It all started with a double bass pla… Read Full Bio ↴Paris, France (2005 – present)
It all started with a double bass player, a guitarist and a violinist; all highly talented musicians who are really into swing, Django addicts who enjoy tinkering with electro. Their project swayed a singer, a clarinettist, a trombonist who doubles up on percussion and a guitarist who also acts as DJ. With their “Zazou” look (inspired by Parisian paleo-punks from the 1940s), they serve up festive, frantic music, an improbable futuristic and melodious Charleston fit for the dance floor. Caravan Palace is to swing what the Gotan Project is to tango.
It so often starts out like that: a gang of mates who’ve kicked around together for the past ten years and who each get into music off their own bat. In this case, it was Hugues on the violin, Arnaud on guitar and Carlos on the double bass. A shared craze for manouche jazz (gypsy-style jazz), played in its natural setting, bars. Relatively serious composition, with a Zeitgeist twist: DIY electro, house, dub and hip-hop.
What triggered it all was an order placed by a film production company: a soundtrack for silent porn films dating from the beginning of the 20th century! They trotted out all their talents. Our three heroes played the end result to some friendly listeners, the feedback persuaded them to drop their individual projects and come up with a repertory of their own. Because there was no question for them of reworking Django or giving swing a face-lift! If they were going to forge their own path, it had to be something completely fresh.
This was back in 2005: it would take them an entire year. At which point they met Loïc Barrouk, manager of the Café de la Danse, who was really keen on the project. He got them into the studio (recording with session musicians), and then got them some gigs. For that, they needed some reliable fellow travellers, so they surfed MySpace. Two months later, the troops had been mustered: Chapi (clarinet), Toustou (who plays trombone and beat synthing), Aurélien (alternating as guitarist and DJ) and, last but not least, petulant vocalist Colotis Zoé, every bit as sweet’n’saucy as her signature song “Jolie coquine”! Among the three pioneers, Hugues, the crazy one, has revealed a talent for frenzied scat, Arnaud and Carlos double up their instruments thanks to programming. All together, they composed a new repertory. The Caravan took off.
Caravan Palace’s secret is a supersonic buzz on the Internet (free promo) and a year on the road with hard-hitting concerts, even before they released their record. A prime example was their performance at the 2007 Django Reinhardt Jazz Festival, in Samois, where they wowed an audience who had never heard of them. Veterans from the classic manouche jazz scene were left speechless. The excellent Caravan Palace musicians, who are of course “gadjos” (non-gypsies), have breathed fresh air into the timeless swing scene without coming across as preachers. As well as listeners with curious ears, the Caravan also has its own following, a horde of fans totally into the electro vibe, who turn up at each of their concerts. Caravan Palace’s reputation has rippled beyond the frontiers too, with Europe eager to check them out.
The album has at last been set for release in October 2008, on the Wagram label. With Caravan Palace, the future of swing looks set to swing.
We Can Dance
Caravan Palace Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh joy
Hey what's up guys ?
Pam padam We Can Dance
What's up you guys
Pam padam We Can Dance
Oh boys don't lie
And girls don't cry
Pam padam We Can Dance
Oh joy is in your heart x5
Oh joy is is everywhere
Oh joy is in your heart x5
Oh joy
Hey what's up guys ?
Pam padam We Can Dance
What's up you guys
Pam padam We Can Dance
Oh boys don't lie
Pam padam We Can Dance
And girls don't cry
Pam padam We Can Dance
Hey what's up guys ?
Pam padam We Can Dance
What's up you guys
Pam padam We Can Dance
Oh boys don't lie
Pam padam
And girls don't cry
Hey what's up guys ?
Pam padam We Can Dance
What's up you guys
Pam padam We Can Dance
Oh boys don't lie
Pam padam We Can Dance
And girls don't cry
Pam padam We Can Dance
Hey what's up guys ?
Pam padam We Can Dance
What's up you guys
Pam padam We Can Dance
Oh boys, don't lie
Pam padam We Can Dance
And girls don't cry
We Can Dance
In Caravan Palace's song We Can Dance, the lyrics invite the listener to let go of their inhibitions and enjoy the present moment. The repetition of "Oh joy is in your heart" reinforces the idea that happiness is within oneself and can be brought out through dance. The lyrics "Hey what's up guys? Pam padam We Can Dance" serve as an anthem to unite people on the dance floor, regardless of gender or social status. The line "Oh boys don't lie and girls don't cry" sends a message of confidence and self-assurance, encouraging everyone to be themselves without fear of judgment.
The upbeat tempo and electroswing sound of the song complement the optimistic message of the lyrics. The use of a brass section and a driving bass line adds to the excitement and energy of the song. The repetition of the phrase "Pam padam" throughout the song adds to the infectiousness of the melody and invites the listener to join in and dance.
