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.
Move It
Balkan Beat Box Lyrics
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Move it, double a shot like stereo
Move it, we move the train to carry y'all
Ho no no
Move it, one time let's give it all a go
Move it, push it on up and let it blow
Move it, might be the end but you don't know
Ho no no
Life is on top of all
And it's my favorite
I might fly with it
I might drown in it
I might look aside of it
But I can't ignore it
Don't be the ignorant
Who turns his back on it
And now we are in a race
And now u show your face
If u can't find your place
Then we can show u how to send u to outer space
To fly on your own
We move the train to carry y'all
So u can skip the barrier
And move it to your area
So we can bust your radio
And speak out through your speakers
And scream out to the sleepers
They freak out when they hear us
We make beats like gorillas
In this giant concrete jungle
The digital monkeys on a move
Talking straight, we never mumble
Making sure your dancing feet will move
Blue Eyed Black Boy
(2010)
The song "Move It" by Balkan Beat Box is an upbeat and energetic track that encourages listeners to let loose and move their bodies. The chorus repeats the phrase "move it" three times in a row with increasing urgency, punctuated with the interjection "ho no no." The use of repetition and call-and-response creates a sense of unity and communal spirit that is enhanced by the lyrics' references to trains and radios. The song seems to be beckoning listeners to join a collective movement and participate in a shared experience of music and dance.
However, the lyrics also offer some cryptic insights into the human condition. The second verse presents a series of contrasting statements about life: it can be both uplifting and crushing, inspiring and overwhelming, attractive and repulsive. The singer acknowledges that it is impossible to ignore life, and urges listeners not to turn their backs on it. The final lines suggest that we are all in a race and that we must find our place in the world or risk being left behind. The reference to flying on one's own could be interpreted as a metaphor for finding one's own path in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Move it, we wanna bust your radio
We want to make sure everyone hears our music through their radios
Move it, double a shot like stereo
Our music is like a double shot of energy, just like stereo sound
Move it, we move the train to carry y'all
We are the ones leading the charge and bringing everyone along for the ride
Ho no no
An expression of excitement or energy
Move it, one time let's give it all a go
Let's give it our all and do this thing together
Move it, push it on up and let it blow
We are going to push the limits and make this song explode
Move it, might be the end but you don't know
This may be the end of the song, but the energy and excitement can keep going
Life is on top of all
Life is amazing and wonderful
And it's my favorite
I love every moment of it
I might fly with it
I'll soar with the excitement of life
I might drown in it
I might get completely absorbed in it
I might look aside of it
I might glance over it, but I can never ignore it completely
But I can't ignore it
Life is too wonderful to ignore and I won't let it pass me by
Don't be the ignorant
Don't be unaware of the greatness of life
Who turns his back on it
Don't ignore or reject it
And now we are in a race
We are striving to succeed and be the best
And now u show your face
It's time to step up and make your presence known
If u can't find your place
If you're not sure where you belong
Then we can show u how to send u to outer space
We'll guide and inspire you to reach new heights beyond what you imagined
To fly on your own
To spread your wings and soar on your own
So u can skip the barrier
We want to help you overcome obstacles
And move it to your area
Spread this energy to others in your own unique way
And speak out through your speakers
Let our music and message be heard loud and clear through your speakers
And scream out to the sleepers
Wake up those who may be dozing off or unmotivated
They freak out when they hear us
Our music and message can be intense and unexpected
We make beats like gorillas
Our music is powerful and primal
In this giant concrete jungle
We live in a massive city that can sometimes be overwhelming and isolating
The digital monkeys on a move
We are constantly connected and moving through the digital world
Talking straight, we never mumble
We speak with clarity and conviction
Making sure your dancing feet will move
Our music is meant to get you moving and grooving
Contributed by Lily T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@nikolakuzmanic3955
God I love this band, they just lift me up every single time. Wanna see them live!
@miru7421
Band of Israelis - BECASUE THEY HAVE TO STEAL EVERYONES LAND AND CULTURE
@JessicaJinx
I've been in their concert yesterday in Holon, and they were simply amazing! They are even better in live :D
@miru7421
Band of Israelis - BECASUE THEY HAVE TO STEAL EVERYONES LAND AND CULTURE
@marionkatemauga6497
Love these guys. They performed here in New Zealand at Taranaki Womad festival. They got the crowd off their feet. Hope to see you guys again next year 2016...
@doncarr5408
kate mauga loved them 2
@JorgeGarcia-xy1dh
Es LA primera vez que los escucho, y dejenme decirles que ya soy fan, es la mejor propuesta musical que eh escuchado en mucho tiempo, especialmente en esta era de decadencia musical... Exito hermanos
@ElizaBrooklynfam
Just discovered Balkan Beat Box! I am in love. Also from Colombia but living in U.S. most of my life
@Beyis0123
Este grupo Israelita son lo Maximoooooo! hace nada los descubri y me he enamorado haha esos sonidos originales y unicos me tienen atrapada..todas sus canciones son buenisiimaaaaaas!
@miru7421
Band of Israelis - BECASUE THEY HAVE TO STEAL EVERYONES LAND AND CULTURE