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.
Majiwi
Gipsy Kings Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wilana wil Majiwi wilmajai
Wil Majiwi
Wilana wilmashini wilmajai
Wil Majiwi
Wilana wilmashiwi wilmajai
Wil Majiwi
Tu me quiere, yo te quiero
Nunca nos podrán separar, amor mío
Porque nuestro amor, es mas fuerte
Y no se puede comprar
Tu me quiere, yo te quiero
Nunca nos podrán separar, amor mío
Porque nuestro amor, es mas fuerte
Y no se puede comprar
Wil Majiwi
Wilana wilmashiwi wilmajai
Wil Majiwi
Wilana wilmashiwi wilmajai
Wil Majiwi
Wilana wilmashiwi wilmajai
Wil Majiwi
Wilana wilmashiwi wilmajai
Pero ahora, que venimos
Podemos ser liberados, amor mío
En la tierra en el cielo
Como linda palomas
Pero ahora, que venimos
Podemos ser liberados, amor mío
En la tierra en el cielo
Como linda palomas
Wil Majiwi
Wilana wilmashiwi wilmajai
Wil Majiwi
Wilana wilmashiwi wilmajai
Wil Majiwi
Wilana wilmashiwi wilmajai
...
The song "Majiwi" by Gipsy Kings is a beautiful love ballad about two people who love each other very much and cannot be separated. The song begins with the repeated phrase "Wil Majiwi", which is most likely meant to evoke the sound of African drumming or to reference an African tribe. The lyrics are sung in both Spanish and an African language, adding to the multicultural feel of the song. The refrain "Tu me quiere, yo te quiero" (You love me, I love you) underscores the theme of love and unity throughout the song.
The singers assert that their love is stronger than anything else, and cannot be bought or broken. They sing about being like "linda palomas," or beautiful doves, which evokes a sense of freedom and soaring above the world's troubles. The final verse suggests that now, with the arrival of something or someone, they can finally be free and liberated in both earthly and heavenly realms, indicating a sense of spiritual transcendence.
Overall, the song is a passionate declaration of love and unity, with an African influence and an optimistic outlook on life and love.
Line by Line Meaning
Wil Majiwi
Majiwi is desired
Wilana wil Majiwi wilmajai
Those who desire Majiwi shall have it
Wil Majiwi
Majiwi is desired
Wilana wilmashini wilmajai
They seek Majiwi without end
Wil Majiwi
Majiwi is desired
Wilana wilmashiwi wilmajai
They seek Majiwi without end
Tu me quiere, yo te quiero
You love me, I love you
Nunca nos podrán separar, amor mío
No one will ever be able to separate us, my love
Porque nuestro amor, es mas fuerte
Because our love is stronger
Y no se puede comprar
And it can't be bought
Tu me quiere, yo te quiero
You love me, I love you
Nunca nos podrán separar, amor mío
No one will ever be able to separate us, my love
Porque nuestro amor, es mas fuerte
Because our love is stronger
Y no se puede comprar
And it can't be bought
Wil Majiwi
Majiwi is desired
Wilana wilmashiwi wilmajai
They seek Majiwi without end
Wil Majiwi
Majiwi is desired
Wilana wilmashiwi wilmajai
They seek Majiwi without end
Wil Majiwi
Majiwi is desired
Wilana wilmashiwi wilmajai
They seek Majiwi without end
Pero ahora, que venimos
But now, that we come
Podemos ser liberados, amor mío
We can be free, my love
En la tierra en el cielo
On earth and in heaven
Como linda palomas
Like lovely doves
Pero ahora, que venimos
But now, that we come
Podemos ser liberados, amor mío
We can be free, my love
En la tierra en el cielo
On earth and in heaven
Como linda palomas
Like lovely doves
Wil Majiwi
Majiwi is desired
Wilana wilmashiwi wilmajai
They seek Majiwi without end
Wil Majiwi
Majiwi is desired
Wilana wilmashiwi wilmajai
They seek Majiwi without end
Wil Majiwi
Majiwi is desired
Wilana wilmashiwi wilmajai
They seek Majiwi without end
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BALIARDO, RE, REYES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@xaviergonzales5609
Soy Mexicano y Amo esta música!!! Me transporta a otra dimensión!!! Saludos desde Veracruz, México! 👍👍👍💌💌🇲🇽🇲🇽🇲🇽🇲🇽
@soniregis
Dá vontade de rodar, dançar sem parar.....adorei! Optcha!!!
@deysealbino372
Somente arrepios!!!! Opchta!!!! Salve o povo cigano!!!!
@pablopicasso3416
Disculpa ..una pregunta
En que idioma escribe usted ?
@molinasaldana22
Bienaventurado Hermano PUEBLO GITANO, OLÉ.......
@anemaria7093
perfeito! imagens incríveis
@videnciamediunicaresponde
Amo demais esta música
@slavkocosic5553
Gipsy Kings...Kings of Gipsy...Light & Love...
@kalifaamad6199
Muito linda
@kalifaamad6199
Obrigado Gipsy kings