Gipsy Kings is a music group from Arles and Montpellier, France. They expla… Read Full Bio ↴Gipsy Kings is a music group from Arles and Montpellier, France. They explained the evolution of their sound in the 1996 PBS documentary of their lives and music "Tierra Gitana (Gipsy Land)". Young brothers Nicolas, Canut and Paul Reyes accompanied their father, famed flamenco singer Jose Reyes, who started out singing "cante jondo" (deep chant), traditional flamenco with long-running themes of passion, love, death, etc. But they began playing rumba flamenca because "we liked to watch pretty girls dance," said Nicolas.

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.

Navidad
Gipsy Kings Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Hoy es Navidad, vamos a comprar
Jugetes para los ninos pobres que puedan jugar

Que ese dia ese dia Navidad
Esperando en la calle que puedan jugar
Los ninos pobres que puedan jugar
Que puedan jugar

Que esperemos ese dia, ese dia Navidad
Para los ninos que son pobres que puedan jugar
Que puedan jugar

Hoy es Navidad, vamos a comprar
Jugetes para los ninos pobres que puedan jugar

Que esperamos ese dia, ese dia Navidad
Esperando en la calle que puedan jugar
Los ninos pobres que puedan jugar
Que puedan jugar

Que esperemos ese dia, ese dia Navidad
Para los ninos que son pobres que puedan jugar
Que puedan jugar

Hoy es Navidad, vamos a comprar
Jugetes para los ninos pobres que puedan jugar

Overall Meaning

The song "Navidad" by Gipsy Kings is a beautiful and heartfelt tribute to the spirit of Christmas and the importance of giving. The lyrics of the song implore us to come together and buy toys for the less fortunate children so that they too can experience the joy of playing, especially on that special day - Christmas.

The first verse encourages us to buy toys for the poor children of the streets so they can play and enjoy the festive season just like the rest of us. This highlights the importance of giving and sharing during Christmas, especially with those who may not have much to celebrate. The second verse reiterates this sentiment, emphasizing the anticipation and hope that children have for the coming of Christmas day, which is often characterized by gifts and family gatherings.

Overall, the song is a reminder of the joy of giving and sharing during the season of Christmas as we come together to celebrate with our loved ones while also making an effort to share the joy and cheer with those less fortunate than ourselves.

Line by Line Meaning

Hoy es Navidad, vamos a comprar
Today is Christmas, let's go buy

Jugetes para los ninos pobres que puedan jugar
toys for the poor children so they can play

Que ese dia ese dia Navidad
That day, that day, Christmas

Esperando en la calle que puedan jugar
waiting on the street for them to be able to play

Los ninos pobres que puedan jugar
the poor children who can play

Que puedan jugar
that they can play

Que esperemos ese dia, ese dia Navidad
so we wait for that day, that day, Christmas

Para los ninos que son pobres que puedan jugar
For the children who are poor that they can play

Hoy es Navidad, vamos a comprar
Today is Christmas, let's go buy

Que esperamos ese dia, ese dia Navidad
So we wait for that day, that day, Christmas

Esperando en la calle que puedan jugar
Waiting on the street for them to be able to play