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.
Mig Og Dig
Shu-bi-dua Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Vi sku' ned og fange en hundej
En hundej med hår på og fødder, den går på
Og den bor i den dybeste tavshed
Mig og så Harry veksled' til Paris
Og vi købte en struds, der var boret
Så blev vi stoppet, hullet blev proppet
Ude i ørken' mærker man tørken
Der er langt mellem ditten og datten
Så vi tog os en mokka
For den havde vi nok af
Og så slog vi lejr for natten
Så blev der skålet henne ved bålet
Det er Ali, der runder de 30
Ali vil smage en fødselsdagskage
Og så gloed' de alle på Harry
Så bagte de Harry, end of safari
Mens jeg slog en streg i oasen
Da jeg kom tilbage var Harry en kage
I glasuren stod "tillykke med dagen"
Moralen er tydelig men styg og modbydelig
Man bør ende sine dage
Med at blive til en kage
The lyrics to Shu-bi-dua's song "Mig og så Harry" tell a whimsical story about a protagonist and their friend Harry going on an adventurous safari. Their initial goal is to capture a "hundej," a mythical creature with hair and feet that walks in deep silence. However, the story quickly takes a humorous turn as they change plans and travel to Paris, where they buy a strudel with a hole in it. These odd choices continue as they find themselves in the desert, feeling the dryness and distance between things, and deciding to have a cup of mocha. They eventually set up camp for the night and celebrate Ali's birthday around a bonfire.
The song takes a surreal twist when Harry transforms into a cake during the safari. While the singer was away, Harry is baked into a cake with the inscription "tillykke med dagen" (Danish for "happy birthday"). The song concludes with a bizarre and somewhat macabre moral: one should end their days by becoming a cake.
Overall, "Mig og så Harry" is a playful and nonsensical song that takes listeners on a whimsical journey through odd choices and unexpected outcomes. Its lyrics are filled with absurd humor and hidden meanings that invite the audience to imagine and interpret their own narrative.
Line by Line Meaning
Mig og så Harry drog på safari
Harry and I went on a safari
Vi sku' ned og fange en hundej
We were supposed to catch a wild dog
En hundej med hår på og fødder, den går på
A dog with hair and feet, it walks on
Og den bor i den dybeste tavshed
And it lives in the deepest silence
Mig og så Harry veksled' til Paris
Harry and I changed to Paris
Og vi købte en struds, der var boret
And we bought a drilled ostrich
Så blev vi stoppet, hullet blev proppet
Then we got stopped, the hole got plugged
Og så løb vi ud i sandet
And then we ran out into the sand
Ude i ørken' mærker man tørken
In the desert, you feel the drought
Der er langt mellem ditten og datten
There is a long way between this and that
Så vi tog os en mokka
So we had a cup of Mocha
For den havde vi nok af
Because we had plenty of it
Og så slog vi lejr for natten
And then we set up camp for the night
Så blev der skålet henne ved bålet
Then we toasted by the fire
Det er Ali, der runder de 30
It's Ali who turns 30
Ali vil smage en fødselsdagskage
Ali wants to taste a birthday cake
Og så gloed' de alle på Harry
And then everyone stared at Harry
Så bagte de Harry, end of safari
So they baked Harry, end of the safari
Mens jeg slog en streg i oasen
While I drew a line in the oasis
Da jeg kom tilbage var Harry en kage
When I came back, Harry was a cake
I glasuren stod "tillykke med dagen"
In the icing it said 'happy birthday'
Moralen er tydelig men styg og modbydelig
The moral is clear but ugly and repulsive
Man bør ende sine dage
One should end their days
Med at blive til en kage
By becoming a cake
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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.