Overall, the song is a celebration of the power of music and dance to bring people together and create joy. It encourages listeners to let go of their fears and insecurities and embrace the moment with positivity and confidence.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh joy is in your heart x11
There's happiness within you that's hard to contain and it spreads to your surroundings.
Oh joy
It's a statement acknowledging the presence of joy around us.
Hey what's up guys ?
Pam padam We Can Dance
Greetings to everyone, let's dance to the rhythm.
What's up you guys
Pam padam We Can Dance
Asking how everyone's doing and inviting them to dance.
Oh boys don't lie
Pam padam We Can Dance
Boys shouldn't pretend they don't want to dance, let's all have fun.
And girls don't cry
Pam padam We Can Dance
Girls shouldn't feel sad or left out, let's dance and enjoy ourselves.
Oh joy is in your heart x5
Oh joy is is everywhere
Oh joy is in your heart x5
Oh joy
Emphasizing the joy that's present within us and all around us.
Oh boys, don't lie
Pam padam We Can Dance
And girls don't cry
Repeating the message that everyone should dance and have fun without any reservation.
Hey what's up guys ?
Pam padam
And girls don't cry
Encouraging everyone to join in on the fun without feeling shy or hesitant.
We Can Dance
It's a call to action, an invitation to let our guards down and dance together.
Contributed by Jason T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Leo
Lyrics:
Oh joy's in your head
Oh joy's in your head
Oh joy's in your head
Oh joy's is in your heart
Oh joy's in your head
Oh joy's in your head
Oh joy's in your head
Oh joy's in your head
Oh joy's in your head
Oh joy's in your head
Oh joy's in your head
Oh joy
Hey what's up guys?
Pam padam We Can Dance
What's up you guys
Pam padam We Can Dance
Oh boys don't lie
Pam padam We Can Dance
And girls don't cry
Pam padam We Can Dance
[Instrumental]
Oh joy's in your head
Oh joy's in your head
Oh joy's in your head
Oh joy's is in your heart
Oh joy's in your heart
Oh joy's is everywhere
Oh joy's in your head
Oh joy's in your head
Oh joy's in your head
Oh joy's in your head
Oh joy's in your head
Oh joy's in your head
Oh joy
Hey what's up guys?
Pam padam We Can Dance
What's up you guys
Pam padam We Can Dance
Oh boys don't lie
Pam padam We Can Dance
And girls don't cry
Pam padam We Can Dance
[Instrumental]
Hey what's up guys?
Pam padam We Can Dance
What's up you guys
Pam padam We Can Dance
Oh boys don't lie
Pam padam
And girls don't cry
Hey what's up guys?
Pam padam We Can Dance
What's up you guys
Pam padam We Can Dance
Oh boys don't lie
Pam padam We Can Dance
And girls don't cry
Pam padam We Can Dance
Hey what's up guys?
Pam padam We Can Dance
What's up you guys
Pam padam We Can Dance
Oh boys, don't lie
Pam padam We Can Dance
And girls don't cry
We Can Dance
Little Clion
Lyrics:
Caravan Palace - ....We Can Dance.
.
.
Oh joy's in your head
Oh joy's in your head
Oh joy's in your head
Oh joy's is in your heart
Oh joy's in your head
Oh joy's in your head
Oh joy's in your head
Oh joy's in your head
Oh joy's in your head
Oh joy's in your head
Oh joy's in your head
Oh joy
Hey what's up guys?
Pam padam We Can Dance
What's up you guys
Pam padam We Can Dance
Oh boys don't lie
Pam padam We Can Dance
And girls don't cry
Pam padam We Can Dance
Oh joy's in your head
Oh joy's in your head
Oh joy's in your head
Oh joy's is in your heart
Oh joy's in your heart
Oh joy's is everywhere
Oh joy's in your head
Oh joy's in your head
Oh joy's in your head
Oh joy's in your head
Oh joy's in your head
Oh joy's in your head
Oh joy
Hey what's up guys?
Pam padam We Can Dance
What's up you guys
Pam padam We Can Dance
Oh…
fabdlnltc
Been a fan of this band since 2022
Mollydollyyyy
2012 for me
David Torazzi
happy fan-anniversary!
Doodoo fart
@Que Pasa Yeah kinda
Lemonade Party
2019 👌
Jackson Cole
Are you still a fan in the present
Marrie Abba
Love how they add this 50's vibe to modern music style
Astro Wiz
Its 30s/40s
Wren
I've never heard this one before! It came up in my mix and my bird started singing really excitedly.
Michael Padua
It's 2020 and we're still dancing!!!🔥🔥🔥