Gypsy Punk Music
For years, Gypsy and Eastern European music have been neglected by mainstream America. It's a shame, too; it's a style of music that lends irself to relaxing and enjoying yourself very easily. With a roster that reads like an international coalition, Gogol Bordello is launching a new genre called Gypsy Punk, which blends Gypsy sounds with punk rock.
Gogol Bordello was created to dance along to. The music is catchy by virtue of the fact that its energy makes you want to get up and dance, preferably with a strong alcoholic beverage in one hand. It's not catchy in a poppy way; there are no hooks, and Ukrainian vocalist Eugene Hutz flows back and forth between English and his native tongue effortlessly, preventing most of us from singing along with an entire song.
The blending of fiddle, accordion and traditional rock instruments creates a very addictive sound. Essentially, you are moved by the music and its energy, and there's nothing to do but there’s nothing left to do but dance along.
Gypsy Punk Lyrics
The lyrics that are in English are largely autobiographical, describing the life of an immigrant punk in the US. They are also often silly, and the English is often not exact. The opening track, “Sally”, is about exposing the world to their music:
“Immigrant Punks”, which sounds like it could be the band’s theme is the band's of describing the immigrant experience, while still making sure you’re having a good time:
Sally was a fifteen year old girl from Nebraska
Gypsies were passing through her little town
They dropped something on the road, she picked it up
And cultural revolution right away begun!
Despite the living up in USA
I’m still holding up in all my ways
I gotta friends, we gotta band
We still make sound you can’t stand.
Now I am admittedly a sucker for World music/punk rock fusion; Flogging Molly and DeVotchka are also on high rotation on my play list. That being said, none of these bands come close to capturing the raw excitement and energy that is Gogol Bordello.
