Electronic Music Is Kinda Wack : MY GYPSY BLOOD edition

      Photo : Eugene Hutz, Lead Singer of Gogol Bordello, getting his Gypsy Love on

I am half Italian – half Slovakian and most people look at me and see Italiano ! Italiano ! Italiano! While I am fiercely proud of my Napolitano heritage admittedly, it is the Slovakian blood that runs strongest through my veins.  The gypsy is strong on my Slovakian side and I'm not talking about crystal balls and pick pocket tricks and palm readings and this sure as hell isn’t “My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding” brothers and sisters (that is the movies and the tell lies vision) so in the spirit of my last post, in which I responded to an article that labeled my generation Y GYPSYs; or Gen Y Protagonists and Special Yuppies, I figured I would so some splainin’ about what a real gypsy in the modern world is.

I see so many people casually throw around the term gypsy often with no understanding of what a gypsy is. I always have to chuckle and when I speak of this gypsy I do NOT allude to being a yuppie or Gen Y protoganist.  So first, lets talk about what being a gypsy means to me and then we will get to some beautiful Gypsy songs, both new and old, that warm my gypsy blood.

What we have come to accept as normality in this world, is just a quiet state of desperation. 

In my experience, the more you answer ‘Yes’ to these questions the more gypsy you are embracing.

Do you recognize the earth as mother and have reverence for all things on the planet?

Can you make yourself comfortable and at ease in any situation / locale?

Can you melt a frozen persons blood with your gaze?

Can you freeze a hot blooded person with your stare?

Do you (energy, spirit, physical looks) belie your age?

Can you walk into a structured orderly room and always have the potential of throwing it into utter chaos?

Do random people tell you their deepest fears and darkest secrets ?

Do you FEEL more than you THINK? (this is a big one)

Do you drink booze / wine out of the bottle even when there are glasses at your disposal?

DO you party harder at funerals than you do weddings?

Do you not fear death ? (this is not the same as having a death wish)

Are you street smart / worldly (worldly does not = staying in 5 star international hotels)

How is  your laugh >  loud and proud?

Do you recognize life as a circle and not a linear timeline?

Do you have magic ? (You at least recognize you have it – you don’t need to know

how to use it, yet)

Do you have respect for the elders and value family?

Are you stubborn and do you not listen? (although you probably should)

Do you feel connected to a world unseen?

Gypsies think of community and not of self. There is no exaltation of EGO in gypsies.

We think not of the self while acknowledging our great self worth. The gypsy doesn’t need to necessarily be president or CEO but their self worth is just as great. And this isn’t me arguing that it is, we KNOW it is. It is a spirit  of love that lives in REAL gypsy.

A gypsy is never sold anything. There is no propaganda strong enough to make a gypsy confused as to what they feel.

If you are a woman :

Can you smoke a cigar gracefully?

Can you close fisted punch like a man?

You are not a gypsy just because you are an artist.

You are not a gypsy because you have moved a couple of times in your life or take a lot of vacations.

You are not a gypsy because you party and go to music festivals.

You are not a gypsy because you dress boho-chic or hippie-ish.

You are not a gypsy because you are poor and/or don’t have a job.

You are not a gypsy because you drink excessively /do drugs.

You are definitely not even close to a gypsy if you take adderol, Xanax, ambien etc. (Come on now –gypsies aren’t blind even if they can't see)

You are not a gypsy if you eat fake franken-food. 

You may be a free spirit, you may be a wanderer, you might be bohemian or a hippie or a vagabond or an artist or a party animal or an international free lancer…but you aren’t a gypsy.

In my view the following is vital and above all other gypsy traits:

Music runs through your soul and pulse through your veins. You don’t have to necessarily play/sing music but with gypsies, music (when it hits) evokes a rhythm that pulsates through our being. There is no thinking, the music dances inside us and we must participate (whether dance, toe tap, sing, drum, play, howl, paint--- it is irrelevant so long as there is MOVEMENT).  In my humble opinion, this is the strongest trait of the gypsy. Movement -and again, it doesn’t mean running around all over the place – you can create movement sitting absolutely still so long as you know how to use your magic  : )

SO activate your magic brothers and sisters….you all have it….whether you are a gypsy or not is of no real consequence…..activate your magic and love. Move from heart space and activate your inner gypsy. 

