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.
Halløjsa
Shu-bi-dua Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hygge hygge hygge hejsa
Vi ligger på stranden
Med vores madkurv og kolde øller.
Solen - skinner
Og vi smører hinanden ind og
Otte minutter
Der er hul i himmelens tag
Hvor der før var tæt
Det ka' gi' problemer en dag
Men det tager vi ultra - violet.
Halløjsa, Lahøjsa
Hygge hygge hygge hejsa
Vi ligger i skyggen
Og vi har solfaktor firehundred' på.
Se den lille blege racist
Han er blevet brun
Det' Vorherres tak for sidst
At han ligner én fra Cameroun.
Halløjsa, Lahøjsa
Nu' vi rykket indendørs, ja
Og vi ligner hinanden
Med vores smukke og brune huder
Tak til de nye guder
Tak til Freon - og Ozon.
The lyrics to Shu-bi-dua’s song “Halløjsa” are centered on a day at the beach. The group is enjoying themselves in the sun with their food basket and cold beers, but their focus is mostly on getting a tan. They are spreading sunscreen on each other and timing themselves with just eight minutes in the sun to achieve the perfect tan, comparing each other to someone from a different country once done. The song further highlights the changing atmosphere with a "hole in the sky" due to the increasing ozone depletion, but they are not concerned as they use the highest level of sunscreen to protect themselves. The last verse represents an appreciation for technology’s gift of tanning beds, thanks to the "new gods" of Freon and ozone.
Line by Line Meaning
Halløjsa, Lahøjsa
Greeting to everyone, let the fun begin
Hygge hygge hygge hejsa
Having a good and relaxing time
Vi ligger på stranden
We are lying on the beach
Med vores madkurv og kolde øller.
Having some food and cold beer with us
Solen - skinner
The sun is shining
Og vi smører hinanden ind og
We are applying sunscreen to each other and
Otte minutter
After eight minutes
Så er man brun som en illegal tamil.
We will be as tan as someone from Tamil Nadu who got a tan illegally.
Der er hul i himmelens tag
There is a hole in the sky
Hvor der før var tæt
Where it was once tight
Det ka' gi' problemer en dag
This may cause problems one day
Men det tager vi ultra - violet.
But we will deal with it using ultraviolet radiation.
Halløjsa, Lahøjsa
Greeting to everyone, let the fun continue
Vi ligger i skyggen
We are lying in the shade
Og vi har solfaktor firehundred' på.
We have sunscreen with SPF 400 on.
Se den lille blege racist
Look at the little pale racist
Han er blevet brun
He has become tan
Det' Vorherres tak for sidst
Thank God for that
At han ligner én fra Cameroun.
Now he looks like someone from Cameroon.
Now we are indoors
Nu' vi rykket indendørs, ja
Og vi ligner hinanden
We all look alike now
Med vores smukke og brune huder
With our beautiful tans
Tak til de nye guder
Thanks to the new gods
Tak til Freon - og Ozon.
Thanks to Freon and ozone.
Writer(s): Shu-bi-dua
Contributed by Zoe P. 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.