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.
Fætter U.G.
Shu-bi-dua Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Kan skabe et drømmesyn
Fuldmåneblod og solen der stod
En anelse lavt over byen.
Men jeg har set fugle, der fløj uden ben
Lige ind i min mund
Kartofler og sovs og agurkesalat
Pommesfritters og burgers og fiskefiléter
Og hvad kan man ønske sig mer'?
Digteren tror at han med ord
Kan skabe et drømmesyn
Nå helt derud, hvor kun han og Gud
Går en tur med hunden gennem byen.
Men jeg har set hunde, der gled uden ben
Lige ind i min mund
Med sennep, ketchup, agurkesalat
Og stilled' min sult for en stund
Og digteren sukker og ånden er fjern
Den er på museum i Skjern.
Ja, det tror vi gern'.
The lyrics to Shu-bi-dua's song "Fætter U.G." depict a satirical take on the power of words and the imagination of a poet. The first verse suggests that the poet believes he can create a beautiful vision through his words, with imagery of a full moon and the sun slightly hanging over the city. However, the singer counters this idea by introducing absurd and mundane imagery, such as birds flying without legs and food items like potatoes, sauce, cucumber salad, and prunes on a puff pastry base. This contrast between the poet's lofty aspirations and the everyday reality creates a humorous tone.
In the second verse, the poet continues to believe that his words can create a dream-like vision, one that is only accessible to him and God as they take a walk accompanied by a dog through the city. Once again, the singer interjects with absurd imagery, this time involving dogs gliding without legs and consuming condiments and cucumber salad to temporarily satisfy hunger. The verse concludes with the idea that the poet sighs and his spirit becomes distant, even finding its place in a museum in Skjern, a tongue-in-cheek way of implying its irrelevance.
Overall, "Fætter U.G." humorously challenges the notion that the power of words alone can shape a beautiful reality, as the singer's observations bring a sense of reality into the poet's idealized world.
Line by Line Meaning
Digteren tror at han med ord
The poet believes that he can create a dream-like vision with his words
Kan skabe et drømmesyn
Can create a vision of dreams
Fuldmåneblod og solen der stod
Full moon blood and the slightly low-lying sun
En anelse lavt over byen.
Just a tad low over the city
Men jeg har set fugle, der fløj uden ben
But I have seen birds flying without legs
Lige ind i min mund
Right into my mouth
Kartofler og sovs og agurkesalat
Potatoes and gravy and cucumber salad
Og svedsker på butterdejsbund
And prunes on a puff pastry base
Pommesfritters og burgers og fiskefiléter
French fries and burgers and fish fillets
Og hvad kan man ønske sig mer'?
And what more could one wish for?
Nå helt derud, hvor kun han og Gud
Going all the way out, where only he and God
Går en tur med hunden gennem byen.
Take a walk with the dog through the city
Men jeg har set hunde, der gled uden ben
But I have seen dogs gliding without legs
Med sennep, ketchup, agurkesalat
With mustard, ketchup, cucumber salad
Og stilled' min sult for en stund
And satisfied my hunger for a while
Og digteren sukker og ånden er fjern
And the poet sighs, and the spirit is distant
Den er på museum i Skjern.
It is in a museum in Skjern
Ja, det tror vi gern'.
Yes, we believe that willingly.
Contributed by Bentley V. 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.