After being evacuated to Western Ukraine in 1986 following the Chernobyl disaster, Hütz became enamored of the mystical, outsider qualities of gypsy music. Living as a refugee in Poland, Hungary, Austria, and Italy before moving to the United States in 1993, he experienced life as an outsider himself.
After arriving in New York, he teamed up with guitarist Vlad Solofar and squeezebox player Sasha Kazatchkoff. American Eliot Fergusen added a strong rock sound on the drums and the band was also augmented by Sergei Riabtsev on fiddle, a former theater director from Moscow whose past experience would prove helpful in the future in crafting Gogol Bordello's bizarre stage shows (like one which tells the story of super-powered immigrant Ukrainian vampires).
The group's early gigs involved playing straight gypsy music at Russian weddings, but their music soon evolved into the hyper-kinetic explosions that earned them a solid following amongst New York's downtown hipsters. The band issued a single in 1999 entitled Gogol Bordello, quickly followed by their debut full-length, Voi-La Intruder, which was produced by Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds' drummer Jim Sclavunos. Solofar and Kazatchkoff were replaced by accordionist Yuri Lemeshev, who hails from the Russian island of Sakhalin, and two Israelis, guitarist Oren Kaplan and saxophonist Ori Kaplan, who despite their similar names were not related.
Hütz helped bolster the band's popularity by becoming somewhat of a celebrity in the downtown scene, in part fueled by his Thursday night DJ gigs at Bulgarian club/restaurant/bar Mehanata, where he played Ukrainian, Gypsy, raï and flamenco music for a crowd of artists, models, Ukrainians, Russians, Gypsies, and Bulgarians with tendencies toward exuberant dancing and smashing plates. In the spring of 2002, Gogol Bordello embarked on a European tour and performed as part of the Whitney Biennial, bringing their music to a whole new audience.
In 2007, the band released their fourth studio album, Super Taranta!.
The members of Gogol Bordello have also made appearances in film. In 2006, their song "Start Wearing Purple" was featured in the film Everything Is Illuminated (starring Elijah Wood and Eugene Hütz), bringing their music to an even broader audience throughout the US.
Gogol Bordello all appeared in Madonna's first short film as director, Filth and Wisdom. Eugene Hütz is to play one of the lead roles. The band have contributed three original songs to the soundtrack.
Their music was also featured in the film Wristcutters: A Love Story and the character of Eugene was based on and partially written by Eugene Hütz.
Mussolini vs. Stalin
Gogol Bordello Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stalin was keeping eye on barbeque
When their fish line bell started to jingle,
Mussolini caught a-nothin', Stalin caught two
You know my friend, It's a kind of pretty,
Said Josef Stalin and loosened up his straps
Mussolini turn to him, with a restling glitter
Mussolini said Yaaaah Yah Yaaah Yah
Mussolini said Yaaaah Yah Yaaah Yaaah
Mussolini said Yaaaah Yaah Yah Yah Yaah
The song "Mussolini vs. Stalin" by Gogol Bordello depicts the encounter between two of the most infamous political figures in history - Benito Mussolini, the fascist dictator of Italy, and Joseph Stalin, the dictator of the Soviet Union. The lyrics of the song describe Mussolini and Stalin fishing together when they hear the bell on their fishing line jingle. Mussolini ends up catching nothing while Stalin catches two fish. Stalin makes a lighthearted comment about the situation being pretty and loosens up his straps. Mussolini responds with a wrestling glitter and then yells "Yah!" several times.
Line by Line Meaning
Mussolini was a-shavin', whistlin' Tarantella,
Mussolini was grooming himself while joyfully humming Tarantella, a traditional Italian dance
Stalin was keeping eye on barbeque
Stalin was watching over the cooking meat on the grill
When their fish line bell started to jingle, Mussolini caught a-nothin', Stalin caught two
When the bell on their fishing line rang, Mussolini didn't catch anything while Stalin caught two fish
You know my friend, It's a kind of pretty, Said Josef Stalin and loosened up his straps
Stalin commented on the pleasing nature of their surroundings and relaxed his clothing
Mussolini turned to him, with a rustling glitter, Mussolini turned to him, and then, then he said: Yah!
Mussolini faced Stalin with a shining sparkle, and then exclaimed 'Yah!'
Mussolini said Yaaaah Yah Yaaah Yah, Mussolini said Yaaaah Yah Yaaah Yaaah, Mussolini said Yaaaah Yaah Yah Yah Yaah
Mussolini repeatedly shouted 'Yah!' with varying inflections and rhythms
Contributed by Miles S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.