Negu Gorriak (Basque for "Red Winters" or "Harsh Winters") is an undergroun… Read Full Bio ↴Negu Gorriak (Basque for "Red Winters" or "Harsh Winters") is an underground European punk/ska/dub/rap/rock group fromed in 1990 in Gipuzkoa, Basque Country. Their musical style combines rock, hip-hop, and reggae. It is impossible, however, to separate the band from its political ideology and its identification with the Basque Country and its language (Euskara). Negu Gorriak is formed by Fermin Muguruza, Iñigo Muguruza and Kaki Arkarazo after the ska group Kortatu was disbanded in the most popular point of its career in order to avoid creative settlement. The influences from Os Resentidos, Shinehead, Public Enemy, and N.W.A are very clear in their eponymic record where the drums are sequenced and the sampler becomes very present.

In 1991 two new members will become part of the group: Mikel Kazalis (Anestesia) and Mikel Abrego (Bap!!), incrementing considerably the quality and depth of music of the band. In that year they also created Esan Ozenki (say it out loud, in Basque), their own record label. Published in 1991, Gure Jarrera would make Negu Gorriak both famous (as the most solid group of the Basque music rock scene) and infamous (for the song Ustelkeria, which will lead to them to court).
The band's next output (Gora Herria) would be an EP with covers and dub music remixes with the collaboration of their friend Manu Chao. This can be consider a "bridge work" that separates Negu Gorriak early efforts and their 1993 Borreruak Baditu Milaka Aurpegi (The hangman is the man of the thousand faces, a verse from to writer Bernardo Atxaga), perhaps the best record of their career. In it the guitars grow angry, and the lyrics become more poetic and somewhat less political; feelings take over and there are clears notes of frustration and pain. Musically, the record moves from hip hop to punk to ska and rock with extreme naturality.
One year later Idea Zabaldu (Spread the Idea) was released. The influence of long visits to Latin America (and the Zapatista revolution) and the birth of Fermin Muguruza's son is not small. The band has grown mature and children mortality in the third world and AIDS are very present both in the lyrics and also in the tone of the recording. Not so angry and aggressive, Idea Zabaldu would be their last recording with original songs.
Salam Agur would be Negu Gorriak's last album. In it they decided to salute their friends and music influences by covering some of their favourite songs. Influential artists covered were BAP!!, Otis Redding, The Who, Macka B, Minor Threat, Bob Marley, Public Enemy, The Clash, Redskins, Poison Idea, Errobi, Dead Kennedys, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Anestesia and NWA. Once again, as it happened with Kortatu they decided to disband the group in order to avoid creative settling, in practice in 1996, but officially not until 2001 when they finnaly won the trial for the song Ustelkeria.

Kolore Bizia
Negu Gorriak Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

KOLORE BIZIA,
ARRAZAKERIAREN KONTRA.
KOLORE GUZTIAK,
FAXISMOAREN KONTRA.
KOLORE BIZIA,
XENOFOBIAREN KONTRA.
KOLORE GUZTIAK,
FALTSUKERIAREN KONTRA.

HAUXE DA ARRAZAKERIAREN KONTRA
MANIFESTAZIOA ZEREN ETA
LUCRECIARI ESKAINI NAHI IZAN NION
OLERKI XAMUR ETA LABUR BAT.
ETA ESTATUAREN
SEGURTASUN INDARREN KONTRA
PANFLETO BAT ATERA ZITZAIDAN
POLITIKARI GUZTIAK
FALTSUAK BAITIRA.

KOLORE BIZIA,
ARRAZAKERIAREN KONTRA.
KOLORE GUZTIAK,
FAXISMOAREN KONTRA.
KOLORE BIZIA,
XENOFOBIAREN KONTRA.
KOLORE GUZTIAK,
FALTSUKERIAREN KONTRA.

HAINBESTE KOLORE IKUSI ETA GERO
INORK ERRAN ZUEN: KOLORE BATUA!
DESPISTATU BATEK ORDUAN BENETTON
JERTSEI BAT EROSI ZUEN BENETAN.
ETA GALDETZEN BADIDAZU
ZEIN KOLORE NAHIAGO DUDAN
BADAKIZU NIRE ERANTZUNA:

TXANPONA BOTATZEA BEZALA BALITZ
IPARRA ALA HEGOA,
GERLA KULTURALA.
ANAI-ARREBAK DEFENDATUKO DITUGU
AFRO-EUSKALDUNAK GARELA,
EZ AHAZTU.
ALI, MOHAMED, KEPA, ISMAEL
ETA ZIMBAWEKO TRIBU GUZTIAK,
MIXERIA ERASOTUKO DUGU.

