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.
Escuchame
Gipsy Kings Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Si el hecho de estar es mi corazón
Dime porque, dime porque
De tan anos templa mi corazón
Piensa no es el sueño
Piensa no porque no me quiere el sueno
Espera me, espera me
De nada esta muy tarde dentro de mi
Calor detiene nada en dentro de ti
Corazon cabao
Corazon cabao
Corazon cabao
Corazon cabao
La lo lai lo lai lo, lai lai lo lai lo lai
La lo lai lo lai lo, lai lai lo lai lo lai
Ah olvidad, ma olvidad
Dime quisiera que resto de ti
Ah olvidad, ma olvidad
Canciones de este mundo para mi
Suena de capao, suena de capao
Suena de capao, suena de capao
La lo lai lo lai lo, lai lai lo lai lo lai
La lo lai lo lai lo, lai lai lo lai lo lai
In the song "Escuchame" by Gipsy Kings, the singer is pleading to his lover to listen to him. He asks why his heart feels so old and worn despite his young age. He emphasizes that it's not just a dream, it's a real feeling that he is going through. The singer is essentially asking his lover to wait for him, as it's not too late for them to be together. The use of the phrase "corazon cabao" (worn-out heart) reinforces the message of the song, emphasizing the idea that he's been through a lot of heartache.
The song is written in Spanish, and the use of flamenco style guitars and rhythms is characteristic of Gipsy Kings' music. The group has been active since the 1970s, and their music is heavily influenced by traditional Romani music. They've sold millions of records worldwide and have become known for their infectious beats and lively performances. "Escuchame" is from their 1987 self-titled album, which helped them gain widespread recognition outside of Spain.
Line by Line Meaning
Escucha me, escucha me
Listen to me, listen to me
Si el hecho de estar es mi corazón
If the fact of being is my heart
Dime porque, dime porque
Tell me why, tell me why
De tan anos templa mi corazón
Why my heart has been tempered for so many years
Piensa no es el sueño
Think, it's not a dream
Piensa no porque no me quiere el sueno
Think, not because the dream does not want me
Espera me, espera me
Wait for me, wait for me
De nada esta muy tarde dentro de mi
It's not too late for nothing within me
Calor detiene nada en dentro de ti
Heat stops nothing inside of you
Corazon cabao
Broken heart
La lo lai lo lai lo, lai lai lo lai lo lai
Nonsensical sounds
Ah olvidad, ma olvidad
Ah forget, but forget
Dime quisiera que resto de ti
Tell me, I would like the rest of you
Canciones de este mundo para mi
Songs of this world for me
Suena de capao, suena de capao
Sounds of a capao (a type of percussion instrument)
La lo lai lo lai lo, lai lai lo lai lo lai
Nonsensical sounds
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: NICOLAS REYES, TONINO BALIARDO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Recep Halil Gültekin
on Un Amor
Vuoi amare Bedla