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.
Fyrtøjet
Shu-bi-dua Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Han mødte en heks der ku′ gøre ham rig
Hun loved' ham sølv og hun loved′ ham guld
Hvis han gjorde som hun sa' fik han rygsækken fuld.
Du skal kravle ned i det hule træ
På bunden der sidder tre bjæffende kræ
De sidder på hver sin kiste og glor
Og de har øjne som tekopper
Øjne som møllehjul
Så store som rundetårn og det′ er jo ikke så lidt.
"I kisterne ligger der skinnende mønter"
"Ta′ hvad du vil selvom hundene grynter"
"Der er også et fyrtøj min bedstemor glemte"
"Og når du nu er der så tag' lige og hent det".
Soldaten gjorde som kællingen sagde
Han kravlede ned og var hurtigt tilbage
Så hugged′ han heksens hoved af
Og så stjal han det fyrtøj, som hun ville ha'.
Sikke en historie, hvordan mon det skal gå?
Han ender i kachotten hvis han ikke passer på.
Nu var soldaten en holden mand
Han brugte meget, men med ringe forstand
Og pludselig en dag var han gået fallit
Og det var i grunden jo temmelig skidt.
Så sad han der på sit usle kammer
Og strøg sit fyrtøj, men i stedet for flammer
Stod der en hund fra det hule træ
Og sagde: "Mester befal - og det vil ske".
Soldaten sagde: "Jeg er gået fallit"
Og hunden svared′: "Det sker jo så tit"
"Jeg henter bare en pose til"
"For den der har fyrtøj ka' få hvad han vil".
Sikke en historie, hvordan mon det skal gå
Han ender i kachotten hvis han ikke passer på.
Prinsessen var smuk som en forårsdag
Soldaten sagde: "Hende vil jeg ha′"
Han strøg sit fyrtøj og hundene sprang
Og hented' prinsessen op til flere gange.
Men da kongen fandt ud af hvad der var sket
Letted' han ganske fra denne planet
Soldaten blev smidt i byens kachot
Og det var i grunden jo ikke så godt.
Han sku′ hænges ved daggry - pladsen var propfyldt
Et sidste ønske får man altid opfyldt
Soldaten bad om en sidste smøg
Strøg sit fyrtøj og hundene fløj -
Lige i flæsket på kongens mænd
Og bed så de aldrig blev hele igen
Og så fik soldaten en krone på
Blev konge og gift, ja så′n ka' det gå.
Sikke en historie, hvad ka′ man lære af den?
Vær altid sød ved hunden
Den er men'skets bedste ven.
The lyrics of Shu-bi-dua's song "Fyrtøjet" tell a story of a soldier who meets a witch on his way home from war. The witch offers him riches - silver and gold - if he follows her instructions and retrieves a magical tinderbox from a hollow tree. She tells him not to fear the three barking dogs guarding the tree, as they are tied up.
The dogs guarding the tree are described as having eyes as big as teacups and mill wheels, even as big as the famous Round Tower in Denmark. The soldier is instructed to take whatever he wants from the chests in which shiny coins are stored, and the witch also mentions a forgotten tinderbox that he should retrieve while he is there.
Following the witch's instructions, the soldier enters the hollow tree and quickly returns. He then decapitates the witch and steals the tinderbox. However, as the lyrics suggest, the story is far from over. The soldier finds himself in a precarious situation, as he may end up in prison if he isn't careful.
The once-rich soldier squanders his newfound fortune, and one day, he finds himself bankrupt and living in a miserable room. He tries to use the tinderbox to summon a fire but instead summons one of the dogs from the hollow tree. The dog tells the soldier that he can fulfill any wish he has, and the soldier asks the dog to bring him a bag.
Realizing his predicament, the soldier tries his luck with the tinderbox again, hoping to bring the beautiful princess to him. The dogs appear once more and carry the princess to him multiple times. However, when the king discovers what has been happening, he banishes the soldier to the dungeon.
The lyrics ponder on the soldier's fate, hinting that he may be executed by hanging at sunrise. However, as is customary, the prisoner is granted a final wish. The soldier asks for a cigarette, strikes his tinderbox, and the dogs attack the king's men, leaving them permanently injured. In the end, the soldier is crowned king and marries the princess.
This story serves as a cautionary tale, showcasing the soldier's greed and eventual downfall. It also highlights the importance of being kind to animals, as the dogs from the hollow tree ultimately save the soldier's life.
