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.
Los Peces en el Rio
Gipsy Kings Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
La virgen se esta peinando
Entre cortina why cortina
Sus cabellos son de oro
El peine de plata fina
Pero mira como beben
Los peces en el rio
Pero mira como beben
Beben why beben
Why vuelven a beber
Los peces en el rio
Por ver al dios nacer
La virgen esta lavendo
Why en el romero tendiendo
Los angelitos cantando
Why el romero floreciendo
Pero mira como beben
Los peces en el rio
Pero mira como beben
Por ver al dios nacido
Beben why beben
Why vuelven a beber
Los peces en el rio
Por ver al dios nacer
The song "Los Peces en el Rio" by Gipsy Kings is a traditional Spanish Christmas carol that tells the story of the Virgin Mary and the birth of Jesus through vivid imagery. The song describes the Virgin Mary combing her golden hair with a fine silver comb behind a curtain, while angels sing and the herb called "romero" blooms. Meanwhile, in the river, the fish are drinking with exuberance to catch a glimpse of the newborn God.
The song conveys the message that even the natural world is excited by the birth of Jesus. The fish symbolize the people who come to witness the birth of Christ, and the river symbolizes the path that leads to him. The herb called "romero" is a symbol of love and fidelity, and it is often used in Spanish Christmas traditions.
The use of vivid language and imagery in the lyrics makes the song a popular Christmas carol in Spain, Latin America, and other Spanish-speaking countries. The Gipsy Kings' rendition of the song infuses it with their unique sound and makes it accessible to a wider audience.
Line by Line Meaning
Los peces en el rio
The fish in the river
La virgen se esta peinando
The Virgin is combing her hair
Entre cortina why cortina
Between curtain and curtain
Sus cabellos son de oro
Her hair is made of gold
El peine de plata fina
The comb is made of fine silver
Pero mira como beben
But look how the fish drink
Los peces en el rio
The fish in the river
Por ver al dios nacido
To see the newly born God
Beben why beben
They drink and drink
Why vuelven a beber
And they continue to drink
La virgen esta lavendo
The Virgin is washing
Why en el romero tendiendo
And hanging it on the rosemary
Los angelitos cantando
The little angels singing
Why el romero floreciendo
And the rosemary blooming
Pero mira como beben
But look how the fish drink
Los peces en el rio
The fish in the river
Por ver al dios nacido
To see the newly born God
Beben why beben
They drink and drink
Why vuelven a beber
And they continue to drink
Los peces en el rio
The fish in the river
Por ver al dios nacer
To see the God being born
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Jesus Gluck Sarasibar
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Carla belen
Los peces en el rio
La virgen se esta peinando
Entre cortina why cortina
Sus cabellos son de oro
El peine de plata fina
Pero mira como beben
Los peces en el rio
Pero mira como beben
Por ver al dios nacido
Beben why beben
Why vuelven a beber
Los peces en el rio
Por ver al dios nacer
La virgen esta lavendo
Why en el romero tendiendo
Los angelitos cantando
Why el romero floreciendo
Pero mira como beben
Los peces en el rio
Pero mira como beben
Por ver al dios nacido
Beben why beben
Why vuelven a beber
Los peces en el rio
Por ver al dios nacer
Carla belen
Los peces en el rio
La virgen se esta peinando
Entre cortina why cortina
Sus cabellos son de oro
El peine de plata fina
Pero mira como beben
Los peces en el rio
Pero mira como beben
Por ver al dios nacido
Beben why beben
Why vuelven a beber
Los peces en el rio
Por ver al dios nacer
La virgen esta lavendo
Why en el romero tendiendo
Los angelitos cantando
Why el romero floreciendo
Pero mira como beben
Los peces en el rio
Pero mira como beben
Por ver al dios nacido
Beben why beben
Why vuelven a beber
Los peces en el rio
Por ver al dios nacer
Danyman52
¡Maravillosa versión !
Daniel Miller
Absolutely love it , one of my all time favorites . I cant wait till they come to Vegas
lindecab
Uffff esta canción está muy buena para escucharla en estas fechas navideñas, perfecta!
Arte Urbano
Buena version, me gusto oirla, si es navidad te recomiendo ponerla
Arnulfo Pachon
Berraquera de cancion, perfectamente arreglada en el estilo inconfundible de los Gipsy!
Delhia Mastro
Superbe musique 🎵 je l’apprends en cour ❤️
Gianfranco
Esta adaptación es perfectaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Oscar Bravo
I sang this song with my class for the Christmas show we went last because we're the best
Александр Дорофеев
magnifico!