To celebrate all the beautiful gypsy people out there, I put together a list of songs that you must listen to if you are a good gypsy and If you aren’t- well, enjoy a compilation of gypsy songs that thickens my blood, that takes me to a warm inviting sanctuary, and makes me move- smiling and crying- feeling and loving stronger.  

First things first because it is just so necessary and gets you in the mood : a clip from the 1975 film “Gypsies are Found Near Heaven” starring Svetlana Toma and performing the famous gypsy tune “Loli Phabay”  or  “the Red Apple” aka “Hop Hop Hop”.  The song is actually sung by the famous Romani artist Rada Volshaninova.***** (UGH) Wordpress wont let me imbed the video bc it is Russian owned so you have to click the link---its WORTH IT)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoywgTyh5tc 

The second selection is from Vladimir Vysotsky, a Russian Jew musician, poet, actor born in 1938 and dead all too early in 1980, some say assassinated. He was a Russian Bob Dylan – a musical poet that weaved social and political commentary  with stomach slapping humor into his soulful ballads. He was both a clown and a preacher.  Although I do not understand the words in his songs, I feel them deeply. A lot of his youtube videos carry the English translation where you can actually see the wit and humor in his lyrics. He was anti-Russian establishment and he nursed the pain he harbored from the regimes brutal policies with alcohol and drugs.  He was considered a threat to the state and for most of his life, was largely ignored, never promoted by the Soviet Establishment. No matter though, his soul, his heart, his work were all too powerful and the people responded with adoration and love.

His work is voluminous and it ALL warms my Gypsy Heart so it was impossible for me to pick just ONE song to post here, so I encourage you to check out more of his work if you dig these two, because it is ALL amazing! : )

The first is a light selection showcasing his humor (the English translation is on the video).  “A Song About Yogis”

The second selection runs deeper, a haunting tune in which Vysotsky’s voice takes the lead and rattles the soul, his genius ever apparent. “It’s the Same Thing After Ten Years”

The next gypsy maestro showcased is Goran Bregovic -  a more modern performer who still tours (albeit rarely the US) with his epic 40 piece orchestra. He was born in the Balkans, of a Serbian mother and Croatian father, and though he has collaborated with all sorts of American pop stars and musicians, I believe his strongest work lies in his roots.  There is no exact “genre” that you can ascribe to his work. This goes for religious/ political opinions as well :

"Yugoslavia is the intersection of so many worlds: Orthodox, Catholic, Muslim," says Bregović. "With music, I don't have to represent anyone except myself -- because I speak the first language of the world, the one everyone understands: music." (wiki – duh)

Again, his playbook is DEEP and I could not take just one song, so we have TWO! ENJOY

The first cut is "Ici Kici" on this youtube clip- LOVE IT.

The second clip combines two beautiful musical cultures- gypsy and reggae

And, well,  although I try to keep to two songs per artist I introduce, it is my blog so I can do what I want – here is a third song and a beautiful live version of “Tale VII” or “Vivo con Fuoco” (which means live with fire – whoa my Italian isn’t thaaaat bad)

Gogol Bordello. The first time I heard “Start Wearing Purple” way back in 2008 I went batshit nuts.  A modern amalgamation of all things gypsy the group made a sound decidedly ‘gypsy punk’ combining my favorite elements of gypsy, punk, reggae, latin rock and electronic dub. IF you haven’t heard “Start Wearing Purple”, I invite you to start there with them – although ALL of their songs rock. I strongly recommend seeing them live, as their frontman, Eugene Hutz, is transformative on stage, like a modern day Russian Jim Morrison.

Santa Marinella is one of my FAVORITE songs, combining Italian and Russian influences. Unfortunately, I could not find a good live version (so much better live) on Youtube, so we are working with the studio version, which is still very strong.