Line by Line Meaning
Der var en soldat på vej hjem fra krig
Once upon a time, there was a soldier returning home from war
Han mødte en heks der ku′ gøre ham rig
He met a witch who could make him rich
Hun loved' ham sølv og hun loved′ ham guld
She promised him silver and she promised him gold
Hvis han gjorde som hun sa' fik han rygsækken fuld
If he did as she said, his backpack would be full
Du skal kravle ned i det hule træ
You must crawl down into the hollow tree
På bunden der sidder tre bjæffende kræ
At the bottom, three barking creatures sit
De sidder på hver sin kiste og glor
They sit on their own chest and stare
Du skal ik' være bange - de er nemlig i snor
Don't be afraid - they are actually on a leash
Og de har øjne som tekopper
And they have eyes like teacups
Øjne som møllehjul
Eyes like mill wheels
Så store som rundetårn og det′ er jo ikke så lidt
As big as the Round Tower, and that's not insignificant
"I kisterne ligger der skinnende mønter"
"In the chests lie shining coins"
"Ta′ hvad du vil selvom hundene grynter"
"Take what you want even though the dogs growl"
"Der er også et fyrtøj min bedstemor glemte"
"There is also a tinderbox my grandmother forgot"
"Og når du nu er der så tag' lige og hent det"
"And since you're there, just go and get it"
Soldaten gjorde som kællingen sagde
The soldier did as the old woman said
Han kravlede ned og var hurtigt tilbage
He crawled down and quickly returned
Så hugged′ han heksens hoved af
Then he chopped off the witch's head
Og så stjal han det fyrtøj, som hun ville ha'
And then he stole the tinderbox she wanted
Sikke en historie, hvordan mon det skal gå?
What a story, I wonder how it will turn out?
Han ender i kachotten hvis han ikke passer på
He ends up in the dungeon if he's not careful
Nu var soldaten en holden mand
Now the soldier was a lucky man
Han brugte meget, men med ringe forstand
He spent a lot, but with little sense
Og pludselig en dag var han gået fallit
And suddenly one day, he went bankrupt
Og det var i grunden jo temmelig skidt
And in fact, it was quite bad
Så sad han der på sit usle kammer
So he sat there in his miserable chamber
Og strøg sit fyrtøj, men i stedet for flammer
And struck his tinderbox, but instead of flames
Stod der en hund fra det hule træ
A dog stood there from the hollow tree
Og sagde: "Mester befal - og det vil ske"
And said: "Master command - and it will happen"
Soldaten sagde: "Jeg er gået fallit"
The soldier said: "I've gone bankrupt"
Og hunden svared′: "Det sker jo så tit"
And the dog replied: "That happens so often"
"Jeg henter bare en pose til"
"I'll just fetch a bag"
"For den der har fyrtøj ka' få hvad han vil"
"Because whoever has the tinderbox can get whatever he wants"
Prinsessen var smuk som en forårsdag
The princess was as beautiful as a spring day
Soldaten sagde: "Hende vil jeg ha′"
The soldier said: "I want her"
Han strøg sit fyrtøj og hundene sprang
He struck his tinderbox and the dogs jumped
Og hented' prinsessen op til flere gange
And fetched the princess several times
Men da kongen fandt ud af hvad der var sket
But when the king found out what had happened
Letted' han ganske fra denne planet
He went away completely from this planet
Soldaten blev smidt i byens kachot
The soldier was thrown into the town's dungeon
Og det var i grunden jo ikke så godt
And in fact, that wasn't very good
Han sku′ hænges ved daggry - pladsen var propfyldt
He was to be hanged at dawn - the square was crowded
Et sidste ønske får man altid opfyldt
One always gets one last wish fulfilled
Soldaten bad om en sidste smøg
The soldier asked for one last cigarette
Strøg sit fyrtøj og hundene fløj -
Struck his tinderbox and the dogs flew -
Lige i flæsket på kongens mænd
Right into the faces of the king's men
Og bed så de aldrig blev hele igen
And bit so that they'd never be whole again
Og så fik soldaten en krone på
And then the soldier received a crown
Blev konge og gift, ja så′n ka' det gå
Became king and married, that's how it can go
Sikke en historie, hvad ka' man lære af den?
What a story, what can one learn from it?
Vær altid sød ved hunden
Always be kind to the dog
Den er men'skets bedste ven
It is humanity's best friend
Writer(s): Michael Bundesen, Michael Hardinger, Rasmus Schwenger
Contributed by Isabelle S. 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.