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 Sang For Livet
Shu-bi-dua Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hvis du spø'r mig så skinnede solen
Vi sku' prøve det hele sammen
Og blev ved selv om solen gik ned.
Vi så piger i Kejserens Klæder
Og vi vågned' de mærkeligste steder
Vi blev danmarksmestre i at gå i byen
Alting var tilladt og også lidt held
Grænsen var dér hvor du satte den selv
I dag ka' du vælge, men grænsen er sat
Enten kondom eller evigt godnat.
Det var en aften som alle de andre
Men en nat som kom til at forandre
For Jens Lyn blev taget på sengen
Og blev aldrig den samme igen.
Her forleden tog han billetten
Og han ligger på Lerkrukkesletten
I avisen stod der: "Han sov stille ind"
Men gu' gjorde han ej.
Jeg stod ved hans side da solen gik ned
Han døde fordi han for sent fik besked
Den der vil leve beskytter sig selv
I dag ka' din kærlighed slå dig ihjel.
Alting var tilladt og også lidt held
Grænsen var dér hvor du satte den selv
Og du ka' vælge, men grænsen er sat
Enten kondom eller evigt godnat.
Grænsen er dér hvor du sætter den selv
I dag ka' din kærlighed slå dig ihjel
Så den der vil leve beskytter sig selv.
The song "En Sang For Livet" by Shu-bi-dua is a nostalgic look back at the singer's youth and the friendships he formed during his school days. The opening lines speak of that special bond that can form between childhood friends, with the imagery of a shining sun suggesting the pure joy and happiness of those carefree days. The singer then goes on to reminisce about the wild and crazy adventures he and his friends had, including seeing strange and bizarre things and becoming experts at going out on the town. The sense of limitless possibility and adventure is palpable, as if anything is possible and nothing can go wrong.
Yet there is a dark undercurrent to the song that becomes more and more apparent as the lyrics progress. The line "Everything was allowed and a little luck too" hints at a sense of danger and recklessness that was present in the singer's youth. The reference to the choice between using a condom or facing the consequences of unprotected sex further emphasizes this theme. The joyful memories are tempered by a sense of loss and regret, as the singer recounts the tragic death of one of their group, who died prematurely and needlessly because he didn't take care of himself. The song ends with a warning to the listener: love can be lethal if you're not careful.
All in all, "En Sang For Livet" is a poignant meditation on friendship, youth, and the realization that the choices we make can have serious consequences.
Line by Line Meaning
Vi blev venner for livet i skolen
We became lifelong friends in school
Hvis du spø'r mig så skinnede solen
If you ask me, the sun was shining
Vi sku' prøve det hele sammen
We were going to try everything together
Og blev ved selv om solen gik ned.
And kept going even after the sun went down.
Vi så piger i Kejserens Klæder
We saw girls in the Emperor's clothes
Og vi vågned' de mærkeligste steder
And we woke up in the strangest places
Vi blev danmarksmestre i at gå i byen
We became Danish champions at going out
Supermand og Jens Lyn.
Superman and Flash.
Alting var tilladt og også lidt held
Everything was allowed and a bit of luck too
Grænsen var dér hvor du satte den selv
The limit was where you set it yourself
I dag ka' du vælge, men grænsen er sat
Today you can choose, but the limit is set
Enten kondom eller evigt godnat.
Either a condom or eternal goodnight.
Det var en aften som alle de andre
It was an evening like all the others
Men en nat som kom til at forandre
But a night that came to change everything
For Jens Lyn blev taget på sengen
Because Flash was caught off guard
Og blev aldrig den samme igen.
And was never the same again.
Her forleden tog han billetten
The other day he bought the ticket
Og han ligger på Lerkrukkesletten
And he lies on Lerkrukkesletten
I avisen stod der: "Han sov stille ind"
In the newspaper it said: "He peacefully passed away"
Men gu' gjorde han ej.
But he surely did not.
Jeg stod ved hans side da solen gik ned
I stood by his side as the sun went down
Han døde fordi han for sent fik besked
He died because he got the message too late
Den der vil leve beskytter sig selv
Whoever wants to live, protects themselves
I dag ka' din kærlighed slå dig ihjel.
Today your love can kill you.
Grænsen er dér hvor du sætter den selv
The limit is where you set it yourself
I dag ka' din kærlighed slå dig ihjel
Today your love can kill you
Så den der vil leve beskytter sig selv.
So whoever wants to live, protects themselves.
Writer(s): shu-bi-dua
Contributed by Callie E. 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.