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.
Pida Me La
Gipsy Kings Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cada vez se que vuelve a dejarme
Quisiera nunca va a haber
Tristeza en corazon
Volver, nunca vuelve a dejarme
Pida me la
Esta niña que yo quiero
Pida me la
Pida me la, pida me la
Pida me la
Esta niña que yo quiero
Pida me la
Esta niña que me muero
Pida me la, pida me la
Cada vez que siempre la recuerdo
Cada vez nunca va a dejarme
Quisiera nunca va a haber
Tristeza en corazon
Volver, nunca vuelve a dejarme
Pida me la
Esta niña que yo quiero
Pida me la
Esta niña que me muero
Pida me la, pida me la
Pida me la
Esta niña que yo quiero
Pida me la
Esta niña que me muero
Pida me la, pida me la
Di di di di di di di
Pida me la
Esta niña que yo muero
Pida me la
Esta niña que yo quiero
Pida me la, pida me la
Pida me la
Esta niña que yo muero
Pida me la
Esta niña que yo quiero
Pida me la, pida me la
Pida me la
Esta niña que yo muero
Pida me la
Esta niña que yo quiero
Pida me la, pida me la
In this song, Gipsy Kings sing about a girl that they love and cherish. The lyrics convey their deep desire to have her in their life forever because every time they think of her, they feel a pain of loss inside them. They wish that there is never any sadness in their hearts and that the girl they love will never leave them. The repetition of the phrase "Pida me la" emphasizes their need to have this girl in their lives.
The lyrics convey a sense of longing and passion that is commonly found in love songs. The Gipsy Kings use their signature style of guitar playing and flamenco rhythms to add a sense of urgency and immediacy to the song. The song's melody and rhythm are infectious, and it is impossible not to be moved by the emotion that is conveyed in the lyrics.
Overall, "Pida Me La" is a beautiful song that captures the intensity of human emotion with simple but powerful lyrics and unforgettable music.
Line by Line Meaning
Cada vez que siempre la recuerdo
Every time that I remember her
Cada vez se que vuelve a dejarme
Every time, I know that she will leave me again
Quisiera nunca va a haber Tristeza en corazon
I wish my heart will never feel sadness
Volver, nunca vuelve a dejarme
She never comes back, she always leaves me
Pida me la
Ask for her
Esta niña que yo quiero
This girl that I want
Pida me la
Ask for her
Esta niña que me muero
This girl that I die for
Pida me la, pida me la
Ask for her, ask for her
Cada vez que siempre la recuerdo
Every time that I remember her
Cada vez nunca va a dejarme
Every time, she will never leave me
Quisiera nunca va a haber Tristeza en corazon
I wish my heart will never feel sadness
Volver, nunca vuelve a dejarme
She never comes back, she always leaves me
Di di di di di di di
Instrumental
Pida me la
Ask for her
Esta niña que yo muero
This girl that I die for
Pida me la
Ask for her
Esta niña que yo quiero
This girl that I want
Pida me la, pida me la
Ask for her, ask for her
Pida me la
Ask for her
Esta niña que yo muero
This girl that I die for
Pida me la
Ask for her
Esta niña que yo quiero
This girl that I want
Pida me la, pida me la
Ask for her, ask for her
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHARLES BENARROACH, CHARLES DROIN, NICOLAS REYES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lucianaaristizabal5043
Yo soy peruana y adoro me muero por lo gibsy kings ,mi esposo es español y me canta las canciones .
@edwarddunn2627
Love the upbeat Vibe of this group. I always thought they were from South America. I almost fell out of my chair when someone told me they were from France. Wow who knew. Such talent!
@nealbradleigh5069
Gitano is unique. Catch AFRO POP WORLD WIDE to learn more about their backstory
@DeefexNYC
I love this song and their CDs, When I was a young boy. My manager at a clothing store would play this everyday and I grown accustomed to it. It's actually not bad. Very romantic. Great singing and instruments and a great energy. I'm Brazilian so I don't speak spanish that much, just some words. But I listen to this CD till this day. something like 25 years later.
@user-bj3qd8vs3p
Прекрасное исполнение, воздушное, изящное, легкое. Слушаю часто, особенно когда нужно поднять настроение. Благословение!
@timmyodaley1411
My life was perfect. It was the 90s. I was in Japan. What happened to our world?
@nealbradleigh5069
It caught up with us. We can only stall life and lock "this moment" in for so long.
PETER PAN never moved on. We have and need to. We're designed differently.
Take that mental "snapshot", embue it with as much of your life energy as you can. It will keep.
More of these "moments" to come. Stay happy.
@AngelRamos-ne6bx
como argentino debo decir que para mi los gipsy kings son de la hostia !!!! siendo argentino tengo que decir que amo muchisimo España , siempre escuche musica rumberas y gitanas , amoo y adoro la musica gitana OLEEEEE !!!! viva Españaaa !!!
@jorgeperez8777
Los Gipsy Kings son franceses, hijos de Españoles, pero franceses. Ok?
@AngelRamos-ne6bx
Jorge Pérez hola amigo yo lo se !!!