The next group is obvious -The Gipsy Kings - if you have seen the Big Lebowski then you know their radical cover of "Hotel California" ****

***apparently the Eagles, (get out of my cab!) blocked all videos on youtube of the Gipsy Kings performing this song as a measure to protect themselves from copyright infringement. Get the fuck over yourself Eagles, I know it is your one good song, but PSSSSSSSSHHHHHHH (the Gipsy Kings do it better anyway) So this is what you get :

Lastly, to convey that indeed ALL electronic music is not wack, I have a newer artist that while remaining faithful to live instrumentals (including the fact they have live belly dancer while performing live) beautifully incorporate electronics in their music motif - and do a damn good job of it. They have been a can't miss for me on the festival circuit for YEARS - Beats Antique. The first time I saw them live -at Outside Lands 2010, I was immediately entranced by their hypnotizing beats and violin only to get lost in the movement of the belly dancer. This is another group where their whole catalogue is amazing - ENJOY.

Beats Antique's "Beauty Beats"

Well there it is!! I hope these tracks either warmed your gypsy blood or ushered you into a new dimension of good tunes. If you dug this stuff, Devotchka, Balkan Beat Box and a lot more other artists are out there doing their gypsy thing! 

Until next time 

PEACE       LOVE            JOY           and WISDOM to ALL


Rudy

Are You a Delusional PUSSY? The GYPSY Generation

THE GYPSY GENERATION

                                Photo Cred : Verta-Sara Salimy

Recently an article came out in the Huffington Post stating that my generation, Generation Y -those of us born in the late 70’s to the mid 90’s- were self absorbed, delusional and PUSSIES.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/wait-but-why/generation-y-unhappy_b_3930620.html

(Yes the author referred to us as that)

I get it. Our generation is pock marked with unabashed egoists and narcissists, coddled and sheltered by parents, TV, and political correct-ness; there are those that exist with delusion and most of them deserve a wedgie- a few even a punch in the face- however violence never solves anything. The article labels us GYPSYs which stands for Generation Y Protagonists and Special Yuppie’s or those that :

“think they are the main character of a very special story”.

He believes that because we think we are special and part of a very special story that we have become delusional in our expectations, that we don’t want to work, that we don’t want to put in the time. 

I’m talking to YOU fellow GYPSYs.

We are not delusional to want a sustainable beautiful earth, where life is honored and loved and revered.  We want to be happy, to self love and love around us.  We desire to work.

According to the author, The generation that raised us- that one of LOVE-is partly to blame because it was with that pie eyed optimist love coupled with prolonged upward social mobility and economic prosperity that bred this coddled generation of GYPSYs that have too high expectations and live in a constant state of delusion.

Well I agree. I DO think I am pretty special.

Pretty special indeed- Wait, I don’t even think it – I KNOW IT. 

It is an awareness that lives in me.

But

I know it with out any ego or narcissism. I am not self absorbed, I think of others and community, I am not better than ANYTHING…..and I am SPECIAL.

How do I know this? How can I be so sure?

Because you are all special too.

Every last one of you.

Even the egoists and chickenheads whose brains are fried from too many distractions, glued to the shitbox (tv), who feed their delusion with a barrage of humble brag insta-twit-book flood of updates. Guess what?

YOU are special too. (lets just work on the Ego with you)

I had this brilliant Italian Cinema professor at university who would start each class by admonishing the group:

“YOU ARE NOT SPECIAL”

“I DON’T GIVE A FUCK WHAT YOUR PARENTS TOLD YOU”.

“YOU ARE NOT SPECIAL”.

This was over 10 years ago yet I still understood then why he was doing this - it was a preemptive strike against the burdgeoning egotists of my GYPSY generation -  I’d smirk when he did so, because I knew he was talking to me.

 “Im fucking special, whatever dude “ I would laugh back.

I did this from a place of youthful arrogance / ignorance (what’s the difference)  and not from the knowingness I have now.  

Today I look around at the universe, I see humanity, the planet, and everything in between and I understand that we are all connected, we are ALL special. The stones, the trees, the flies, the peasants, the tyrants, the fire -

WE ALL HAVE A BEAUTIFUL PART TO PLAY in this story.

We have been raised by our parents to believe we are special and I believe they….were……right.  From my estimation, society has programmed us – through the standards set by advertising, marketing and modern propaganda- to buy into a definition of special that is SOLD to us. Which begs the question –

What is the difference between reality and what is for sale?   (and understand this question comes from a salesman wolf )

The sold version of Special would require some sort of superlative in social rank based on a myriad of playing factors : wealth, beauty, possessions, power, popularity, mate, luxury.  Then the few that get to those places- that 1-5%- either become deluded into believing that they are special due to some attachment of ego OR they get there and realize that they don’t really feel that special at all, and that in the cruelest of practical jokes, what was for sale has left them feeling empty and cold and unfulfilled.

