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.
Bem
Gipsy Kings Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mujer mia
Tu no me dejas
Tu no te vayas
Igual que una chiquitana
No te vayas
Mujer mia
Tu no te vayas
Tu acerca a el abandono
Bem bem bem maria
Te quiero bem bem bem
Bem bem bem maria
Te adoro bem bem bem
Bem bem bem maria
Te quiero bem bem bem
Bem bem bem maria
Te quiero bem
Cambia, cambia
Ay desengañarme
Y esa precisa a retirarme
Ya cerca ya la abandono
Bem bem bem maria
Te quiero bem bem bem
Bem bem bem maria
Te adoro bem bem bem
Bem bem bem maria
Te quiero bem bem bem
Bem bem bem maria
Te quiero bem
Bem bem bem maria
Te quiero bem bem bem
Bem bem bem maria
Te adoro bem bem bem
Bem bem bem maria
Te quiero bem bem bem
Bem bem bem maria
Te quiero bem
Bem bem bem maria
Te quiero bem bem bem
Bem bem bem maria
Te adoro bem bem bem
Bem bem bem maria
Te quiero bem bem bem
Bem bem bem maria
Te quiero bem
The lyrics to Gipsy Kings' song "Bem Bem Maria" are about a man pleading with his lover not to leave him. He calls her "mujer mia" (my woman) and begs her to stay, saying "tu no me dejas" (don't leave me). He compares her to a small child who needs to be taken care of, saying "igual que una chiquitana" (like a little one). Despite his pleas, he feels like she is getting ready to abandon him and is trying to come to terms with it, saying "ya cerca ya la abandono" (already close to abandoning her). The repetition of "bem bem bem maria" throughout the song is a sort of refrain or chorus, expressing the depth of his affection for her.
The lyrics are sung in Spanish with a strong Flamenco influence, reflecting the Gipsy Kings' heritage. The song is full of emotion and passion, which is a hallmark of flamenco music, as well as the Gipsy Kings' unique sound which blends traditional flamenco with pop and Latin rhythms.
Line by Line Meaning
No te vayas
Don't go away
Mujer mia
My woman
Tu no me dejas
You don't leave me
Tu no te vayas
Don't you go away
Igual que una chiquitana
Like a little girl
Tu acerca a el abandono
You bring me closer to abandonment
Bem bem bem maria
Sweet sweet sweet Maria
Te quiero bem bem bem
I love you sweet sweet sweet
Te adoro bem bem bem
I adore you sweet sweet sweet
Cambia, cambia
Change, change
Ay desengañarme
Oh, disillusion me
Y esa precisa a retirarme
And that precise thing is to retire me
Ya cerca ya la abandono
Already close, I abandon her
Te quiero bien bien bien
I love you really really really
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: R, ANDRE REYES, JACQUES BALIARDO, JALHOUL BOUCHIKHI, MAURICE BALIARDO, NICOLAS REYES, PAUL REYES, TONINO BALIARDO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@PrimerisimoVolvere
- ¿Cómo dices? No hablo español.
Un momento...
¿¡Estoy hablando español!? ¡¡¡Qué diablos!!! 🤔🤣😜😝
Me llamo Maria, y esta canción me la dedicaron a mí...
Gracias Gipsy Kings, me enamoré! 😍 😙❤❤❤
P/D: Bem bem bem maria
Te quiero bem bem bem
Bem bem bem maria
Te adoro bem bem bem
Bem bem bem maria
Te quiero bem bem bem
Bem bem bem maria
Te quiero bem... 💃 🎵🎶🎵🎶
1° de Mayo de 2017 😘❤️🇦🇷
@krahesticks2975
reminds me of when my parents would cook, the house would fill with amazing smells and set in memories of home. me and my sister would play with hotwheels, then we would all enjoy a family dinner. rest happy daddy <3
@miguelrecinos6915
I can definitely
@antoniojazzblue5071
L
Llĺĺplĺpplĺ
Lĺlĺĺl
P
@JeromeProductions
damn
@AZWorldExplorer
Yasssss same here!!! Except I played with matchbox cars and big rigs… miss those days 🙌🏻😊😊😊
@1981tave
❤ jus lost my dad
@nycgrmsketeer8300
Bedazzled, watch it. This song is in it and the scene is HILARIOUS.
@justinmallory8109
Hola! Mucho Gusto! Me llamo Elliot! Hola Juan, hola Esteban, dónde esta esa biblioteca?
@YuliyaLunessia
@Justin Mallory 😂😂😂😂 "No thank you, I'm allergic to shellfish"
@vinniethegooch7830
I have this as my alarm. I look in the mirror like Brendan Fraser did and do a little shimmy before blowing a kiss to myself and starting my day.