Music of the World

Dubai - Andre Reyes of the iconic Gipsy Kings spoke to City Times on the universal quality of their music

Their music is indelibly linked to some part of your life. Whether you know it or not. The Gipsy Kings have crossed borders, cultures and two decades now where their music has managed to transcend language and gain a global cross generational audience. It's fast, it's catchy, the vocals are emotive and full of authentic story telling. Does it matter that most of us don't know what they are saying? No.
When meeting Andre Reyes, one of the vocalists and guitarists from the gypsy band, who was in Dubai recently to perform at Pyramids Rooftop Gardens in Wafi, it's easy to see why their music has been so popular.
He walked in tapping his hand on his thigh and humming to himself. Even over dinner, we were told by the general manager of Pyramids restaurants at Wafi, Mariano Andres, that the founding member of the iconic band couldn't help but tap his hands continuously on the table when he heard music.
The band of gypsy brothers and cousins who started making music together in the 70s have music in their blood. It's as simple as that.
City Times sat with Andre a day before his performance to talk to him about the music he created with his family in Arles, France among Roman ruins and gypsy culture which eventually found itself in all corner of the world.

You are a  . . .
I don't describe myself as only one thing because me and my brothers - we write, we sing, we compose, we do a bit of everything, all of us.
On working with family
The great thing is that we are all together. We compose together and sing together. There are no negative things working together.we have a strong relationship, we are all very family orientated. We are many cousins, many nephews, and we all practice together, sing together.
Universal Sound
At the time we created the Gipsy Kings, there was nothing similar to that particular type of music. There is a mix of different kinds of music in our sound. The success of the group happened because at the time, the rhythm of this music didn't exist anywhere else in the world. It's very easy to dance to, to enjoy the rhythm, it's a fast beat.
The Power of Music
Music can change the way people think and also unite other people. There are many people that when they are sad they listen to our music and they become better. Also we play in front of people sometimes who are really sick and these people were crying but are happy at the same time. Yes, music can change the world and can change the way you are feeling.
Musical Influences
I like many types of music. When I was a kid I liked the Cuban, Latin rhythms but I also liked Frank Sinatra, Barry White, Celine Dion, Michael Jackson. There are so many different types of music and we take all the different themes and then we compose and think and create.
Fame . . .
. . . hasn't affected us at all. Our wives understand. We are always travelling around the world but this is the way the gypsies actually live. We grew up with this mentality. We are family orientated and they accept their husbands' jobs.  Gypsy families are very, very strong families so when we travel and need to do concerts all over the world, even sometimes we'll be gone two or three months outside our home, but still our families are there and we communicate and keep strong ties.
The Audience
There is not much changes with the public here or with another country because what we can feel is that when the people are happy, when we are on the stage and everyone is singing and dancing to our songs, the audience can feel it.
Solo Album
I released a solo album. It was recorded before but never released so I released it online and it will be in the market very soon. The name of the album is Andre Reyes: I was born Gypsy. It's my first solo album, you can find it on Amazon.
 

Gipsy Kings Facts:
The Gipsy Kings were initially called Los Reyes and only became the Gypsy kings when brothers Nicolas and Andre Reyes, teamed up with their cousins Jacques, Maurice, and Tonino Baliardo.

Their debut album, Allegria was released in 1982 but it was their third album in 1988, Gipsy Kings that hit mainstream culture with a bang. They have almost 21 albums to date with another one out this year.

Over the last 25 years The Gipsy Kings have remained relevant in pop culture. Their rendition of Hotel California was included in the film The Big Lebowski and on the HBO series Entourage. The 2010 film Toy Story 3 featured a Gipsy Kings version of the popular, Randy Newman-penned theme, You've Got a Friend in Me.

The Reyes' father, Jose Reyes, was a renowned Flamenco vocalist, gaining the admiration of iconic cultural figures as John Steinbeck, Charlie Chaplin, Pablo Picasso, Miles Davis and Salvador Dali.