That’s the joke. That’s the prank.  The mystery that is so easy for many of us to miss is that there is a  (lets call it) ‘medicine’ that lives inside each of us- this being which is entirely unique and special to us. It is always there, but we must look inward to activate it. If you don’t believe that your thoughts / feelings are energy, that your words carry weight, that your actions MOVE things unseen to you,  then I have great compassion for you……. which is a nice way of saying :

I feel sorry for you

–      AND –

I invite you to understand and accept this and explore your own special  brand of magic.

Do you not have the power to give of yourself and make a stranger smile?

Do you not have the ability to brighten someone else’s day (or turn it awful)?

You have magic.

You are special.

Sitting in a state of simulated psychosis watching television, doing mindless work, video games, internet, flipping through pointless magazines that peddle fruitless dreams will not make you happy. Nor will it make you feel very special. (most of us, including me, are guilty of this)

Let’s talk about the next point -  I believe  that the story that I am living in IS a beautiful and unique one.

We are all, each, main characters.  (did I really just have to write that, are we collectively not aware of that?)

And this story, this plot that we live in is EPIC. All the beautiful and ugly things that have come from times past live on and are knowledge and art and beauty that we can learn from and love. Times past are great stories, sure, but all of it – ALL of IT – has culminated into where we are today. I track that statement, ruminate on the scale of history and feel that there is NO QUESTION this is the greatest story yet.

This is the best time to be alive and if you don’t believe that go to the bathroom splash a bunch of cold water on your face, do your best Don Magic Juan and pimp-slap the shit out of yourself and then ask that question again.  

(or)

Plug in, look around internally and externally and track and take stock.

And here we are, a western society (that for better or worse, more or less) doesn’t have to consider seeking shelter / food on a daily basis. We are protected and have needs taken care of. Our story is no longer that of mere survival. We are given the opportunity to play the game and THINK and FEEL (if we choose).   I look around and feel great tension on this earth. Matters of people and planet and economy have become unsustainable and chaotic. We are either going to eat ourselves slowly or innovate and change towards an era of sustainability and enlightenment.

This story is beautiful and I am grateful to be in it.  I cant imagine being in a better one, where the stakes are so high. The opportunity to think and feel and create to sustainable change- this my friends is a beautiful game- and endlessly more amusing and fulfilling than being a peasant or a caveman or a king or a pirate or a vampire.

Am I deluded?

Nah.

--I’m wide awake and making heavy eye contact with the Earth—

It took time to look around, outside of myself and my personal story, and that was all I needed and All its takes. To look around and connect with the story of planet, to understand that

                   YOU ARE SPECIAL.

The author derides the phrase “follow your passion” and I understand that there is a trite bit of wear and tear that follows this somewhat stale quote.

BUT.

YEAH.

FOLLOW YOUR PASSION.

HOWEVER (and this is a really big however)

before you follow anything, it is the utmost importance that you learn to tune in to yourself, and be able to clearly answer what it is you desire, or “what is your passion?”

While not impossible, it has been difficult for my generation to innately tune in and know what drives our desires or even what our truest desires are. We have grown up inundated and plugged into merchandise and sales sales sales. The frequency of our own individual medicine often drowned out and diluted by the constant cat calls of the salesman. Always someone there pushing some dream, and never enough time for us to figure out on our own.

It takes time, thinking, learning, exploring of self to understand, and as a shameless iphone addict, I know how difficult it can be to give that to yourself – outside of what is going on external- Taking the time to be clear internally.

There is no grand adventure one needs to get in line with their desires.

You simply need to quietly just ask yourself and Probe, LIVE. Be aware. Follow one question that might take you to another to another and another before BAM there it is –

 (for now) or (forever)

There are those of my generation who allow television and propaganda to make the decision about their desires for them. Some are complacent, some are controlled, some are ignorant, perhaps even stupid.   

are you ?   do you do that ?    

                                                      (…… just asking, not accusing )

There are those that mindlessly use blind ambition to get that place of store bought desire and get there and then look around and wonder what the hell it was all for.

Ambition is good, it is the fire that exists in each of us. It is the fuel that pushes us further and further.

You feel that fire in you ????

     (Duh)

                 >>>>>>>>  You’re special.

But Blind Ambition?

Is there any fire so dangerous as one that rages blindly and with no real direction?

Nah forget blind anything.  

I like to see,

Eyes forever open feeling that…..

…….. feeling that my generation Y has a desire to see as well. That although our generation has its flaws- riddled with the deluded ego driven who propagate an inflated view of their happiness through image - that the even THEY want to see and that we all have a part to play in this epic story.

WHY?

Because we are fucking special.

That’s why.

*So take time and explore, it could take years but ask and ask and ask yourself your desires.  GIVE THIS TO YOURSELF.  Be open and welcome clarity through vulnerability.

Community, connectedness, and the ability to activate the medicine and awareness inside you, the clarity of your desires (not something you were sold or told) get off your couch (think outside of your work desk) and happiness and activate that magic in you.

Here is another link to the Huff Post article if you missed it

What Goes Around, Comes Around : The Tragedy and Infinite Potential of the Trayvon Martin Case

                                "Ego is a Power Trip"        

Watching the Trayvon Martin / George Zimmerman case as a casual observer:

I am Neutral.

Not judging.

Not engaging in racism.

Not engaging in projection like I actually knew who these two were and what exactly happened.

Knowing that whyEVER this happened

(I cant change it)

My only desire as a neutral observer was that love and good and beauty and EVOLUTION was created through this tragedy. MOVEMENT > (forward). That through this trial of hurt movement towards something better would occur. That justice would be clean and served in a manner I thought justice meant.

The good Dr. Martin Luther King helped me with this one :

“Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice, and justice at its best is power correcting everything that stands against love”.

If we cannot change the past and bring that weary youthful soul back to Earth then what can we do? We cannot change a verdict.

It is sad.

It is a heart-break.

I feel the family and their loss.

And, it is done.

The decision by the jury is now done.

I too feel like there is an injustice today as there are often in America and in the world everyday.

This decision holds a lot of sadness.

It holds heartache.

You feel angry.

You feel violated.

It is the past now.

In no shape or form can I say that this outcome involved any form of justice that Dr King talked about.

Justice is not necessarily George Zimmerman going to jail. If it is power correcting everything that stands against love then we do not divide but unite, and using this power and love correct the system by shifting it to love and better laws and society, that more accurately reflect what it is we want.

Do we really want dead African-American teenagers?

Do we really want a Mexican that looks like a white guy with a German last name patrolling neighborhoods with a loaded weapon as unofficial watchman because he failed in his attempt to feed his power trip with a real police job?

Would you want that dude in your neighborhood with a gun? 

Ah, Helllll no and neither would I. 

Wherever I live, the less people with guns the better. 

Let's change that first.

George Zimmerman will suffer I know. I don’t know if it is in this life or the next, but a child’s life is on his hands. No murderer’s hands go washed of this forever, despite what a jury says. Unfortunately, it was good law, as in :

THE LAWYER USED THE LAW THAT YOU VOTED IN TO HIS CLIENTS BEST DEFENSE.

Pay attention to your laws people.

Pay attention to your leaders.

If there is no leader that suits your needs then become a leader.

If something moves you then be the person to move it, through learning, action, commitment, impeccable positivity and PEACE. 

As a casual observer, I checked in on this occasionally and watched this play out, sides dividing themselves and then drawing lines in the sand and shouting chants to each other. (

(to the hate mongers – if you really need to get a little extra excitement somewhere a model train hobby is an excellent idea – you will feel so much better- seriously : ) - or tennis, I enjoy tennis)

I’ve literally watched this movie before, there’s plenty of them on.

If you haven’t seen them they are ALWAYS on CNN, MSNBC, FOX, the INTERNET and all over the place.

I’m SOOO BORRRRED with these movies though. Every story is pretty much the same and there is ALWAYS the same ending:

Dividing and Fussing and Fighting with defiance on one side and outrage on the other and
-making no sense at all-
 until it dies down and ends and the next movie rolls;

instead of BEING the change they wish to see.

