Betagarri consists of eight musicans who are Iñaki Ortiz de Villalba (voice), Aitor Ruiz de Arbulo (guitar) and Pablo Rodríguez (bass) who are the only remaining founder members from 1992 and Iker Uriarte (drumset), Aitor Agirre (guitar), David Gaviña (sax), Mikel Sanz (trombone) and Unai Lobo (trumpet) what is the bandmanning since 2003.
So far 9 albums are released:
Maketa (demo from 1994)
Betagarri (1997)
Arren Erro Zaharra (1998)
80/00 (1999)
Freaky Festa (2000)
Remix (2001)
Arnasa Hartu (2002)
Zuzenena CD/DVD (2004)
Hamaika Gara (2006)
Euskadi Antifaxista
Betagarri Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
abizen "vasco"rik,
ez eta norbaitek zioen bezala
odol emankorrik.
baina hemengo hizkuntza
gustora ikasi dut
eta euskal gizartean
nago murgildurik
eta nere jatorriak
herri honetan
ez bait dute garrantzirik.
Uoioioi, uaiaiai,
Euskadi antirrazista
uoioioi, uaiaiai,
ska antifaxista
Oso harro daramat
afrobasko nortasuna
eta ulertzen dut
euskal tribuen batasuna,
baina munduko herri
zapaldu guztietan
errealitate ezberdina
eta borroka berdina
beraz egin dezagun
matxinada mundiala
deusezteko erabat
banka eta kapitala.
Mundu honetakoek
lapurtu zenuten guztia
eta orain bueltatuko
diguzue bizia.
Hirugarren Munduan
ez dago bizitzerik
ito gaituzuenez
ez dugu ezta haizerik,
beraz arnasa hartzera
gatoz zure etxera
bueltatzeko berriro
mundu berri batera
The song Euskadi Antifaxista by Betagarri is a powerful statement about the Basque identity and its place in the world. The first verse of the song talks about the singer's rejection of the label "vasco" (Basque) and the idea that someone could claim to represent the Basque people without shedding blood for the cause. The singer then goes on to express their love for the Basque language and their deep immersion in Basque society, despite not having a Basque-sounding name or physical appearance. The chorus declares Euskadi (the Basque Country) as anti-racist and ska (music genre associated with political activism) as anti-fascist.
The second verse of the song delves into the complexity of Basque identity and how it intersects with other struggles for justice and equality. The singer expresses their pride in Afro-Basque identity and their understanding of the unity of Basque tribes. However, they also recognize that the reality of the world is one of oppression and struggle, and that the Basque people must join the global fight against capital and the banks that have stolen from all of us. The final lines of the song urge us to reclaim our lives and return to a new world, signaling a call to action to all those who have been marginalized and oppressed.
Line by Line Meaning
Hemengoa ez naiz eta ez daukat abizen "vasco"rik, ez eta norbaitek zioen bezala odol emankorrik.
I am not from here and I don't have a "Basque" surname, nor have I shed any blood like some claim. But I have joyfully learned the local language and am deeply immersed in Basque society, despite my skin color or origin, which is not deemed important in this land.
Baina hemengo hizkuntza gustora ikasi dut eta euskal gizartean nago murgildurik zeren nere koloreak eta nere jatorriak herri honetan ez bait dute garrantzirik.
However, I have happily learned the local language and am deeply immersed in Basque society, despite my skin color or origin, which is not deemed important in this land.
Uoioioi, uaiaiai, Euskadi antirrazista uoioioi, uaiaiai, ska antifaxista
Uoioioi, uaiaiai, we are anti-racist in the Basque Country. Uoioioi, uaiaiai, we are ska and anti-fascist.
Oso harro daramat afrobasko nortasuna eta ulertzen dut euskal tribuen batasuna, baina munduko herri zapaldu guztietan errealitate ezberdina eta borroka berdina
I proudly carry my Afro-Basque identity and understand the unity of Basque tribes. But in all the oppressed peoples of the world, there is a different reality and the same struggle.
Beraz egin dezagun matxinada mundiala deusezteko erabat banka eta kapitala.
So let's start a global revolution to get rid of banks and capital altogether.
Mundu honetakoek lapurtu zenuten guztia eta orain bueltatuko diguzue bizia. Hirugarren Munduan ez dago bizitzerik ito gaituzuenez ez dugu ezta haizerik, beraz arnasa hartzera gatoz zure etxera bueltatzeko berriro mundu berri batera
The people of this world have stolen everything from us, but now we will reclaim our lives. There is no life in the third world, as it has been made so difficult for us to survive, we have no choice but to come to your home and take our energy and return to a new world.
Contributed by Madelyn A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.