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.
La Vida De Gipsy
Gipsy Kings Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Buscando el camino, para encontrar la pas
de dios,
Siempre de la vida, el pueblo gitano,
Siempre de la vida, el pueblo de gitano.
Vamos, todos juntos, para bailar y cantar,
flamenco.
Por eso, siempre canta y canta y cantarey.
La vida de gipsy, y el alma en la mano,
Buscando el camino, para encontrar la paz
de dios,
Siempre da la vida, el pueblo gitano,
Siempre da la vida, el pueblo de gitano.
Vamos, todos juntos, para bailar y cantar,
flamenco.
The above lyrics are from the song "La Vida De Gipsy" by Gipsy Kings. The lyrics talk about the life and soul of a gypsy, who is always searching for the path to find peace in god. The gypsy lifestyle is portrayed as one that is full of song, dance and joy, and the gypsy people are shown as always living their lives to the fullest.
The opening line "La vida de gipsy, y el alma en la mano" translates to "The life of a gypsy, with the soul in hand". This line is significant as it suggests that the gypsy way of life is very open and free-spirited, with the soul being at the forefront of everything they do. The idea of the gypsy being on a path to find peace and enlightenment is also evident in the line "Buscando el camino, para encontrar la paz de dios" which means "Searching for the path to find the peace of God".
The chorus invites everyone to come together and dance and sing flamenco, which is a traditional dance form in Spain. The song ends with the repetition of the line "Siempre de la vida, el pueblo de gitano" which means "Always of life, the gypsy people". The song celebrates the gypsy lifestyle and portrays it as one that is filled with joy and a zest for life.
Line by Line Meaning
La vida de gipsy, y el alma en la mano,
Living the gypsy life, with heart and soul in every endeavor,
Buscando el camino, para encontrar la paz de dios,
Searching for the way to find peace and happiness through God,
Siempre de la vida, el pueblo gitano,
Forever living the life of the gypsy community,
Siempre de la vida, el pueblo de gitano.
Forever belonging to the gypsy people.
Vamos, todos juntos, para bailar y cantar, flamenco.
Let us all come together to dance and sing to the lively flamenco music.
Ahora, yo viviré bien y mas alegre,
Now, I will live better and happier,
Por eso, siempre canta y canta y cantarey.
That is why I will always sing and sing and sing.
Lyrics © PEERMUSIC FRANCE, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: JACQUES PACO BALIARDO, MAURICE DIEGO BALIARDO, TONINO ANTOINE BALIARDO, ANDRE REYES, FRANCOIS CANUT REYES, NICOLAS REYES, PATCHAI REYES, PAUL REYES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Recep Halil Gültekin
on Un Amor
Vuoi amare Bedla