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.
Mit Liv Som Hund
Shu-bi-dua Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Og hun elsker mig (aah-aah)
Og vores store interesse her i livet er den samme leg
Hun er god til tag-fat
Jeg er hund, hun er kat.
Når jeg siger "vov"
Så spinder hun blidt
Når jeg siger "vov"
Så har vi det sjovt.
Når nogen ka' sige "Musser" og "Lillemor"
Hvorfor fa'en ka' jeg så ikke sige som Lassie gjorde?
Jeg si'r "vov" når hun lukker mig ind
Og vi styrter rundt i stuen som en hvirvelvind
"Vov, vov" (vov, vov)
Er det forbudt at ha' det lidt sjov?
"Vov, vov" "Vov, vov, vov, vov, vov, vov".
Jeg ka' huske engang
Jeg begyndte at tro
At jeg var hundesyg så jeg gik til en syg-ko-log
Og jeg havde det skidt
Men så sagde han: "Sit"!
De' godt nok tosset hvis De går og tror
At De' den eneste der leger lidt med Lillemor
Næh, det er "mæh" i tusinde hjem
Og "øf, øf, øf" når den er rigtig slem
Så sig "vov" - hvis De synes det er sjov
Farvel med Dem - jeg har lovet at skynde mig hjem - "muuh"!
Du ska' være normal
Fra otte til fem
Og du bli'r skør hvis du også ska' være det når du kommer hjem
Find et dyr der er dig
Gå i gang med at leg'.
Og der er heste og grise og køer og får
Du ka' vælge hvad du vil fra Hansens bondegård
Vi si'r "vov" med vores stemmepragt
Det' let at være hund og man får maden bragt
"Vov, vov" (vov, vov)
Er det forbudt at ha' det lidt sjov?
Næh, næh - det' da ikke forbudt ved lov.
The song "Mit Liv Som Hund" by Shu-bi-dua is a playful and humorous song about the joys of playing and having fun with pets. The lyrics describe the loving relationship between the singer and their pet, who is a cat, despite being different animals. The chorus, which repeats the phrase "vov, vov" (woof, woof), emphasizes the playful and carefree nature of their relationship. The singer also mentions their frustration with society's expectation to conform, and encourages listeners to embrace their true selves and find joy in playtime, even if it means acting like their pet.
The song's lyrics can be seen as a commentary on societal norms and expectations, encouraging listeners to embrace their playful and carefree side rather than conforming to societal standards. The repetition of the phrase "vov, vov" emphasizes the simplicity and joy in playtime, which can be easily forgotten in the demands of daily life. The singer's playful and childlike tone further emphasizes the importance of not taking oneself too seriously and finding joy in simple pleasures.
Interestingly, the song's title "Mit Liv Som Hund" (My Life as a Dog) is also the title of a Swedish coming-of-age film from 1985, which tells the story of a boy who imagines himself as a dog to cope with the challenges in his life. It is unclear whether the song was directly inspired by the film, but the themes of playful imagination and finding joy in simple pleasures are present in both.
Line by Line Meaning
Jeg elsker min skat (shub-shub-bi-dub)
I love my darling
Og hun elsker mig (aah-aah)
And she loves me
Og vores store interesse her i livet er den samme leg
Our shared interest in life is the same game
Hun er god til tag-fat
She is good at tag
Jeg er hund, hun er kat.
I am a dog, she is a cat
Når jeg siger "vov"
When I say "woof"
Så spinder hun blidt
She purrs softly
Og så går den vilde jagt indtil vi er kvit
And then the wild chase begins until we're even
Når jeg siger "vov"
When I say "woof"
Så har vi det sjovt.
Then we have fun
Når nogen ka' sige "Musser" og "Lillemor"
When someone can say "Musser" and "Lillemor"
Hvorfor fa'en ka' jeg så ikke sige som Lassie gjorde?
Why the hell can't I say like Lassie did?
Jeg si'r "vov" når hun lukker mig ind
I say "woof" when she lets me in
Og vi styrter rundt i stuen som en hvirvelvind
And we race around the living room like a whirlwind
"Vov, vov" (vov, vov)
"Woof, woof" (woof, woof)
Er det forbudt at ha' det lidt sjov?
Is it forbidden to have a little fun?
"Vov, vov" "Vov, vov, vov, vov, vov, vov".
"Woof, woof" "Woof, woof, woof, woof, woof, woof".
Jeg ka' huske engang
I remember one time
Jeg begyndte at tro
I started to believe
At jeg var hundesyg så jeg gik til en syg-ko-log
That I was sick with dog fever, so I went to a sick-cow-logist
Og jeg havde det skidt
And I felt bad
Men så sagde han: "Sit"!
But then he said: "Sit"!
De' godt nok tosset hvis De går og tror
It's quite crazy if you think
At De' den eneste der leger lidt med Lillemor
That you're the only one who plays with Lillemor
Næh, det er "mæh" i tusinde hjem
No, it's "meh" in thousands of homes
Og "øf, øf, øf" når den er rigtig slem
And "oof, oof, oof" when it's really bad
Så sig "vov" - hvis De synes det er sjov
So say "woof" - if you think it's fun
Farvel med Dem - jeg har lovet at skynde mig hjem - "muuh"!
Goodbye, I promised to hurry home - "moo"!
Du ska' være normal
You should be normal
Fra otte til fem
From eight to five
Og du bli'r skør hvis du også ska' være det når du kommer hjem
And you'll go crazy if you have to be that way when you come home
Find et dyr der er dig
Find an animal that is like you
Gå i gang med at leg'
Start playing
Og der er heste og grise og køer og får
And there are horses and pigs and cows and sheep
Du ka' vælge hvad du vil fra Hansens bondegård
You can choose whatever you want from Hansen's farm
Vi si'r "vov" med vores stemmepragt
We say "woof" with our vocal prowess
Det' let at være hund og man får maden bragt
It's easy to be a dog and have food brought to you
"Vov, vov" (vov, vov)
"Woof, woof" (woof, woof)
Er det forbudt at ha' det lidt sjov?
Is it forbidden to have a little fun?
Næh, næh - det' da ikke forbudt ved lov.
No, no - it's not forbidden by law.
Writer(s): shu-bi-dua
Contributed by Ava Y. 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.