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.
Folkeparty No. 179
Shu-bi-dua Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Og det gør vi bedst når det går ned ad bakke
Vi kan skændes og vi kan enes når det gælder det rene vand
Og lortet gi'r vi jer i en pakke.
Og ligemeget hvo'n det går - er vi de samme år for år
Og det vi lover det har vi glemt
Når bordet fanger og I har stemt.
Vi' experter i at svare på alt det vi ikke ved
Og få det til at lyde bevinget
Mens de 12 der sidder i salen gaber kæberne af led
Og resten hygger sig i Snapsetinget.
Og ligemeget hvo'n det går - er vi de samme år for år
Og det vi lover det har vi glemt
Når bordet fanger og I har stemt.
Og når I går til valg
Så er det nemt for I har set og hørt os før
Det er lissom i
Melodi Grand Prix.
Og ligemeget hvo'n det går - er vi de samme år for år
Og det vi lover det har vi glemt
Når bordet fanger og I har stemt.
Og det er godt nok og med lidt held
Skal det jo nok gå alligevel
For hvis man bare er optimist
Så er det hele halvt så trist.
Kom så hele salen
(La, la, la, lah...)
Højere
(La, la, la, lah...)
Jeg synes ikke rigtig, jeg kan høre venstrefløjen
(La, la, la, lah...)
Lad os så prøve at samles henover midten
(La, la, la, lah...)
Kom så, hvordan lyder det så, hvis I er helt enige?
The song "Folkeparty No. 179" by Danish band Shu-bi-dua satirizes politics and politicians in Denmark. The lyrics suggest that politicians come from all sides of the political spectrum and claim to be experts in everything, even things they do not know about. They promise the people everything, but once they are elected, they forget all their promises. The chorus emphasizes that the politicians are the same year after year, and no matter what happens, they never change. The lyrics even compare politics to a Eurovision Song Contest, where people have already heard and seen the same things before.
The song highlights the fact that politicians are sometimes more concerned with appearances than substance. They often argue and fight, but at the end of the day, they are all after the same thing. The song, in essence, points out the laughter and mockery of politics.
Line by Line Meaning
Vi kommer fra højre og venstre for at styre dette land
We come from both the right and left sides to govern this country.
Og det gør vi bedst når det går ned ad bakke
We do it best when things are falling apart.
Vi kan skændes og vi kan enes når det gælder det rene vand
We can argue and agree when it comes to clean water.
Og lortet gi'r vi jer i en pakke.
And we'll give you the crap wrapped up nicely.
Vi' experter i at svare på alt det vi ikke ved
We're experts at answering questions we don't actually know the answers to.
Og få det til at lyde bevinget
And we make it sound impressive anyways.
Mens de 12 der sidder i salen gaber kæberne af led
While the 12 sitting in the chamber yawning their jaws off.
Og resten hygger sig i Snapsetinget.
And the rest are enjoying themselves in the social room.
Og når I går til valg
And when you go to vote,
Så er det nemt for I har set og hørt os før
It's easy because you've seen and heard us before.
Det er lissom i Melodi Grand Prix.
It's like in Eurovision.
Og det er godt nok og med lidt held
And that's good enough, and with a little luck
Skal det jo nok gå alligevel
It'll probably work out anyway.
For hvis man bare er optimist
Because if you're just optimistic,
Så er det hele halvt så trist.
It's all half as sad.
Kom så hele salen
Come on, everyone in the chamber!
(La, la, la, lah...)
Højere
Louder!
(La, la, la, lah...)
Jeg synes ikke rigtig, jeg kan høre venstrefløjen
I can't really hear the left-leaning side.
(La, la, la, lah...)
Lad os så prøve at samles henover midten
Let's try to come together in the middle.
(La, la, la, lah...)
Kom så, hvordan lyder det så, hvis I er helt enige?
Come on, what does it sound like when you all agree?
Writer(s): shu-bi-dua
Contributed by Chloe B. 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.