Gatas Parlament were the first Norwegian rappers to rap in Norwegian. The pioneers of Norwegian Rap, such as Warlocks or A-Team, rapped in English. Gatas Parlament started out in 1993, taking the name Kveldens Høydepunkt (Highlight of the Night). Don Martin did not take to the name, and it was therefore changed. Later, they attended a public speech by Carl I. Hagen, the chairman of the right-wing party Fremskrittspartiet, where they threw eggs and rotten fruit at Hagen. This caused Hagen to comment that gatens parlament ruled the country, and the three rappers stuck with the name (the riksmål-wording of gaten was dropped for gata, more fitting for their sociolect).
The band caused controversy in Norway with their video "Antiamerikansk Dans" (Anti American Dance) together with the Swedish rap artist Promoe. In addition, their website killhim.nu ("Kill him Now"), which put a bounty on the assassination of George W. Bush, caused the American embassy in Norway to react, and the website was subsequently shut down.
Manisk Progressiv
Gatas Parlament Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dere kommuniserer med en kommunist (yo)
Mere lommerusk blir det av et kommunistshow
Men det fins dummere steder å tjene litt spenn
Jeg lar dem få høre hva kara vil nå
Antagelig gjøre da hva du vil
Om du lar deg forføre så kan jeg tilstå
At Gatas Parlament bare vil ha deg som kader
Snakk om urettferdighet og stress og drit
Aldri klart å stole helt på folk i dress og slips
Så det hender at jeg henger rundt på fest på Blitz
Nå har Gatas Parlament klart å bli bra stort
Vi er ikke undergrunn lenger vi er grasrot
Vi skal selge skivene til dags dato
Har vel ikke klart å snakke om annet enn nye NATO
Den og Don lever et farlig dobbeltliv
Med diagnose stilt manisk progressiv
Tendensierer mot panisk kognitiv
Sett fra min side er jeg bare objektiv
Vi har ikke kommet for å bare lage liv
Vi lager opprør mot et daglig robberi
Så uansett hvor det er du sokner til
Er det på tide at du tar å våkner i
Konjunksjon og konstruksjon
Argumenterer vi for revolusjon
Badabing badaboom
Er litt streng med tonen
Men situasjonen
Krever at noen snart redder kloden
Før planeten vår blir kaputt
Lockheede ned det hele med en kinaputt
Vi er motstandsbevegelsen med stil og futt
Vi har en masse å si men nå tok tida slutt
The lyrics to Gatas Parlament's song "Manisk Progressiv" touch on several themes related to communism, rebellion, and the state of the world. The song starts with the singer claiming to bring a communist flow to the stage, suggesting their support for communist ideals and criticizing those who communicate with a communist only for financial gain ("Mere lommerusk blir det av et kommunistshow").
The lyrics also express a certain disillusionment with the world and a lack of trust in people in positions of power ("Aldri klart å stole helt på folk i dress og slips"). The singer mentions hanging around at parties in Blitz, which refers to the autonomous cultural center in Oslo known for its rebellious spirit and activism.
The lyrics suggest that Gatas Parlament has grown in popularity and is no longer underground. They talk about selling records and mention the focus on NATO in their discussions. The second verse introduces the characters Den and Don, who are living a dangerous double life and diagnosed with manic progression. The singer claims to be objective and emphasizes that they are not just here to create a stir but to rebel against daily robbery and advocate for revolution.
The song ends with a sense of urgency, expressing the need for someone to save the planet before it is completely destroyed. Gatas Parlament positions themselves as a resistance movement with style and energy, implying that they have a lot to say but the time for this particular statement has come to an end.
Line by Line Meaning
Jeg kommer til scena med en kommunistflow
I step onto the stage with a communist flow
Dere kommuniserer med en kommunist (yo)
You communicate with a communist (yo)
Mere lommerusk blir det av et kommunistshow
There's more pocket change from a communist show
Men det fins dummere steder å tjene litt spenn
But there are dumber places to make some money
Jeg lar dem få høre hva kara vil nå
I let them hear what the guys want now
Antagelig gjøre da hva du vil
Probably do what you want then
Om du lar deg forføre så kan jeg tilstå
If you let yourself be seduced, then I can confess
At Gatas Parlament bare vil ha deg som kader
That Gatas Parlament only wants you as a comrade
Du er vant til å høre oss på Jesterbeats
You're used to hearing us on Jesterbeats
Snakk om urettferdighet og stress og drit
Talking about injustice, stress, and crap
Aldri klart å stole helt på folk i dress og slips
Never able to fully trust people in suits and ties
Så det hender at jeg henger rundt på fest på Blitz
So sometimes I hang out at parties at Blitz
Nå har Gatas Parlament klart å bli bra stort
Now Gatas Parlament has managed to become quite big
Vi er ikke undergrunn lenger vi er grasrot
We are no longer underground, we are grassroots
Vi skal selge skivene til dags dato
We will sell the records until today
Har vel ikke klart å snakke om annet enn nye NATO
Probably haven't been able to talk about anything other than the new NATO
Den og Don lever et farlig dobbeltliv
Den and Don live a dangerous double life
Med diagnose stilt manisk progressiv
With the diagnosis of being relentlessly progressive
Tendensierer mot panisk kognitiv
Tending towards panicky cognition
Sett fra min side er jeg bare objektiv
From my side, I am just objective
Vi har ikke kommet for å bare lage liv
We haven't come just to create a stir
Vi lager opprør mot et daglig robberi
We rebel against a daily robbery
Så uansett hvor det er du sokner til
So regardless of where you belong
Er det på tide at du tar å våkner i
It's time for you to wake up
Konjunksjon og konstruksjon
Conjunction and construction
Argumenterer vi for revolusjon
We argue for revolution
Badabing badaboom
Badabing badaboom
Er litt streng med tonen
Being a bit strict with the tone
Men situasjonen
But the situation
Krever at noen snart redder kloden
Requires someone to save the planet soon
Før planeten vår blir kaputt
Before our planet gets destroyed
Lockheede ned det hele med en kinaputt
Blowing it all up with a firecracker
Vi er motstandsbevegelsen med stil og futt
We are the resistance movement with style and gusto
Vi har en masse å si men nå tok tida slutt
We have a lot to say, but now time is up
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind