Latin American beats had been joined with flamenco by gitanos since at least the 1950s, mixing complex strumming with rhythmic, percussive tapping on their guitars' tops. The new Reyes generation — soon to meet and join up with three guitar-playing brothers from the Baliardo family — began creating more pop-oriented songs. They played at roma parties and at street corners until they got their chance to record under the group's new name, Gipsy Kings.
Sharp-eyed individuals might have noted that all the left-handed members of the group play guitars strung upside-down; this is usually as a result of the individuals' not having their own guitars when growing-up. Borrowing and playing a right-hander's the wrong way up was the only way to learn.
Band's story
They became popular with their self-titled first album, Gipsy Kings, which included the songs "Djobi Djoba ", "Bamboleo " and the romantic ballad "Un Amor". The song "Volare" on their second album Mosaique is a rumba version of Domenico Modugno's Italian hit "Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu". The Gipsy Kings were enormously popular in France and throughout Europe along with the middle east. In 1989, Gipsy Kings was released in the United States and it spent 40 weeks on the charts, one of very few Spanish language albums to do so. Their cover version of "Hotel California" is an excellent example of fast flamenco guitar leads and rhythmic strumming (this version was featured in the Coen Brothers' movie The Big Lebowski).
In 1991 the Gipsy Kings provided flamenco guitar and backing vocals on Bananarama's version of "Long Train Running", using the pseudonym "Alma de Noche" ("Soul of the Night"). Also in '91, for a multi-artist project called "Simply Mad About the Mouse" — a compilation of new versions of songs from Disney films — the Kings contributed an annaly-crafted, fast-paced rumba flamenca version of "I've Got No Strings" from "Pinocchio" - replete with feverish flamenco guitar leads and rhythmic hand-claps (palmas). The lyrics' enthusiasm for freedom, not being tied down, fit the gipsy creed perfectly.
Their 1993 album "Love and Liberte" won the Latin Grammy Award for "Best Pop Album of the Year," and contained the enduring song "Montana," an emotional account of Roma chased from their birthplace by prejudice and persecution.
The '95 compilation "The Best of the Gipsy Kings" went platinum, staying on the charts more than one year. Albums "Mosaïque," "Allegria," "Este Mundo," "Gipsy Kings Live," "Love & Liberte," "Tierra Gitana," "Cantos de Amor" and "Volare! - the Very Best of the Gipsy Kings" went gold.
Lead guitarist Tonino Baliardo — who has always written the group's instrumentals — released his first solo album, Essences, in 2001; a second self-titled one followed in 2003.
Flamenco purists criticized their use of drum kits, electronic bass, and electronic keyboards and rock and reggae beats. Defenders say they helped create a new style.
Gipsy Kings' total album sales worldwide now exceed 18 million; they toured worldwide again in 2007. They are the world's best-selling music group from France in history, according to their website, where dates and places of their current tour can be found.
Years active: from 1987 till present.
Members
Gipsy Kings are members of two related families: the Reyes and the Baliardos (Reyes means Kings in Spanish). They are cousins of the flamenco great Manitas de Plata, lead guitarist Tonino Baliardo married his granddaughter. Nicolas, Canut, Paul, Andre and Patchai Reyes are sons of flamenco singer Jose Reyes. The Gipsy Kings are:
Nicolas Reyes: lead vocals, guitar
Paul Reyes: backup vocals, guitar
Canut Reyes: backup vocals, guitar
Patchai Reyes: backup vocals, guitar
Andre Reyes: backup vocals, guitar
Diego Baliardo: guitar
Paco Baliardo: guitar
Tonino Baliardo: lead guitar
Chico Bouchikhi was also a member of the Gipsy Kings, but quit after the album Mosaique.
Ami Wa Wa
Gipsy Kings Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Amiwawa, ai la mai ve...
Yo te quiero masque a nadie
Tu solita no me mira
Pasa tu y no me habla
De penita ya moriria
Tu solita no me mira
Pasa tu y no me habla
De penita ya moriria
Bailara, bailara, bailara
Solo por ti bailara, bailara
Solo por ti bailara, bailara
Solo por ti bailira
Yo te quiero masque a nadie
Tu solita no me mira
Pasa tu y no me habla
De penita ya moriria
Amiwawa, ai la mai ve...
The lyrics to Gipsy Kings' song Ami Wa Wa are sung in Spanish and convey a sense of longing and unrequited love. The chorus of the song - "Amiwawa, ai la mai ve" - loosely translates to "For you only." The singer of the song seems to be confessing their love for someone who does not reciprocate their feelings. Despite their unrequited love, the singer cannot help but still love this person more than anyone else. They express how much they desire to be seen by this person, but the person passes them by without acknowledging them. The singer says they would die of sadness if they could not be with this person.
The verses of the song repeat this sentiment, with the singer expressing their love and the pain they feel from not being noticed. However, they continue to hold out hope and promise to dance only for this person if given the chance.
Overall, the lyrics of Ami Wa Wa convey a sense of hopeless romanticism and unrequited love. The repetitive nature of the chorus emphasizes the obsessive nature of the singer's feelings, but also highlights their willingness to do anything for the person they love.
Line by Line Meaning
Amiwawa (solo por ti)
This song is dedicated to you alone.
Amiwawa, ai la mai ve...
I will sing the words of love for you.
Yo te quiero masque a nadie
I love you more than anyone else.
Tu solita no me mira
But you alone don't look at me.
Pasa tu y no me habla
When you walk by, you don't talk to me.
De penita ya moriria
It hurts me so much that I could die.
Bailara, bailara, bailara
I will dance, dance, dance.
Solo por ti bailara, bailara
I will dance only for you.
Solo por ti bailara, bailara
I will dance only for you.
Solo por ti bailira
I will dance only for you.
Amiwawa, ai la mai ve...
I will continue to sing the words of love for you.
Contributed by Declan W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Nana
Qué linda esta canción, me acuerdo de irme a pie rumbo a la universidad a los 18 casi todos los días, discman en mano y audífonos 🎧allá… por la primavera del 2002. Mis caminatas largas (45minutos o más) se me volvían rapidísimas con un doble disco de éxitos de ellos, esto todo allá por 2002. Se me había olvidado esta canción, “A mi wa wa”, oírla me alegra el alma y el corazón. 🥹🥲❣️Gracias Gypsy Kings …
Verano 2023.
Flor María Martinez Perez
I love you gypsi kings ❣️❤️❣️
Zeynep Khalil
🙏❤️🥰
Juan José Pérez Caridad
No está bien apropiarse de material de otra gente. Si quieres hacer un vídeo para una música, fílmalo tú mismo. El video original de Brandon Li tiene su propia música. 😠