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.
volare
Gipsy Kings Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Y me pintaba las manos y la cara de azul
Y me improviso el viento rapido me llevo
Y me hizo a volar en el cielo infinito
Volare, oh oh
Cantare, oh oh oh
Nel blu dipinto di blu
Y volando, volando feliz
Yo me encuentro mas alto
Mas alto que el sol
Y mienstras que el mundo
Se aleja despacio de mi
Una musica dulce
Se ha tocada solo para mi
Volare, oh oh
Cantare, oh oh oh
Nel blu dipinto di blu
Felice di stare lassu
Pienso que un sueno parecido no volvera mas
Y me pintaba las manos y la cara de azul
Y me improviso el viento rapido me llevo
Y me hizo a volar en el cielo infinito
Volare, oh oh
Cantare, oh oh oh
Nel blu dipinto di blu
Felice di stare lassu
Volare, oh oh
Cantare, oh oh oh
Nel blu dipinto di blu
Felice di stare lassu
Pienso que un sueno parecido no volvera mas
Y me pintaba las manos y la cara de azul
Y me improviso el viento rapido me llevo
Y me hizo a volar en el cielo infinito
Volare, oh oh
Cantare, oh oh oh
Nel blu dipinto di blu
Felice di stare lassu
Nel blu dipinto di blu
Felice di stare lassu
Nel blu dipinto di blu
Felice di stare lassu
Nel blu dipinto di blu
Felice di stare lassu
Nel blu dipinto di blu
The lyrics to Gipsy Kings' song "Volare" tell the story of a dream-like experience where the singer feels as though he is soaring through the sky. He recounts painting his hands and face blue, and suddenly the wind carries him away and he is flying high in the infinite sky. The chorus, "Volare, oh oh, cantare, oh oh oh, nel blu dipinto di blu, felice di stare lassu," translates to "I'll fly, oh oh, I'll sing, oh oh oh, in the blue painted blue, happy to be up there." The song expresses the pure joy and freedom that comes from being able to fly, and the beauty of the sky around us.
The lyrics are set to an upbeat melody that captures the whimsical and carefree nature of the singer's dream. The accordion, guitars and percussion sounds add to the light and joyful feel of the song. "Volare" has become a classic Italian song and has been covered by many artists worldwide. It's a song that embodies the spirit of Italy and adds a sense of romance and adventure to any listening experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Pienso que un sueno parecido no volvera mas
I think a similar dream will never come back again
Y me pintaba las manos y la cara de azul
And I painted my hands and face blue
Y me improviso el viento rapido me llevo
And the wind improvised and quickly took me away
Y me hizo a volar en el cielo infinito
And it made me fly in the infinite sky
Volare, oh oh
I will fly, oh oh
Cantare, oh oh oh
I will sing, oh oh oh
Nel blu dipinto di blu
In the blue painted blue
Felice di stare lassu
Happy to be up there
Y volando, volando feliz
And flying, flying happily
Yo me encuentro mas alto
I find myself higher
Mas alto que el sol
Higher than the sun
Y mienstras que el mundo
And while the world
Se aleja despacio de mi
Slowly moves away from me
Una musica dulce
A sweet music
Se ha tocada solo para mi
Has been played just for me
Nel blu dipinto di blu
In the blue painted blue
Felice di stare lassu
Happy to be up there
Pienso que un sueno parecido no volvera mas
I think a similar dream will never come back again
Y me pintaba las manos y la cara de azul
And I painted my hands and face blue
Y me improviso el viento rapido me llevo
And the wind improvised and quickly took me away
Y me hizo a volar en el cielo infinito
And it made me fly in the infinite sky
Volare, oh oh
I will fly, oh oh
Cantare, oh oh oh
I will sing, oh oh oh
Nel blu dipinto di blu
In the blue painted blue
Felice di stare lassu
Happy to be up there
Volare, oh oh
I will fly, oh oh
Cantare, oh oh oh
I will sing, oh oh oh
Nel blu dipinto di blu
In the blue painted blue
Felice di stare lassu
Happy to be up there
Pienso que un sueno parecido no volvera mas
I think a similar dream will never come back again
Y me pintaba las manos y la cara de azul
And I painted my hands and face blue
Y me improviso el viento rapido me llevo
And the wind improvised and quickly took me away
Y me hizo a volar en el cielo infinito
And it made me fly in the infinite sky
Volare, oh oh
I will fly, oh oh
Cantare, oh oh oh
I will sing, oh oh oh
Nel blu dipinto di blu
In the blue painted blue
Felice di stare lassu
Happy to be up there
Nel blu dipinto di blu
In the blue painted blue
Felice di stare lassu
Happy to be up there
Nel blu dipinto di blu
In the blue painted blue
Felice di stare lassu
Happy to be up there
Nel blu dipinto di blu
In the blue painted blue
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Domenico Modugno, Franco Migliacci
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Recep Halil Gültekin
on Un Amor
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