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.
Djobi Djobi
Gipsy Kings Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yo te encuentro
Solita por la calle
Yo me siento amorado
Yo me siento triste solo
Djobi Djoba
Cada dia te quiero mas
Cada dia te quiero mas
Djobi djobi djobi djoba
Cada dia te quiero mas
Que lo me importa
Que lo distancia
Ya nos separe
Yo me contento me retir
Y no me diga ay
para guarja ja
Djobi Djoba
Cada dia te quiero mas
Djobi djobi djobi djoba
Cada dia te quiero mas
Djobi djobi djobi djoba
Cada dia te quiero mas
The lyrics to the Gipsy Kings' song "Djobi Djobi" express the singer's feelings of love and sadness as they encounter a woman named Nina walking alone on the street. The singer is in love with Nina and feels both happy and sad at the thought of her. Despite any distance between them, the singer is content to simply retreat without saying anything to her.
The song employs a repetitive chorus of "Djobi Djoba" that serves both as a catchy hook and a representation of the singer's growing love for Nina. The lyrics are sung in Spanish, with occasional interjections in a dialect of Romani. The upbeat rhythm and melody create an energetic and joyful vibe.
Line by Line Meaning
Ay Nina
Addressing Nina
Yo te encuentro
I find you
Solita por la calle
Alone on the streets
Yo me siento amorado
I feel love
Yo me siento triste solo
I feel sad and alone
Djobi Djoba
A nonsense phrase used to fill space in the song
Cada dia te quiero mas
Every day I love you more
Djobi djobi djobi djoba
A repetition of the nonsense phrase
Cada dia te quiero mas
Every day I love you more
Djobi djobi djobi djoba
A repetition of the nonsense phrase
Cada dia te quiero mas
Every day I love you more
Que lo me importa
I don't care
Que lo distancia
About the distance between us
Ya nos separe
If we were ever separated
Yo me contento me retir
I am content to go away
Y no me diga ay
And don't tell me oh
para guarja ja
Another nonsense phrase used to fill space in the song
Contributed by Jordan B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@godox6653
Ay niña
Yo te encuentro
Solita por la calle
Yo me sientoenamorado
Yo me siento, ay, triste y solo
Djobi Djoba
Cada día yo te quiero más
Djobi Djobi, Djobi Djoba
Cada día yo te quiero más
Djobi Djobi, Djobi Djoba
Cada día yo te quiero más
Djobi Djoba
Cada día yo te quiero más
Djobi Djobi, Djobi Djoba
Cada día yo te quiero más
Djobi Djobi, Djobi Djoba
Cada día yo te quiero más
Que no me importa
Que la distancia hoy
Ya no nos separe
Yo voy acordándome de ti
Que no me diga, ay Paraguay, ay ay ay
Djobi Djoba
Cada día yo te quiero más
Djobi Djobi, Djobi Djoba
Cada día yo te quiero más
Djobi Djobi, Djobi Djoba
Cada día yo te quiero más
Djobi Djoba
Cada día yo te quiero más
Djobi Djobi, Djobi Djoba
Cada día yo te quiero más
Djobi Djobi, Djobi Djoba
Cada día yo te quiero más
Djobi Djoba
Cada día yo te quiero más
Djobi Djobi, Djobi Djoba
Cada día yo te quiero más
Djobi Djobi, Djobi Djoba
Cada día yo te quiero más
Djobi Djoba
Cada día yo te quiero más
Djobi Djobi, Djobi Djoba
Cada día yo te quiero más
Djobi Djobi, Djobi Djoba
Cada día yo te quiero más
❤️
@felixcaraballo1339
1987, 22 años, el cabello a los hombros, jeans y camisa manga larga con tennis blancos, mi auto, un Chrysler super bee 1980 v8 motor 360. Vidrios abajo y música a todo volumen con un muy buen sonido jvc. Dando la vuelta por el boulevard de Veracruz México, en ese momento no sabia que estaba forjando a fuego lento en mi corazón y en mi mente, uno de los mejores y más divertidos recuerdos. Íbamos en el carro 3 parejas, riendo y disfrutando la vida sin más motivo qué estar jóvenes y felices. Esta canción, invariablemente me regresa justo al volante, casi puedo sentir el aire del mar en la cara, pero la sonrisa, es lo único que no ha cambiado... Quien dice que no se puede viajar al pasado? Justo ahora estoy ahí. A ti que me lees, un abrazo, sonríe! Y sigue viajando... ✌🏻🍻
@jewelscoop3570
Google translate has allowed me to read such amazing stories ❤️
@raphaeleonoffrio80
Sí, mi hermano, esos eran los días en que éramos niños y estábamos tan locos.Éramos jóvenes guapos con corazones y mentes, valientemente abiertos a lo bueno en nuestro camino. Las mujeres de esta generación son asombrosamente bellas y muy bien estilizadas.Extraño el tiempo y a mis amigos de entonces.Dios te acompañe hermano......
@dansdmatno9798
Ketika itu dunia demam dengan fesyen rock dari timur sampai ke barat
@GankMoove
Gracias
@joanmanuelvargas508
Waooo hermoso recuerdo amigo el q viviste lastima q ya está generación todo eso se perdió el celular y el internet ha dañado todo el sistema además de esta música horrible llamada Reguetón dios nos guíe 🙏
@dheensay
My father and I used to listen to the "best of gipsy kings" cassette in 1995...all the way to work and back. My father is now 80, and I am 46. Thank you for the beautiful music!
@SirRogal
I have exactly same story with my Dad :D cassette player, hot summer days in the 90's and Gypsy Kings! Beautiful times! Cheers from Poland. I am 40, George is now 70 :)
@pabloabreu4265
El niño que habita en mi alma esta bailando al escucharlos ,el se crio escuchando a los reyes gitanos en un pais llamado Uruguay!!!
@uggabriela3761
Es tu, Nino eterno