Gogol Bordello

Skippy   Fri May 30, 2008 6:40 am GMT
I don't know if anyone out there is familiar with this band, but they are self described "gypsy-punks" and sound like "The Clash and the Pogues fighting...In Eastern Europe." Their lead singer is originally from Ukraine and traveled throughout Romania, Hungary, and Poland (amongst others). I was wondering, sometimes he sings in languages other than English (in one song, Spanish) but sometimes a Slavic language. I'm assuming its Ukrainian, but maybe not. Any help? (I apologize ahead for any off-color language, I have no idea what any of this means).

From "Ultimate"
Skolko utetchki tepla
Vot takaja vot sudba
Nam segodnja suzdena
A bit mezget chto kogda da-j povezet

From "Wonderlust King"
Ja ne evrei, no koje-chto pohozge
sovrat ne dast ni Yura ni Seryozga!
Simple because I'm not a total gadjo
Da ja shut, ja tziratch, nu tak stozge?

From "Start Wearing Purple"
I ja kljanus obostzav dva paltza
schto muzika poshla ot Zvukov Mu!

These are all from songs where they sing in English, they just like to throw in other languages, I guess to culture their American fan base, which is largely unexposed to Eastern Europe.
Guest   Fri May 30, 2008 7:03 am GMT
It is Russian. Is that the proper lyrics though? Because that looks like really non-standard transliteration.
Guest   Fri May 30, 2008 12:13 pm GMT
Half of Ukraine speaks Russian. I never heard Eugene speak Ukrainian.
The transliteration is not good. You should search the net some more.
"Gadjo" is Romany word meaning "gadgie". There was a therad about that here but I can't find it now...
Guest   Fri May 30, 2008 12:17 pm GMT
>>>Gadgie = Scotland, pejorative) A person who is poorly educated and engages in hooliganism, petty criminality or loutish behaviour<<<
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/gadgie
Skippy   Fri May 30, 2008 4:57 pm GMT
Those are how the lyrics appear on the CDs covers. Is it just poor transliteration or is the actual speech what is weird?
Guest   Sat May 31, 2008 10:59 am GMT
Guest   Sat May 31, 2008 11:07 am GMT
Skippy   Sat May 31, 2008 3:46 pm GMT
Thanks Guest!