrics of "Minimal" by Balkan Beat Box is the repetition of the words minimal, physical, and magical. These words are separated by commas, and repeat in pairs throughout the song. The use of repetition in lyrics can create a certain mood or feeling, and in this case, it creates a hypnotic, trance-like sensation that reflects the character's state of mind.

The lyrics describe a former high-achiever who has lost his way in life. He used to be successful, wealthy, and popular, but now he feels lost, going crazy, and needs to escape from the grayness of his life. The repetition of "I used to" emphasizes his yearning for his old life and the regret that he now feels. He wants to run away and hide, live a minimalist life where he can just take care of himself without having to deal with other people's expectations.

The line "I cannot be seen I'm the king of jungle, I will go and win" is an interesting one, as it conveys a sense of confidence and agency, but also suggests that the character is delusional. The repetition of "minimal, minimal, physical, magical" throughout the song contrasts with this line because it emphasizes the smallness and fragility of the character's existence. The song ends with the character questioning whether he has already lost his mind or not.

Overall, "Minimal" is a song that explores themes of identity, success, and escape. The repetition of certain words creates a hypnotic, trance-like mood that reflects the character's state of mind, while the lyrics themselves tell a story of a man who is trying to find himself.

Line by Line Meaning

minimal, minimal, physical, magical
The singer is emphasizing the importance of simplicity, physicality, and magic in their current state of mind.

I used to be the man on top couldn't stop
The singer used to be successful and powerful, but now feels out of control.

I used to be the thinking head but it was said
The singer used to be thoughtful and intelligent, but something happened that diminished their intellect.

I used to lead the window race put on a face
The artist used to participate in the rat race of trying to keep up appearances, but has since realized the futility of this effort.

my every joke was funny I had a lot of money
The artist used to be wealthy and well-liked, but now recognizes the superficiality of those qualities.

and all the people are fake can't only take
The singer feels that the people around them are insincere and exhausting to be around.

I'm losing my mind and way, need to get away
The singer feels like they are losing control of their life and need to escape from their current situation.

away from gray and crowded places
The artist wants to leave behind the monotony and chaos of their current environment.

city with many faces, my head is about to blow
The city the artist lives in is overwhelming and causing them to feel stressed and anxious.

I need to lay low
The artist wants to take a break from their hectic life and avoid attention.

Under the rain I run like a train
The singer is running in the rain, possibly as a way to escape their problems and feel free.

feeding my brain, my private lane
The artist is taking care of their mental well-being and focusing on their own path.

they will never find me
The singer feels like they are escaping from something or someone by running away.

I cannot be seen I'm the king of jungle, I will go and win
The singer feels powerful and untouchable, like a lion in the jungle.

this is the life I need now I plan to see only myself to feed
The singer is focused on taking care of themselves and their own needs, instead of relying on others.

I'm the man on top don't wanna stop
The artist feels confident and successful in this new phase of their life, and wants to keep going.

my survival is critical
The artist recognizes that their own well-being is at stake and they need to prioritize it.

I need to run away and .
The singer is experiencing a sense of urgency to leave their current situation behind.

before I go and lose my mind did I lose my mind
The singer is questioning their own sanity and wonders if they have already lost their mind.

Writer(s): Tamir Muskat, Tomer Yosef, Ori Kaplan

Contributed by Mila M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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