Violence?  Riots in the streets? Sometimes that happens too-

We have all watched that movie before.

It’s the one where the ending leads to more control, more shitty laws, more bullshit. You’ve seen it too. (you are at least aware of it)

I stopped watching all these movies years ago, but I still keep up with the synopsis's. I paid attention to this one because I saw the potential for change in the tragedy. 

I know you are tired. I know you are weary. I know you have watched this movie with me and seen the same ending.

Do you understand that we ALL want the same thing : we don’t want ANYBODY to experience violent death from a bullet in America.

Please. I am begging you, with all my heart, don’t buy into this angry racism crap, we are NOT as DIFFERENT as we THINK.  Lets UNITE and create change, where necessary.

Be the change you desire through positive endeavors. Understand what loving your brother means.

Arm yourself with KNOWLEDGE about something you are passionate about.

Identify your DESIRES and what it is you want to change.

CREATE. Be that change through positive clear and collective means. Support your brothers and sisters and ask for support when you need it.

How difficult is that?

I reread my words and I hear the slew of stories and opposition countering it. I hear all the people who take this case personally equally on both sides. I hear the outrage and the defiance, the defiance and the outrage.

It was ALL of our son who died there that night. If you cannot accept that, then we have a breaking point in communication.

 Trayvon is all our brother.

 George Zimmerman is all our brother.

Love begets Love. Violence just begets violence. War begets war.

I pray with all of my being for people to understand this.

 If you make it a race thing it will be but that whole race thing feels like wool.

 It’s wool being pulled over your eyes.

TO me that wool sounds like

“REMEMBER WHY YOU ARE DIFFERENT, DOESN’T IT MAKE YOU MAD”

The media perpetuates it. Fuck CNN. 

What I invite you to hear is

"REMEMBER YOU ARE HUMAN, WE ARE ALL CONNECTED, DOESN'T IT FEEL GOOD TO FEEL SUPPORT AND BE CHANGE AND TO MAKE CHOICE IN THIS BEAUTIFUL WORLD"

You hear something from a friend or see a snippet on TV and you react and pass judgment, but then it stays. If you don’t really care, you just say: they are different them me. It isn’t my problem. But it is.

The media wants to remind us all why we are different. Male/Female/black/white/Rich/poor etc etc etc etc etc. Please do not fall for that. Drama drives internet traffic and  creates sound bites and video clips and spur talking heads to become Mr. Chatterbox until you think their jaw will become

unhinged.

My prayer is that we come together.

My prayer is for positivity.

My prayer is for a healing through impeccable positivity.

My prayer is for Martin Luther King’s beautiful definition of justice to prevail.

DO I have all the answers?

Of course not. 

But I know what won't work.

What I would offer as advice is

If you get in line with your desires, if you think about what IT is that you want in life, things that you want to see more of-things you want to see grow or change,

then you BE those things.

If you think there is a need, then there probably is. If you think there is a role, then take it

-wherever it is-

                            it is yours.

IF you identify the need and then sit on the couch and watch tv, drink, play on the internet, react, gossip, fuck, sport; NOTHING CHANGES FOR YOU.

If this gets you mad and you march in the streets and chant and let off steam and then that is it : NOTHING CHANGES.

If you are passive/don't care because you are removed from it/above it, understand that you are not removed from it. You are in it with the rest of us.

 

Identify the need and then move forward and create in your role of filling the need.

Change then ensues.

It is that hard and that simple.

And it is your choice.

You can watch the same damn movie, with the same damn ending, or you and only you can change it.

What goes around, comes around.

It is true in every sense of the phrase. If you react with violence, you send violence around to smack you right back upside your head-

Usually harder than you hit first too.

Send love and understanding around this time. Send love and understanding around one time, PLEASE.

Send it around, and then watch it come around to a better place.

I’m dying to see a new film.

Aho.

Enjoy this deep root Bob Marley and the Wailers OG track below "What Goes Around Comes Around"

*George Zimmerman will be judged by a higher court.  (quite literally it isn’t over in the American justice system). Either way the indelible mark of Trayvon’s soul will haunt George for the rest of his life.