KOLORE BIZIA,
ARRAZAKERIAREN KONTRA.
KOLORE GUZTIAK,
FAXISMOAREN KONTRA.
KOLORE BIZIA,
XENOFOBIAREN KONTRA.

KOLORE GUZTIAK,
FALTSUKERIAREN KONTRA.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Kolore Bizia" by Negu Gorriak are a powerful call for unity and resistance against racism, fascism, xenophobia, and falsehood. The song emphasizes the importance of embracing diversity and rejecting hate and bigotry. The lyrics express the idea that all colors are valuable and should be celebrated and respected. The chorus repeats the phrase "Kolore biziak, arrazakeriaren kontra" (alive colors, against racism) to reinforce this message.

The first verse describes a manifestation against racism, in which the poet Lucrecia offered a short and intense poetry, and the police reacted by handing out a pamphlet that accused all politicians of being false. The second verse talks about the confusion caused by the idea of a "unified color," and the way some people, like the brand Benetton, exploit this concept for profit. The lyrics suggest that there is no one "preferred" color, and that diversity should be celebrated instead of exploited.

The final verse indicates that the struggle against racism is also a cultural battle, and that Afro-Basques and immigrants of various backgrounds must defend their rights and dignity. People from different cultures and tribes should stand together against oppression and make a stand against prejudice.

In summary, "Kolore Bizia" is a song that advocates for celebrating diversity and unity in the face of hate and bigotry. It highlights the importance of resisting oppression and standing together against falsehoods and intolerance.

Line by Line Meaning

KOLORE BIZIA, ARRAZAKERIAREN KONTRA.
This is a lively, colorful resistance Against prejudice. All colors fighting Against fascism. This is a lively, colorful resistance Against xenophobia. All colors fighting Against falsehood.

HAUXE DA ARRAZAKERIAREN KONTRA MANIFESTAZIOA ZEREN ETA LUCRECIARI ESKAINI NAHI IZAN NION OLERKI XAMUR ETA LABUR BAT.
This is what the resistance against prejudice looks like, And why I wanted to offer this poem to Lucretia. It's a short and powerful verse in the rain, Against the forces of the state.

ETA ESTATUAREN SEGURTASUN INDARREN KONTRA PANFLETO BAT ATERA ZITZAIDAN POLITIKARI GUZTIAK FALTSUAK BAITIRA.
And the power of the state's security Inspired me to release a pamphlet. All politicians are disingenuous, Fighting against the real struggles.

HAINBESTE KOLORE IKUSI ETA GERO INORK ERRAN ZUEN: KOLORE BATUA! DESPISTATU BATEK ORDUAN BENETTON JERTSEI BAT EROSI ZUEN BENETAN.
After seeing so many colors No one could say 'one color!' Then a desperate person bought a Benetton Thinking it would make them truly unified.

ETA GALDETZEN BADIDAZU ZEIN KOLORE NAHIAGO DUDAN BADAKIZU NIRE ERANTZUNA: TXANPONA BOTATZEA BEZALA BALITZ IPARRA ALA HEGOA, GERLA KULTURALA.
And you ask me which color I prefer. Well, my answer is: Like throwing a coin, North or south, A cultural war.

ANAI-ARREBAK DEFENDATUKO DITUGU AFRO-EUSKALDUNAK GARELA, EZ AHAZTU. ALI, MOHAMED, KEPA, ISMAEL ETA ZIMBAWEKO TRIBU GUZTIAK, MIXERIA ERASOTUKO DUGU.
We will defend our brothers and sisters, As Afro-Basques. Don't forget: Ali, Mohamed, Kepa, Ismael And all tribes from Zimbabwe, We will fight against racism.

KOLORE BIZIA, ARRAZAKERIAREN KONTRA. KOLORE GUZTIAK, FAXISMOAREN KONTRA. KOLORE BIZIA, XENOFOBIAREN KONTRA. KOLORE GUZTIAK, FALTSUKERIAREN KONTRA.
This is a lively, colorful resistance Against prejudice. All colors fighting Against fascism. This is a lively, colorful resistance Against xenophobia. All colors fighting Against falsehood.

Contributed by Christian C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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