Rodrigo is a deft finger-picker who can move from raging speed to sensual soul in the space of a fret, while Gabriela employs fast, rhythmic techniques. Her percussionist’s thrashing of strings and drumming of the instrument’s body inevitably raises comparisons with the flamenco style of rumba, but the band specifically denies a flamenco influence. Nonetheless, it is often referred to as "nuevo flamenco", symbolising a sort of renaissance of the traditionally Spanish music genre whose origins began in the Middle East when the Moors brought their cultural music to Europe. The duo’s repertoire flies beyond familiar Latin folk guitarists’ styles because of the metal connection: their reworkings of Led Zeppelin's “Stairway to Heaven” and Metallica’s “Orion” are musts, and the presence on “Ixtapa” of the fiery Hungarian gypsy violinist Roby Lakatos is inspirational.
The Story:
Rodrigo and Gabriela met as teenagers, at the Casa de Cultura (House of Culture), in Mexico City, where Rodrigo’s brother was Director. Rodrigo was playing drums in his band Castlow - a code word he never revealed to Gabriela, and changed to Tierra Acida (Acid Earth) when she joined them on guitar. The couple drifted together through music; teenaged metal fanatics who both failed entrance to the Conservatory and moved into rock. Before joining Tierra Acida, Gabriela ran three girls’ bands, Las Brujas (The Witches), Subterraneo and Las Formigas (The Ants) at once: Terra Acida had a disciplined work ethic: “It was mental!” she recalls, “we rehearsed five hours a day, every day, with very short breaks, and not much talking!”
Tierra Acida played in Mexico City’s roughest clubs and lived off day-jobs (Gabriela taught Metallica riffs to local kids; Rodrigo at a TV station, doing music for programmes). They recorded an album but wouldn’t sign the record contract, planning instead to concentrate on learning more guitar styles. In fact, they just hung out with friends and survived by playing bossa novas in the hotel bars. “Then we decided to travel to Europe”.
Their first port of call was Dublin, Ireland. “It was the most unknown place to us”, explains Gabriela, the talkative one. “Also, a Mexican girl offered us her house there.” They landed in Dublin at night, spoke no English, and had $1,000 between them. They found a note on the door saying actually, sorry, but they couldn’t stay there after all, so the taxi driver drove them round hostels and hotels all night. Eventually they rented a place - and soon the money disappeared: “So - we had to busk”. That was 1999: “We were very exotic specimens!” They built a reputation and landed gigs in people’s homes, at wedding parties and gallery openings, playing covers and their own compositions, “We still wanted to be metal composers, but everything came out as Latin!”
Dublin was booming then, with new music venues and galleries and a thriving rock scene, and the two Mexicans jammed with local folk musicians in the bars. In winter, they moved to Denmark and started again - this time busking at minus three degrees! The brief Copenhagen experience inspired two numbers on the current album, “Diablo Rojo”, a scary roller-coaster ride in the city, and “Viking Man”, their nickname for a homeless man they befriended, who pushed them into busking on the freezing streets.
Next, they hit Barcelona, but this time, the club owners assumed they played Mariachi, and wouldn’t let them play in their own unique style, so Rod & Gab ended up jamming on Barca’s main drag Las Ramblas getting heavy duty hassle from the Catalan cops. Just in time, a call came from Ireland to come back and play the newly opened Sugar Club. Damian Rice, then a busking friend, invited them to support his shows, and in 2003, they released “Re-Foc”, and a year later, “Live Manchester and Dublin,” which both launched them onto the World Music circuit – and beyond.
The Music:
Rodrigo and Gabriela describe their style as ‘Fusion music’: “It’s mainly got Latin harmonies and rhythms but the structure is rock. It’s not jazz because it’s structured, and we don’t improvise; our solos are exactly what’s on the record, as a metal fan and guitarist you always want to hear the same f**king solo!”
Influences range from family salsa records to Gabriela’s aunt’s Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath, Queen, and Led Zeppelin vinyl, with Rodrigo also embracing a similar classic rock lineage. But crucially they grew up during Mexico’s ‘metal era.’ “People expected two acoustic guitarists would play classical music, but we dropped in extracts from Led Zep, Hendrix and Metallica, then we did the same with “Stairway to Heaven!” Their music is instrumental “with very lyrical themes.”
