Guest vocalists on Mr. Freedom, include two-time Grammy and Tony winning vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater, former Orange Juice vocalist Edwyn Collins and even Dee Dee Bridgewater's daughter, China Moses. In addition, this specially sequenced US version features the added bonus of Italian Latin-dance maestro Nicola Conte (his groovy "Bossa Per Due" was used in a well-known Acura commercial). Here Conte caps off the album with an electrifying, extended live sextet version of "Into My Soul." Together this session of guest artists take the Gabin sound from punchy, Art Of Noise-esque rock, to sensual slow jams, to new takes on their signature mixture of groove-filled vibes.
Gabin’s music can be found across the media world: the compilation CD Hotel Costes, cult TV shows like HBO’s Sex And The City and Six Feet Under and high-profile TV commercials for Polaroid and Cinemax. Gabin’s new album, Mr. Freedom marks the first release since the band’s ingenious remix of Peggy Lee's "Fever,” a highlight of the Pink Panther's Penthouse Party CD.
Gabin have left behind the cocktail vibes of their first release, stepped up the beat and released a breathtaking new album combining uptempo jazzy flair with a touch of soul.
Doo uap doo uap doo uap
Gabin Lyrics
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If it ain't got that swing
It don't mean a thing
If it ain't got that swing
The lyrics to Gabin's song "Doo Uap Doo Uap Doo Uap" may seem simple, but they carry a powerful message about the importance of rhythm and groove. The repeated lines "It don't mean a thing / If it ain't got that swing" suggest that no matter how talented or technically proficient a musician may be, their music will fall flat without a certain intangible quality: a sense of swing or flow that makes listeners want to dance, tap their toes, or nod their heads along with the beat.
The idea of swing has its roots in jazz, where it refers to a distinctive rhythmic style that emphasizes offbeat accents and syncopations (i.e. unexpected rhythms that don't conform to the regular meter of the music). Swing is more than just a rhythmic pattern, however; it's also a feeling or vibe that can't be quantified or explained, but is instantly recognizable when you hear it.
In "Doo Uap Doo Uap Doo Uap," Gabin captures this sense of swing by layering syncopated percussion, jazzy piano chords, and a funky bassline on top of each other, creating a complex rhythm that's impossible to resist. The unusual title of the song also contributes to its quirky, playful vibe, as the nonsensical syllables "Doo Uap" sound like a rhythmic chant or mantra that amplifies the groove.
Line by Line Meaning
It don't mean a thing
If something lacks a certain quality, it's meaningless
If it ain't got that swing
If it does not have the rhythm, style or flow that makes it enjoyable or appealing, it is not worth anything
It don't mean a thing
Again, emphasizing that having a certain quality is essential for something to be worthwhile
If it ain't got that swing
Reiterating that without a certain quality, something is not worth anything
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DUKE ELLINGTON, IRVING MILLS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind