Shu-bi-duas formation was as a tongue-in-cheek act, rewriting beat and in particular rock´n´roll classics with danish lyrics using college humour and satire. Already on the first album - they combined this with original material - often writing in pastiche. Their sound developed from rock in the early 70s - to pop in the 80s and into entertainment (or dansktop) in later years - but often using and intermixing styles from bossanova and reggae over rockabilly to synthpop to underline their humour. Their lyrics have kept up the satirical tone throughout the years and although they have shied away from the direct political blurbs and kept up a fun and games attitude - they have nevertheless described danish middle class society, its beliefs and desires - often to devastating effects. As such they have been a noteworthy inspiration for danish lyrics in pop rock and also for the wit and satire of later bands like MC Einar, Ibens and Det Brune Punktum.
To date Shubidua's discography is getting close to 30 albums (18 studioalbums). They have had many hits in Denmark like Vuffeli-vov, Hvalborg, Står på en Alpetop, Stærk Tobak (to the music from The Beatles song Twist and Shout), Familien kom til Kaffe, Sex Chikane, We wanna be free, and many more -all of whom have classical status as golden oldies. They reached maximum sales and accolade with the albums between 1978-1982.
The group formed in 1973 in Copenhagen by vocalist Bundesen, Jens Tage Nielsen and members of the rock group Passport : (guitarists Michael Hardinger and Poul Meyendorff, the drummer Bosse Hall Christensen, and bass guitarist Niels Grønbech). Passport, released the single Tomorrow/Everything's Wrong in early 1973. Shu-bi-dua released the single Fed Rock/Tynd Blues which became a hit single. After the release of one more Passport single with new members Bundesen and Nielsen, called Change of the Guard/Highway of Living, the serious english project was dropped, and the band continued as Shu-bi-dua,
In 1974 they released their first self-titled album Shu-bi-dua. After the first album, Poul Meyendorf left the group and was replaced by Claus Asmussen, who was technician on the first.
Since then the group has had numerous changes in its lineup. Kim Daugaard replaced Niels Grønbech in 1977, Willy Pedersen replaced Jens Tage Nielsen, and Kasper Winding replaced Bosse Hall Christensen in 1981. In 1984 Michael Bundesen left the group to lead the Copenhagen TV network "Kanal 2", and simultaneously Kasper Winding left to be replaced by Paul Callaby. In 1987 Jørgen Thorup was made a permanent member in the group when Willy Pedersen left. Thorup had been singing backup vocals since Shu-bi-dua 11 in 1985. In 1987 Michael Bundesen returned as lead singer, while Søren Jacobsen also joined the band. In 1988 Peter Andersen replaced Paul Callaby as drummer, and shortly thereafter Søren Jacobsen left the band again. After having made the film Den røde tråd in 1989, they went on a sabbatical until their return in 1992 with the hit single Sexchikane. In the intervening years their back catalog was rereleased on CD in 1990, and in 1991 a Best Of album by the name Stærk Tobak was released. In connection to this they played live in front of 50,000 people on Bellevue Strand. In 1997 Michael Hardinger left the band after 24 years. He was replaced by Ole Kibsgaard, and in 2001 Jørgen Thorup left the band to be replaced by Jacob Christoffersen. In 2003 their 30th anniversary was celebrated with a 10-CD set called Shu-bi-dua 200 (each CD had 20 songs). In 2005 Claus Asmussen left Shu-bi-dua having been the only original continuous member in the group's 30-year history.
En Glad Idiot
Shu-bi-dua Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Så får jeg kaffe og morgenmad
Jeg hilser pæns' på de andre i toget
De hedder noget, og jeg ved ikke hvad
Dagen er ny
Himlen er blå
Der ikke nikke' noget jeg skal nå
Jeg er så fløjtende glad
(Wow, wow, wow)
Jeg ved egentlig ikke for hvad
(Wow, wow, wow)
Jeg er en glad idiot
(Wow, wow, woow' han er en glad idiot jaa' - en glad idiot)
(Wow, wow, woow' han er en glad idiot jaa' - en glad idiot)
Før var jeg altid så trist og bedrøvet
Men så sagde min læge til mig:
"Her er en pille som en rotte har prøvet"
" - Lad os se om den virker på dig!"
Først tog jeg én, så tog jeg to
Så kom der fjedre i mine sko
Uuh, jeg er så fløjtende glad
Nok farmaceutisk men hvad
(Wow, wow, wow)
Jeg er en glad idiot
(Wow, wow, woow' han er en glad idiot jaa' - en glad idiot)
(Wow, wow, woow' han er en glad idiot jaa' - en glad idiot)
Dagen er ny
Himlen er blå
Og jeg har kun taget 80 kilo på
Uuh (ai'ai'ja)
Jeg er så styrtende glad
(Ai'ai'ja)
Og når jeg har fået et bad,
(Ai'ai'ja)
Så er jeg en ren idiot
(Wow, wow, woow' han er en ren idiot jaa - en ren idiot)
(Wow, wow, woow' han er en ren idiot jaa - en ren idiot)
(Wow, wow, woow' han er en ren idiot jaa')
(Wow, wow, woow' han er en ren idiot jaa')
(Wow, wow, woow' han er en ren idiot jaa')
The song "En Glad Idiot" by Shu-bi-dua tells the story of a person who used to be sad and depressed, but is now happy and carefree. The lyrics describe their morning routine, which consists of waking up feeling happy, having coffee and breakfast, and greeting strangers on the train. The chorus repeats the phrase "jeg er en glad idiot" (I am a happy idiot) which the person seems to embrace as a positive thing.
The second verse introduces the idea that the person's happiness may be chemically induced, as they mention taking a pill that gave them springs in their shoes. Despite this, they remain undeterred and continue to revel in their newfound joy. The final lines of the song add a humorous touch, with the person stating they have gained weight but are still happy, and that they become a "ren idiot" (clean idiot) after taking a shower.
Overall, "En Glad Idiot" is a lighthearted and fun song that celebrates the power of positivity to transform one's outlook on life.
Line by Line Meaning
Når jeg står op, er jeg glad i låget
When I wake up, I feel happy
Så får jeg kaffe og morgenmad
Then I have coffee and breakfast
Jeg hilser pæns' på de andre i toget
I politely greet the others on the train
De hedder noget, og jeg ved ikke hvad
They have names, but I don't know them
Dagen er ny
The day is new
Himlen er blå
The sky is blue
Der ikke nikke' noget jeg skal nå
There's nothing I need to accomplish
Uuh (Wow, wow, wow)
Excitement sound
Jeg er så fløjtende glad
I'm so inexplicably happy
Jeg ved egentlig ikke for hvad
I don't really know why
Jeg er en glad idiot
I'm a happy idiot
(Wow, wow, woow' han er en glad idiot jaa' - en glad idiot)
(Wow, he's a happy idiot, yes - a happy idiot)
Før var jeg altid så trist og bedrøvet
Before, I was always sad and melancholic
Men så sagde min læge til mig:
But then my doctor said to me:
"Her er en pille som en rotte har prøvet"
"Here's a pill that a rat has tried"
" - Lad os se om den virker på dig!"
"Let's see if it works for you!"
Først tog jeg én, så tog jeg to
First, I took one, then I took two
Så kom der fjedre i mine sko
Then there were springs in my shoes
Uuh, jeg er så fløjtende glad
Uuh, I'm so inexplicably happy
Nok farmaceutisk men hvad
Maybe it's just pharmaceutical, but so what
Og jeg har kun taget 80 kilo på
And I've only gained 80 kilos
Uuh (ai'ai'ja)
Excitement sound
Jeg er så styrtende glad
I'm so overwhelmingly happy
(Ai'ai'ja)
Excitement sound
Og når jeg har fået et bad,
And when I've taken a bath,
(Ai'ai'ja)
Excitement sound
Så er jeg en ren idiot
Then I'm a clean idiot
(Wow, wow, woow' han er en ren idiot jaa - en ren idiot)
(Wow, he's a clean idiot, yes - a clean idiot)
(Wow, wow, woow' han er en ren idiot jaa')
(Wow, he's a clean idiot, yes)
(Wow, wow, woow' han er en ren idiot jaa')
(Wow, he's a clean idiot, yes)
(Wow, wow, woow' han er en ren idiot jaa')
(Wow, he's a clean idiot, yes)
Contributed by Isabelle J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jan
on Humbug
Super-mand = en mand der handler i et supermarked.
Jan
on Humbug
Måske skulle du nævne ordspillene, som måske går tabt for den kun engelskkyndige.
tournedos tornado
øl og vand ild og vand
Frellsens her Frellsens Hær
Der er sikkert flere.