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.
Oh Mai
Gipsy Kings Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yo quisiera ser el aïre
Me muestro
Yo quisiera vivere maï
El aïre
Yo quisiera ser el aïre
Por querer te vi amando
Oh maï
Ya que te signe li
Busca maï ya paya teverne
Oh maï
Ya que te signe li
Oh maï
La quiero
Porque yo la quireo mucho
Me muero
Poque nadia hable si
T'adoro
Porque siempre yo t'adoro asi
Me muero
Porque no olvia su amao
Oh maï
Ya que te signe li
Busca maï ya paya taverne
Oh maï
Oh maï
Ya que te signe li
Oh maï
The lyrics of "Oh mai" by Gipsy Kings describe a longing to be able to live freely and love without restrictions. The singer expresses a desire to become the air itself, to be able to be all around the person they love without being noticed. They want to live their life for themselves and not be held back by society's expectations, as indicated by the line "I want to live my life". The chorus, "Oh mai", can be interpreted as a cry of longing and passion for their love interest.
In the second verse, the singer talks about their love for this person, even though no one approves of it. They adore this person wholeheartedly, willing to die for them, but they cannot forget the love they once shared. The chorus returns with the same sense of longing and passion as the first one.
The song is a representation of the struggle between following your heart and the traditions and expectations of society. The singer wants to live without restrictions, but at the same time, they are afraid of judgment from others. The chorus emphasizes their passion and desire to be close to the person they love, as if pleading with them to come back.
Line by Line Meaning
El aïre
The air
Yo quisiera ser el aïre
I wish I could be the air
Me muestro
I show myself
Yo quisiera vivere maï
I wish to live more
Por querer te vi amando
Because I wanted to, I saw you loving
Oh maï
Oh my
Ya que te signe li
Since you are here
Busca maï ya paya teverne
Look for me over there to find
La quiero
I love her
Porque yo la quireo mucho
Because I love her so much
Me muero
I die
Poque nadia hable si
Because no one will speak up
T'adoro
I adore you
Porque siempre yo t'adoro asi
Because I always adore you like this
Porque no olvia su amao
Because I can't forget about her love
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jhon Man
Música excelente ... Pone de buenas 🙂❤️
sfmase
Seu trabalho está maravilhoso! adorei a dança! parabéns pelo video todo! 10*************
Alicia Subi
Thank you por dejarme escuchar esta música bravo. Gipsy Kings 👏👏👏 mis respetos familia Reyes por tan enormes artistas Nos vemos por ahí Besos ❣️
ossama2000il
Thank you too🙂.
Have a wonderful day.
ancaburg
I am watching with real joy this wonderful video. I love Gipsy Kings' music and I find it impossible to sit still when I hear them playing. Invariably, the rhythms have me up and dancing in seconds. And although my ability to understand Spanish is quite minimal, the vocalists present the message of the song so well and with great emotion that intuitively I find I understand the language.
Tee.G
I never get tired of this song!!
Gorgorita4
Excelente grupo... son magníficos al igual que esta estupenda canción... el video genial... gracias a SYLVIE por compartirlo conmigo... saludos a los dos y feliz día...Juany
Eve LILA
Maravilloso 😍
Tee.G
beautiful, beautiful, beautiful! Makes you want to get up and dance!
msmasther
Ossama, esse video é cultura, muito bom!5****************parabens.