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.
You've Got A Friend In Me
Gipsy Kings Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hay un amigo en mí
Cuando salgan a volar
Hay un amigo en mí
Sí, un amigo en mí
Hay un amigo en mí
Hay un amigo en mí
Cuando salgan a volar
Hay un amigo en mí
Sí, un amigo en mí
Hay un amigo en mí
Hay muchos que pueden ser
Un poco más listos
Más nunca habrán que puede ser
Un amigo fiel
E tú lo sabes
Los años pasarán
Lo nuestro no morirá
Lo vas a ver, mejor tener
Un buen amigo en mí
Hay un amigo en mí
Un buen amigo en mi
Hay un amigo en mí
The lyrics to Gipsy Kings's song "You've Got A Friend In Me" are a testament to the strength and importance of friendship. The song begins with the phrase "Hay un amigo en mí" which translates to "there is a friend in me". The repetition of this phrase throughout the song emphasizes the idea that no matter what challenges or difficult times we may face, we always have a friend within ourselves. The lyrics encourage the listener to take flight and explore the world, knowing that they have a friend in themselves. The song goes on to describe how there may be others who are smarter or more accomplished, but they will never be as faithful as a true friend.
The lyrics also touch upon the idea of the passage of time and the endurance of true friendship. The lines "Los años pasarán, lo nuestro no morirá" which means "the years will pass, but ours will not die" stress the importance of having a friend who will stand by us through thick and thin. The final lines of the song encourage the listener to cherish the friend they have within themselves and to recognize the value of true friendship.
Overall, the lyrics of "You've Got A Friend In Me" by Gipsy Kings serve as a reminder of the importance of friendship in our lives. The song celebrates the bond of friendship and encourages us to value and nurture the relationships we have with ourselves and others.
Line by Line Meaning
Hay un amigo en mí
There is a friend in me who will always be there for you.
Hay un amigo en mí
There is a friend in me who will never leave you alone.
Cuando salgan a volar
Whenever you're ready to take on the world, I'll be there to support you.
Hay un amigo en mí
There is a friend in me who will stand by your side through thick and thin.
Sí, un amigo en mí
Yes, I am that friend you can always count on.
Hay un amigo en mí
There is a friend in me who understands you and your needs.
Hay un amigo en mí
There is a friend in me who will never judge you.
Cuando salgan a volar
Whenever you're ready to explore new horizons, I'll be there to guide you.
Sí, un amigo en mí
Yes, I am that friend who will celebrate your successes and help you overcome your failures.
Hay un amigo en mí
There is a friend in me who will always be loyal to you.
Hay muchos que pueden ser
There are many who may be smarter than I am,
Un poco más listos
A little more clever,
Más nunca habrán que puede ser
But none can be a more loyal friend than I am.
Un amigo fiel
A faithful friend.
E tú lo sabes
And you know it.
Los años pasarán
The years may come and go,
Lo nuestro no morirá
But our friendship will never die.
Lo vas a ver, mejor tener
You'll see, it's better to have
Un buen amigo en mí
A good friend in me.
Hay un amigo en mí
There is a friend in me who will always be there for you.
Un buen amigo en mi
A good friend in me who will love you unconditionally.
Hay un amigo en mí
There is a friend in me who will never abandon you.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Randy Newman, Maria Del Rosario Ovelar Martin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Gabe Channel
Amo esta canción, es perfecta
Treebranches25
Love this song!!
Faith Anderson
Perfecto♥️
37diamond
awesome version...
Ian The Hedgefox
They should've used this song in the end of Toy Story 1 in the Spanish version.
Philosophical Phil
Very catchy
Kevin Morad
They didnt think of it i guess or they weren't as popular perhaps i don't know?
Heidi
Ian The Hedgefox they did toy story 3
Masky
Gracias por esta genial cancion
Masky
Aunque el español no es mi lengua materna