Brazzaville was formed by David Brown in 1998 in Los Angeles, California. While on tour playing saxophone with Beck, David bought an old guitar in Barcelona and began writing the songs for what would be the first Brazzaville album, 2002. Since then Brazzaville has recorded an additional 3 albums, Somnambulista, Rouge on Pockmarked Cheeks and Hastings Street. The original version of the band included many musicians, although the core group consisted of Kenny Lyon, Joe Zimmerman, Joel Virgel-Vierset, Mike Bolger and David Ralicke.
The band has toured the east and west coasts of the US as well as playing shows in Europe, Russia and Kazakhstan.
In 2003 David sold everything and moved to Barcelona. There he formed a new version of Brazzaville consisting of himself, two American expatriates (Ivan Knight and Brady Lynch) and two local boys (Paco Jordi and Richie Alvarez). In 2004, Mimicry Records released a greatest hits record called Welcome to Brazzaville. The band’s fifth album, East L.A. Breeze, was released in June 2006, and tracks are currently streaming on their myspace page.
Barcelona
David Arthur Brown Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Vaig somiar amb Montserrat
Va caura un meteorit
Mol brilliant al eel de la nit
A la Barcelona
La meva Barcelona
A la Barcelona
Va vola per sobre l'Eixample
Cuitadella i carrer
Ample Els esglesias i els mercats
I les hortes del Llobregat
A la Barcelona...
Va vola per sobre els Catalans
I tambe sobre els inmigrants
Els okupas i funcionaris
I la gent de tots els barris
The song "Barcelona" by David Arthur Brown starts with the lyrics "Al'Istanbul l'any pasat, Vaig somiar amb Montserrat," which means "Last year in Istanbul, I dreamed of Montserrat." The mention of Istanbul and Montserrat may have a deeper meaning and could symbolize the journey of the artist. Montserrat is a mountain in Catalonia that holds the Montserrat Monastery and is considered a significant pilgrimage spot. Istanbul, on the other hand, could represent the starting point of the artist's journey, or it could be a place of inspiration for the artist.
The second part of the song talks about a meteorite falling, and it being a brilliant sight in the night sky. It sets the scene of the beauty and wonders of the world, and yet this song is dedicated to the artist's love for Barcelona, and how he feels about the city. He then proceeds to name-drop several landmarks of the city, such as the Eixample neighborhood, Poble Sec, and Llobregat, showcasing his familiarity with the geography.
The third and last part of the song talks about how the city of Barcelona is not just for elites, but for everyone who calls the city their home, including the working-class, non-natives, and immigrants. David Arthur Brown's love for the city can be felt in every lyric, as he describes the different aspects of the city and its people.
Line by Line Meaning
Al'Istanbul l'any pasat
Last year in Istanbul
Vaig somiar amb Montserrat
I dreamed of Montserrat
Va caura un meteorit
A meteorite fell
Mol brilliant al eel de la nit
Very bright in the middle of the night
A la Barcelona
In Barcelona
La meva Barcelona
My Barcelona
Estimada Barcelona
Beloved Barcelona
Va vola per sobre l'Eixample
It flew over the Eixample
Cuitadella i carrer
Ciutadella and street
Ample Els esglesias i els mercats
Wide churches and markets
I les hortes del Llobregat
And the fields of Llobregat
Va vola per sobre els Catalans
It flew over the Catalans
I tambe sobre els inmigrants
And also over the immigrants
Els okupas i funcionaris
The squatters and officials
I la gent de tots els barris
And the people from all neighborhoods
Contributed by Tyler G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.