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.
Think Locally Fuck Globally
Gogol Bordello Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hey, palo mande, fuck globally
I come to New York to start a gypsy punk revolt
Now that it's rockin' so why don't I just go home?
Hey, chavorale, think locally
Hey, palo mande, fuck globally
Think locally
Fuck globally
I can't believe back home they failed to understand
That I am simply a chavo kind of man
Hey, chavorale, think locally
Hey, palo mande, fuck globally
Think locally
Fuck globally
And if the country we invented will fall from grace
I guess we'll have to fly away in our own space
Hey, chavorale, think locally
Hey, palo mande, fuck globally
Think locally
Fuck globally
Party
The lyrics to Gogol Bordello's "Think Locally Fuck Globally" reflect the band's ideology of staying true to their local roots while rejecting the homogenization of global culture. The song begins with the chants of "Hey, chavorale, think locally / Hey, palo mande, fuck globally", which essentially means that while they acknowledge the importance of local identity and culture, they reject the notion of a homogenized global culture where every place loses its uniqueness.
The song also touches upon the band's own journey, where they started a "gypsy punk revolt" in New York City, but are faced with the dilemma of whether to stay and be a part of the global music scene or return to their roots. The lyrics, "Now that it's rockin' so why don't I just go home?" suggest a sense of conflict and a desire to hold onto their local identity.
Overall, the song is a call to action for people to stay connected to their local roots, celebrate their uniqueness, and resist the pressures of cultural globalization. The lyrics "Think locally / Fuck globally" highlight the importance of this philosophy and the need to maintain diversity in the face of globalization.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, chavorale, think locally
Addressing the listener, reminding them to focus on their immediate community.
Hey, palo mande, fuck globally
Addressing the listener, telling them to reject the flaws of globalization and focus on what's important for their own community.
I come to New York to start a gypsy punk revolt
The singer moved to New York to lead a rebellion against societal norms and expectations.
Now that it's rockin' so why don't I just go home?
Now that the punk rebellion has gained traction, the singer questions whether they should leave or stay.
I can't believe back home they failed to understand
The singer is disappointed that their community doesn't share the same values and beliefs.
That I am simply a chavo kind of man
The singer identifies as a chavo, or young person of Latin American descent.
And if the country we invented will fall from grace
If the country the singer identifies with fails to meet their expectations, they will look for other alternatives.
I guess we'll have to fly away in our own space
If their country fails, they will have to leave and create their own space or community.
Party
The song ends on an uplifting, celebratory note emphasizing the importance of coming together as a community to celebrate their shared values.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ELIOT FERGUSON, EUGENE HUTZ, OREN KAPLAN, REA MOCHIACH, SERGEY RYABSTEV, YURI LEMESHEV
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@alekklimov5862
My neighbors love Toby Keith & Justin Bieber... They are NOT Gogol Bordello fans... Love it!!!
@thenoiboi
damn, you gotta love that fire bucket solo.
@slipknotmaggot4eva1
This band are fucking amazing. I now have the album
@Snowblower89
same boat! amazing show!
@grodgers17
seventeen years old life would not be the same with out Gogol
@Pielobyte
My motto in life “think locally fuck globally”
@elderofzion
partiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
@monsieurhassan
love the title of this song
@burginstine
yesss!!!!!
@rebargnome
awesomeness gypsy punk! so cool