Mentions of flamenco influences raise sharp responses: “To many music fans, it sounds like flamenco, and we’re great flamenco fans, but we don’t play it” says Gabriela. “The only similarity is that our music is guitar music and it’s very rhythmic.”
This album’s producer John Leckie (Radiohead, Muse, My Morning Jacket) arrived on the scene via a demo sent to him by their Irish record label, and he called the very next day. The three agreed to record ‘live’, and Rodrigo and Gabriela were placed in the same room in a studio in Bath, England, to perform as if on stage: “We played each track over and over, and only ‘Orion’ has overdubs.” Roby Lakatos, the fiery gypsy violinist was the only outsider, and his presence on “Ixtapa” is wonderful. “We saw him on TV”, Gabriela remembers, “Playing at a concert in Amsterdam, and we sent him our music. He improvised this whole piece in two hours!” From the many, many live versions, Leckie chose ‘the one.’
The Touring
The global success of ‘Rodrigo y Gabriela’ (300,000 worldwide sales and counting) has been spurred on by Rod & Gab’s dedication to hard work on the road. 2006 saw three UK tours and three US tours, plus extensive European and Australian sojourns. 2007 has seen them back in the USA (once Rodrigo’s visa problems were sorted out by the State Department) and the UK for many more shows, including festival spots at Coachella, Glastonbury, V, Bonnaroo, Oxegen (Ireland), Latitude, Pukkelpop (Belgium), Lowlands (The Netherlands) and countless others. For Rodrigo y Gabriela, the road really does go on forever.
One
Rodrigo y Gabriela Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Miscellaneous
Only One
It's time for me to get on and represent the Bronx
so lets set this shit off like this
Uhh now check it
underground verbal hip hop you selected
so like Bartles & James thank you for your support
it's time for all this chit chat to skit skat
arent you tired of hearin ple ple ple ple pla
rase the level of your listenen pleasure a letter
and let the teacher put these new jacks under pleasure
my first name is hip hop no doubt
my last name is run with me breath for breath
yes I'll blow your lungs out
BLOW! And cut your tongue out
and use that shit to clean my rug out
I aint even start to bug out
somebody requested for the teacher to get active
cuz of all these rappers I look good to battle
Im unattractive when actively in your brain cavity
you be singin 1-2-3, and your family B-D-P
I'm Total 'Cant you see'
I took it there
you bee sayin with your swollin eye
damn it just aint fuckin fair
but your crew told you what was up
you just didn't give a fuck
my lyrics are intact
so my picture you can pin it up
take me out? Give it up your late
I rocked the 9-1-7 when it was 7-1-8
I'm a juvenile deliquent group home lord of the state
the truth about the matter is that I feel great
I'm comin in the form of the mind-bender bar tender
servin that lyrical-net serve your chest then send a
remember battlin MC's Im not always doin
cuz we need new rappers and careers I always ruin
what are you pursuin, who in the hell want this friction
I'll volt your scene and make you drum machine start blitchin
switchin my diction, I'm quick you need a fixin-
Im quick to turn you off like the light in a kitchen
-sample/scratching of-
Cuz Krs One means simply one Krs
thats it, thats all solo, single the one no less
I do my dirt and I keep it to myself
I don't speak it on record and to no one else
you think about...
when you do crimes you talk about it
HELL NO! You keep that real shit on the low
cuz prison aint a place you motherfuckers wanna be at
half of you motherfuckers would turn trick
BELIEVE THAT!
yo I can see that, all you ask is where the weed at?
you vision is as far as whereever you throw the seed at
Look at Malcolm X and try to be that
or get lost if you cant pick up where Malcolm X left off
don't you know were listened to by judges and lawyers
when you go to court they play your album for ya
then you turn into Tom Sawyer fiction
beggin a judge to just listen sayin...
if you listen to my album twice, the positive message is...
they shut yo ass up and give you life
Had you hah a wife instead of bein a lover
the court would of seen you as a family man wit some structure
but you is a wild brother, black women you cant respect em
now you catchin wreck in your rep
Negativity never had no pull in jail
yeah, its positivity that they hail
but you fail, cuz red books you can't read em
your people you mislead em
your people you mistreat em
mislead em for fun... my name is KRS ONE!
