"We know the three most important words in Russian"
It's cold, but magical — this is how one remembers an impromptu concert in the snow with Russian Gipsy Kings fans. The French band with Gypsy roots appreciates the Russian audience very much and has come to our country again to perform at Igor Butman's Jazz Seasons. In an exclusive interview with Izvestia, band leader Andre Reyes told when the hit Bamboleo became a family member for them, how guitars help resolve conflicts and why the Gipsy Kings want to record a joint track with rockers The Hatters.
"Generation synthesis is the most beautiful thing that can happen in the biography of any artist"
— If you start typing G ipsy Kings in the search engine, it will immediately add the word Bamboleo. This hit appeared almost 40 years ago. And surely your fans are still waiting for her at every concert. Aren't you tired of the popularity of the song? Do you have any concerts where you don't perform it?
— Bamboleo is already a full—fledged member of our family. We will never get tired of it. Every time we sing this song, we feel the joy of our fans and see how their eyes light up. Their energy is a real gift. And with each new concert, it feels more and more. We always include Bamboleo in the concert program because we understand how important it is not only for the audience, but also for ourselves.
— The unique feature of Gypsy Kings is that all the participants are connected by blood. There is an opinion that it can be difficult for relatives to work together. Do you have any conflicts on this ground and how do you resolve them?
— Of course, it is impossible without conflicts. We're all human. Especially temperamental ones. But when we pick up guitars, everything gets better.
— Recently, we have been observing a trend when an older performer, who seemed to have lost relevance for a long time, suddenly flies into tiktok trends and becomes incredibly famous among young people. Yes, you have always been in demand and remain popular, but perhaps you have also encountered something similar? For example, that suddenly a lot more young people started going to Gypsy Kings concerts.
"That's the truth. In today's world, a song can suddenly become viral on the Internet. But the beauty of our music is that it has stood the test for several generations. In recent years, more and more young people have come to our concerts. Some people learn about the Gipsy Kings from social media, and others from their parents, grandparents, and grandparents who once danced to our songs. Such a synthesis of generations is the most exciting and beautiful thing that can happen in the biography of any artist.
"Let's try to combine the energy of rumba and the power of rap"
— Over the years of your career, you have seen how music has changed. What, in your opinion, makes a song important and relevant through the years?
— Music is a living art. Of course, it's changing fast. New styles and genres appear, their combination creates new directions, and so on. Half of the current members of Gipsy Kings are young guys, our children, and our nephews. They're all 30 years old, and most of the songs we play were written by me or my father Jose Reyes. To be honest, we're not worried about trends and new trends in music culture right now. On the contrary, we want to continue bringing reggaeton into the world, because it is timeless.
— You combine many styles in your work: from rumba and flamenco to R'n'B. How do you feel about rap? Is there any desire to experiment in this direction?
— Rap is a very powerful style with a tremendous impact. We are always open to mixing different genres. Flamenco, rumba, pop, and even R'n'B motifs can be heard in our work. It is possible that one day Gypsy Kings will decide to experiment with rap. Music is always about dialogue and freedom. As soon as we have a good opportunity, we will try to combine the energy of rumba and the power of rap.
"The Russians were born with the music of the Gipsy Kings"
— You have performed in Russia many times since the 1990s. Why are you so attracted to our country and our public? And how has Russia changed in these three decades?
— Russia has always held a special place in our hearts. When we first came here in the 1990s, we felt the unique, original energy of the audience. And when people started singing with us with full dedication and passion, it felt like the Russians were born with the music of the Gipsy Kings. Over the years, we have seen how Russia has transformed, how cities have been modernized, but one thing will never change: the souls of people, their strength and love of music. This forces us to return to Russia again and again.
— What do you like about our country?
— We love Russia very much. The people here are wonderful. They are always smiling and happy to communicate with foreigners. Yes, you're a little cold. But we like to perform in Russia. It seems to me that we have a common culture and the peoples are similar. People are funny, they love noisy parties and dancing, and they also love Gipsy Kings music.
— During your long-term career, you have performed in large and famous arenas, as well as in front of royal families. Which concert was the most memorable and why?
— We like to perform anywhere in the world. Every country has its own culture. We love traveling and discovering new places, communicating with audiences from different countries, and watching how our songs bring people together. This is also the main charm of music. And a mission to some extent.
"We really like your romances and opera"
— Can you remember any unusual, funny, vivid incidents from any of your Russian tours?
— We have many wonderful memories of trips to Russia, but now one funny story comes to mind. Once, after a concert in Moscow, we were leaving the venue, and a group of fans with guitars was already waiting on the street! They sang, played, clapped and danced. Of course, we couldn't resist and joined them. It all ended with an impromptu concert in the snow. It was cold, of course, but magical. Therefore, this is the best illustration of the fact that music does not need a stage to connect people.
— Do you know any Russian performers? For example, we have the popular band The Hatters, whose music also has gypsy motifs. Have you thought about any matches or duets with our stars?
Rock band The Hatters
— We have heard a lot about the richness of Russian culture and, of course, we know about The Hatters and other artists who include Gypsy motifs in their work. It would be great to do something together, record a feature or a new arrangement of our hit or theirs. We believe that music is a bridge connecting different cultures. And such a collaboration would be a tribute to our common roots. A gypsy spirit that knows no boundaries!
— You have been to Russia several times. Was it possible to listen to other music? Not just pop performers?
— Yes, we really like your romances and opera. Of course, we don't understand the text, but sometimes intonation and melody speak more eloquently than words.
— Did you manage to learn any Russian words?
— We know the three most important words in Russian: I love you.
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