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.
Chan Chan
Gipsy Kings Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Luego a cueto voy para mayarí
De alto cerdo voy para marcané
Luego a cueto voy para mayarí
El cariño que te tengo
Yo no lo puedo negar
Se me sale la babita
Cuando Juanica y Chan Chan
En el mar cernían arena
De alto cerdo voy para marcané
Luego a cueto voy para mayarí
De alto cerdo voy para marcané
Luego a cueto voy para mayarí
Como sacudía el jibe
A Chan Chan le daba pena
Limpia el camino de paja
Que yo me quiero sentar
En aquel tronco que veo
Y así no puedo llegar
De alto cerdo voy para marcané
Luego a cueto voy para mayarí
De alto cerdo voy para marcané
Luego a cueto voy para mayarí
The song "Chan Chan" by the Gipsy Kings is a cover of a famous Cuban song by Compay Segundo. The lyrics describe a journey from "alto cerdo" to "marcané" and then to "cueto" and "mayarí". The journey seems to be symbolic, as the destination is not as important as the journey itself. Along the way, the singer confesses his love, saying that he cannot deny it and that it makes him drool. The second verse describes a scene where Juanica and Chan Chan are sifting sand on the beach, where Chan Chan is embarrassed by how he shakes the sieve. The third verse talks about clearing the path of straw so that the singer can sit on a log he sees, but he cannot get there.
The lyrics to "Chan Chan" are simple and straightforward but convey a sense of nostalgia, love, and storytelling. The Gipsy Kings' version of the song is more upbeat and has more flamenco-style guitar playing, giving it a unique flavor.
Line by Line Meaning
De alto cerdo voy para marcané
I'm heading towards Marcané on a piggyback ride
Luego a cueto voy para mayarí
And from there I'll continue to Mayarí on foot
De alto cerdo voy para marcané
I'm heading towards Marcané on a piggyback ride
Luego a cueto voy para mayarí
And from there I'll continue to Mayarí on foot
El cariño que te tengo
I can't deny the love I have for you
Yo no lo puedo negar
I can't deny it
Se me sale la babita
I drool over you
Yo no lo puedo evitar
I can't help it
Cuando Juanica y Chan Chan
When Juanica and Chan Chan
En el mar cernían arena
Were sifting sand in the sea
Como sacudía el jibe
How the sail was shaking
A Chan Chan le daba pena
It made Chan Chan feel ashamed
Limpia el camino de paja
Clear the path of straw
Que yo me quiero sentar
So I can sit down
En aquel tronco que veo
On that log that I see
Y así no puedo llegar
And I can't get there like this
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Maximo Francisco Repilado Munoz
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
eloina Rojas
No ay barrreras ellos son magnifi cos siempre los escuchare mientras Dios me preste vida viva la musica
Zurich Lamore
Show!
Emir Čelebić
Nile brought me here.