Raf
“You’re looking at my sister’s butt, now I’m gonna kill you cousin!”
- Gypsian family portrait.
Gypsies lives in between superstition and myth, as in the twilight zone. Jimmi Hendrix, Santana and Deep Purple, were influenced by gypsy culture, by mention a few.
The post’s title came from my friend Eskani, who was there when that little dicussion about somebody’s sister’s butt turned into a knifes argument. Violence is not my style, but music is my life. By that time, I buyed this curious album: Karmen (with a happy ending), composed, arranged & produced by Goran Bregovi?.
“He is undoubtedly the key figure of the Balkan cultural tapestry.” said Camille Neveux, and I don’t know what the heck he means, but sounds like it’s the real deal.
Goran Bregovic, who added to his fame with the Emir Kusturica film “Times of the Gypsies” (1989), was not satisfied with the tragic ending, believing Gypsies prefer the happily-ever-after conclusions. ”The Gypsies don’t have operas. Bizet composed for the first time a piece dedicated to the gypsies. I decided to change it, and to finish with a happy ending. Because all the stories about Gypsies are sad and tragic. So, for the first time, the Gypsies have their opera, which must end with a wedding. It’s a small piece people can play at parties or weddings… I don’t have the intention to become opera composer!”
So I discovered this peculiar album that isn’t sad or violent but joyful. Althought is a little hard-listening, it has a spirit of its own, an energic happy feeling, and brilliant arrangments.
My favourite tracks are:
3. Savatone
4. Mashala Mashala
7. Stop
8. Ne Siam Kurve Tuke Sijam Prostitutke
11. Focu Di Raggia <- THIS IS SO COOL!
By the way, with ‘a little hard listening’ I mean that it’s a folkloric album, with drums and brass sections, but also has this beautiful accordion and sentimental lyrics; so hate me or love me, I don’t care. . . ’cause I love you, guys.
July 15, 2008
Hey buddy, I still listen to this CD it is trully a jewel…