In 2014, something unusual happened. On the strength of their breakthrough … Read Full Bio ↴In 2014, something unusual happened. On the strength of their breakthrough album Too Many Roads, Denmark’s Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado went global.

Now it’s one thing for an artist from Copenhagen to enjoy success at home and in a few adjacent countries. But the release of Too Many Roads saw the seven-piece combo fronted by singer and guitarist Risager gaining widespread notoriety in the U.S. and being invited to play in locales as far away as Mumbai, India. The album took home the Danish Music Award as the Top Blues Album of 2014 and also earned Germany’s illustrious “Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik,” but perhaps even more impressively, it was selected as one the year’s best by Britain’s influential The Blues magazine, right alongside international stars like Robert Cray, Walter Trout and Joe Bonamassa. Clearly, Risager and his mates had taken their exhilarating mix of blues, soul and rock ‘n’ roll to the next level.

Early in 2015, Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado celebrated that triumph by returning to one of their favorite nightspots – the Harmonie in Bonn, Germany. They would treat local fans to a one-of-a-kind spectacle, hitting the stage as a ten-piece mini-orchestra. After Thomas Ruf of Ruf Records introduces this deluxe edition of the band – including a three-man horn section and backing vocalists Ida Bang und Lisa Lystam – the colossal sound of Risager’s semi-hollow body spearheads the all-out attack of opening number “If You Wanna Leave.” He and his Black Tornado are off to the races…

The succeeding 100-minute concert, captured on CD and DVD for the newest addition to Ruf’s Songs from the Roadseries, shows off every facet of this unique conglomeration of musicians. There’s the sinuous funk of “Paradise” and the furious boogie of “The Straight and Narrow Line” (featuring big-time playing by piano man Emil Balsgaard and saxophonist Hans Nybo). There’s the twin-guitar blues of “Too Many Roads” and the rough-and-tumble attitude of “Rock ‘n’ Roll Ride.” There’s the chilling “China Gate” and the dark drama of “Long Forgotten Track.” Finally, the band whips the crowd into frenzy with their ultra-groovy take on the classic “Baby Please Don’t Go” and the timeless party anthem “Let The Good Times Roll,” the latter track showcasing the talents of lead guitarist Peter Skjerning. The funk workout “Opener” and the charming “I Won’t Let You Down” (performed as a duet with Lisa Lystam) offer some welcome after play.

More than anything, Songs from the Road shows that the success of Too Many Roads was no fluke. Thorbjørn Risager and his highly skilled accomplices have perfected a spicy blend of musical ingredients. The hundreds of shows they’ve played during the past few years have them running like a well-oiled machine. More great things can be expected of them in the future – but until then, we have this brilliant document of a band that is quietly revolutionizing the way we look at the blues.

The Black Tornado band
Thorbjørn Risager – leadvoc, gtr
Emil Balsgaard – keys
Peter Skjerning – gtr,voc
Kasper Wagner – alto-/barythonsax
Hans Nybo – tenorsax, voc
Peter Kehl – trumpet, perc, voc,
Søren Bøjgaard – bass
Martin Seidelin – drums, perc, voc,

The Tornadettes (guest appearance on “Songs from the road” and on special occasions!)
Ida Bang – voc
Lisa Lystam – voc

BAND FACTS
● Nominated for a British Blues Award 2014 & 2015
● Winner of the Danish Music Award 2013 & 2014
● The band was founded in 2003 and 5 of the band members have been there
since the start.
● In 2005 their cooperation with Annika Westman started who has booked
more than 700 concerts for them in 21 countries.
● Songs From The Road is their 10th album in 10 years!

China Gate
Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

China gate
China gate
Many dreams and many hearts
Iseverade?
Like to ours?
Open wide
Some you welcome in
And some are stay outside

Bowl of rice
Bitter tea
Is that all the good it has
To offer me
Well I find
Peace of mind
Though my true love wait
Behind a China gate
Solo (melodi, en vers)
China gate
China gate
Many dreams and many hearts
Iseverade?
Like to ours?
Open wide
Some you welcome in
And some will stay outside
Well I find
Peace of mind

Though my true love wait
Behind a China gate

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado's song China Gate are an evocative commentary on the cultural divide between East and West. The chorus of the song refers to the China Gate, which represents an entryway to a world with many dreams and many hearts. The lyrics then contrast this with the singer's own world, questioning whether their dreams or hearts are any different from theirs. The song is all about the desire to be understood and seen as equals, even across seemingly insurmountable cultural barriers.

The lyrics in the song about "Some you welcome in, and some are stay outside" really highlight the idea that it's not just about a physical gate, but rather a gate that exists between two cultures. The second verse reflects on the experiences of the singer, who seems to be searching for something more meaningful than what they have found in the traditional bowls of rice and bitter tea. Despite this longing, they still manage to find peace of mind, even though their "true love waits behind a China gate". This suggests that the singer has found some level of acceptance of their cultural differences and is willing to wait for that acceptance to be returned.

Line by Line Meaning

China gate
The entrance from a foreign land to China

China gate
The gateway to a mysterious and unknown culture

Many dreams and many hearts
Many people have different dreams and desires when it comes to China

Iseverade?
Do they ever come true?

Like to ours?
Are these dreams similar to our own?

Open wide
The gate is open to all who wish to enter and discover the unknown

Some you welcome in
Some people are embraced by the culture and its people

And some are stay outside
While others are rejected and excluded from the culture

Bowl of rice
A staple food in the Chinese cuisine

Bitter tea
A popular beverage in Chinese culture, but it may not be to everyone's taste

Is that all the good it has
Some may question if the culture and its offerings are really worth discovering and embracing