KRS ONE... KRS ONE
Real Headz they down wit us
Yeah, Krs One representin
wit outta fraction of a motherfuckin doubt
The song "One" by Rodrigo y Gabriela is not related to the lyrics of the song "Only One" by KRS One. Instead, "One" is an instrumental track that features the duo's signature acoustic guitar stylings. The song is characterized by its fast-paced fingerpicking and complex rhythms. The song builds in intensity throughout its duration, with both guitarists taking turns with virtuosic solos. The track has been described as an ode to heavy metal music, as well as a showcase for the duo's technical skills on their instruments.
One interesting fact about the song "One" is that it was originally written as a tribute to Metallica's song of the same name. The duo frequently incorporates heavy metal covers into their live performances, and have cited Metallica as one of their main influences. The song "One" was first released on the band's self-titled album in 2006, and has since become a staple of their live shows. The song has been featured in several movies and television shows, including Breaking Bad and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.
Another interesting fact about Rodrigo y Gabriela is that the duo originally formed in Mexico City, where they played in a heavy metal band called Tierra Acida. They eventually moved to Ireland, where they honed their acoustic guitar skills and developed their unique sound. The duo's music has been classified as a fusion of jazz, rock, flamenco, and world music. They have released several critically acclaimed albums, including 11:11 and Area 52.
One more interesting fact about the song "One" is that it was produced by John Leckie, who has worked with several iconic British bands, including The Stone Roses, Radiohead, and Pink Floyd. Leckie is known for his innovative recording techniques and use of unconventional instruments. He brought a similar ethos to his production of Rodrigo y Gabriela's album, which was recorded in a beachside studio in Ixtapa, Mexico.
Chords:
As this is an instrumental song, there are no lyrics or chords to provide.
Line by Line Meaning
It's time for me to get on and represent the Bronx
The moment has come for me to step up and represent the Bronx.
so lets set this shit off like this
Let's get started in a big way.
Uhh now check it
Okay, listen up.
underground verbal hip hop you selected
You have chosen the type of hip hop that is underground and verbal.
by only a few this type of artist is bought
Only a few people purchase music from this type of artist.
so like Bartles & James thank you for your support
So I thank you for supporting this type of music, like people who drink Bartles & James thank them for buying their product.
it's time for all this chit chat to skit skat
It's time to stop talking and start doing.
arent you tired of hearin ple ple ple ple pla
Aren't you tired of hearing the same thing over and over again?
rase the level of your listenen pleasure a letter
Raise your level of listening pleasure.
and let the teacher put these new jacks under pleasure
Let the teacher entertain new and inexperienced performers.
my first name is hip hop no doubt
I am known as hip hop and there is no doubt about it.
my last name is run with me breath for breath
My last name is run and I can keep going indefinitely.
yes I'll blow your lungs out
I'll make you breathless.
BLOW! And cut your tongue out
Violently disrupting someone's voice.
and use that shit to clean my rug out
Using someone's tongue as a cleaning tool, disregarding their value.
I aint even start to bug out
I haven't even started to get wild.
somebody requested for the teacher to get active
Someone asked for the teacher to step up and perform.
cuz of all these rappers I look good to battle
Compared to other rappers, I appear to be good for battling.
Im unattractive when actively in your brain cavity
I am unappealing when I take over your mind.
you be singin 1-2-3, and your family B-D-P
You'll be singing 1-2-3, and your family the Boogie Down Productions (BDP).
I'm Total 'Cant you see'
I am the total package, can't you see?
I took it there
I brought it to a higher level.
you bee sayin with your swollin eye damn it just aint fuckin fair
You say it's not fair, even with your bruised eye.
but your crew told you what was up you just didn't give a fuck
Your crew warned you but you ignored their advice.
my lyrics are intact so my picture you can pin it up
My lyrics are unchanged and that's how you can remember me.
take me out? Give it up your late
If you want to challenge me it's too late, I'm already the best.
I rocked the 9-1-7 when it was 7-1-8
I performed in the 917 area code before it changed to the 718.
I'm a juvenile deliquent group home lord of the state
I was once a juvenile delinquent and lived in a group home, but now I am popular
the truth about the matter is that I feel great
I feel fabulous.
