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.
Telefon
Shu-bi-dua Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Han trykked' mig i hånden, men jeg gik alligevel
Jeg gik ind i teleshoppen og købte en model
Så gik jeg ud i byen for at få mig et kontor
Og fandt en god café hvor jeg fik et marmorbord
Og pigerne i baren tror at jeg er direktør
For den bipper hele tiden og jeg har røde ører.
Det' mig og min telefon
Jeg' så vild med min telefon
Det' mig og min telefon
Hver gang den ringer så sparer jeg en krone.
Gad vide hvad man gjorde da den ikke var til
Hvad sku' man så lave når man sad på sin café
Jo, man dryppede croissanterne i café au lait
Og snakkede om kunst - Pissoir og Bidét.
I baren står en pige og ringer til sin fyr
Han er på safari så regningen bli'r dyr
Så nu bipper det i jakken - jeg får fax'er ud af frakken
Spilder kaffe ned ad tøjet, får antennen ind i øjet.
Det' mig og min telefon
Jeg' så vild med min telefon
Det' mig og min telefon
Hver gang den ringer så sparer jeg en krone.
Det' mig og min telefon
Det' mig og min telefon
Det' mig og min telefon
Hver gang den ringer så sparer jeg en krone.
The lyrics to Shu-bi-dua's song Telefon are about a person who decides to start their own business after their boss tells them they should go out on their own. They go into a teleshop and buy a phone, then find a café to use as an office where they can work and take calls. The person becomes so obsessed with their phone that they start hearing it ringing even when it's not, and they constantly check it in hopes of saving money on phone calls.
The song also describes how society has become so reliant on phones that people can't imagine what they would do without them. The lyrics mention how people used to spend time in cafés before phones, but now everyone is glued to their screens. The song also touches on the problem of expensive phone bills, with a girl in the bar calling her boyfriend on safari and racking up a high bill.
Overall, the message of the song is that while phones can be useful tools, they can also be addicting and make us forget about the world around us.
Line by Line Meaning
Personalechefen syn's jeg sku' starte for mig selv
The personnel manager suggested I start my own business.
Han trykked' mig i hånden, men jeg gik alligevel
He shook my hand, but I still left.
Jeg gik ind i teleshoppen og købte en model
I went into the tele-shop and bought a phone.
Så gik jeg ud i byen for at få mig et kontor
Then I went into town to find an office.
Og fandt en god café hvor jeg fik et marmorbord
I found a nice café and got myself a marble table.
Og pigerne i baren tror at jeg er direktør
The girls at the bar think I'm a director.
For den bipper hele tiden og jeg har røde ører.
Because it keeps ringing and I'm embarrassed.
Det' mig og min telefon
It's me and my phone.
Jeg' så vild med min telefon
I'm crazy about my phone.
Hver gang den ringer så sparer jeg en krone.
Every time it rings, I save a penny.
Gad vide hvad man gjorde da den ikke var til
I wonder what people did when there was no phone.
Hvad sku' man så lave når man sad på sin café
What would people do at the café without a phone?
Jo, man dryppede croissanterne i café au lait
Well, they would dip croissants in café au lait.
Og snakkede om kunst - Pissoir og Bidét.
And talk about art - Pissoir and Bidet.
I baren står en pige og ringer til sin fyr
At the bar, a girl is calling her guy.
Han er på safari så regningen bli'r dyr
He's on safari, so the bill is getting high.
Så nu bipper det i jakken - jeg får fax'er ud af frakken
Now it's beeping in my jacket - I'm getting faxes out of my coat.
Spilder kaffe ned ad tøjet, får antennen ind i øjet.
I spill coffee on my clothes, the antenna gets in my eye.
Det' mig og min telefon
It's me and my phone.
Jeg' så vild med min telefon
I'm crazy about my phone.
Hver gang den ringer så sparer jeg en krone.
Every time it rings, I save a penny.
Det' mig og min telefon
It's me and my phone.
Det' mig og min telefon
It's me and my phone.
Det' mig og min telefon
It's me and my phone.
Hver gang den ringer så sparer jeg en krone.
Every time it rings, I save a penny.
Writer(s): Shu-bi-dua
Contributed by Ethan J. 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.