I'm comin in the form of the mind-bender bar tender
I am like a bartender but with the power to alter your thinking.
servin that lyrical-net serve your chest then send a
Serving you lyrics that will trap you and then bringing it home for the win.
remember battlin MC's Im not always doin
I don't always battle other MCs.
cuz we need new rappers and careers I always ruin
I always ruin the careers of new rappers.
what are you pursuin, who in the hell want this friction
What are you trying to accomplish? Who wants this conflict?
I'll volt your scene and make you drum machine start blitchin
I'll energetically disrupt your scene, making your drum machine go haywire.
switchin my diction, I'm quick you need a fixin-
Changing my language style, I'm speedy and you need to catch up.
Im quick to turn you off like the light in a kitchen
I can easily make you stop, like a light switch in a kitchen.
Cuz Krs One means simply one Krs
Krs One simply means one Krs.
thats it, thats all solo, single the one no less
That's all there is to it, I am solo, one single individual.
I do my dirt and I keep it to myself
I do my misdeeds quietly and keep them to myself.
I don't speak it on record and to no one else
I don't record or tell anyone about it.
you think about... when you do crimes you talk about it
You talk about your crimes when you commit them.
HELL NO! You keep that real shit on the low
Absolutely not! You keep those serious matters to yourself.
cuz prison aint a place you motherfuckers wanna be at
Because prison is not a desirable place to be.
half of you motherfuckers would turn trick
Some of you would do anything to get out of prison.
BELIEVE THAT!
Believe it!
yo I can see that, all you ask is where the weed at?
I see it now, all you are concerned about is where to find weed.
you vision is as far as whereever you throw the seed at
Your vision is only as far as where you throw your seeds.
Look at Malcolm X and try to be that
Consider Malcolm X as a role model.
or get lost if you cant pick up where Malcolm X left off
If you can't follow Malcolm X's example, you'll be lost.
don't you know were listened to by judges and lawyers
Don't you realize that our music is often heard by judges and lawyers?
when you go to court they play your album for ya
When you go to court, they might even play your album.
then you turn into Tom Sawyer fiction
Then you turn into fiction, like Tom Sawyer.
beggin a judge to just listen sayin...
Pleading with a judge to listen.
if you listen to my album twice, the positive message is...
If you listen to my album twice, you'll hear the positive message.
they shut yo ass up and give you life
They'll give you a life sentence and that's the end of the argument.
Had you hah a wife instead of bein a lover
If you had a wife instead of just a lover.
the court would of seen you as a family man wit some structure
You'd seem more like a family man with stability in the eyes of the court.
but you is a wild brother, black women you cant respect em
But you're a wild guy who can't respect black women.
now you catchin wreck in your rep
Your reputation is now being ruined.
Negativity never had no pull in jail
Negativity has no influence in prison.
yeah, its positivity that they hail
Yes, positivity is the way to go.
but you fail, cuz red books you can't read em
But you fail because you can't read the red books.
your people you mislead em
You've misled your people.
your people you mistreat em
You've mistreated your people.
mislead em for fun... my name is KRS ONE!
You've misled them for fun, But I am KRS One and I don't do that.
Writer(s): Rodrigo Sanchez, Gabriela Quintero Copyright: The Evolving Music Company Limited
Contributed by Gabriella Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
George Peterzil
That Fade to Black instead of the verse was borderline genius
Emma Richardson
It's brilliant, it works so well!
luke murphy
Absolutely beautiful. I forgot how exceptionally gifted these two are 🤘
Araceli Castillo
Me gusto mucho !!!!!!!!!! woooooow felicidades chicos, lastima que en México no fueron impulsados, que orgullo que sean mis paisanos ;)
chrisrobinson82
Awesome!!!
FOVYA
Amazingly Beautiful
Elád Askari
Beautiful
Liam Kelly
Best gigs next to Led Zep and Afro Celtic Sound System, the noise from the crowd is amazing!
Jeff Couchman
So good
Pablo Neder
NAAAAAAAAAAA UDS ESTAN DE MEN TES .... EL PUNTEO SOLITARIO DEL RUMBERO Y LA METRICA DEMENTE DE GABY SON IMPOSIBLES ¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡ LOS FELICITO DESDE LA ARGENTINA NORTE