Customer Reviews

Allegria

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I must admit that I am a novice to so-called "world music", where you often find the brilliant tunes of the Gipsy Kings classified. However, I picked up a copy of this disc at the public library on a whim and immediately purchased it at my local store along with several other of the band's recordings.

This is an live album essentially, and captures much of the passion and fun that a studio cannot adequately convey. The shouts of joy and talking between songs makes the recording feel more real and organic and gives the true air of musicians jamming and enjoying themselves immensely.

As a novice guitar player, the sounds these folks create with a few guitars and their voices is inspiring. The fact that it makes my daughter dance with joy every time I play it makes it a keeper for the heavy rotation shelf.

This is a stupendous album, not one dull song. If you like six or more rythmic guitars highlighted by; extraordinarily talent on lead (classical-style) guitar and powerful, passionate, spanish singing with raw, honest, energy and rythmn. You can't go wrong. This is honest, emotional music without modern-day fluff. They're just several men, their guitars, voices, hands and feet. Outstanding power; listen closely and loudly, you will not be dissapointed.

This was the first Gypsy Kings CD I had heard, and I bought it as soon as I could. The music is inspiring, fun, melodic and bears repeated listenings well. You can't sit still while this music is playing! It makes you want to dance!

I attended the GK concert in LA last weekend and was a bit disappointed....mainly because of the presence of unexpected instruments like regular drums, keyboard, electric bass guitar, etc. The past few concerts I had been to were ALL ACOUSTIC GUITAR and VOCALS, which is what I love about the GK. So I came to Amazon and bought this CD on a whim, hoping it would remind me what the GK are all about. This is a refreshing reminder. What an amazing display of acoustic guitar and vocals. I love this CD and haven't stopped listening to it since it arrived.

Hailing originally from Arles and Montpellier, France, the Gipsy Kings bring the music of their parents, who fled Spain and settled in France, during the Spanish Civil War. They are referred to as Cale (Gitano) musicians and are best known for playing Rumba Catalana (a kind of Rumba Flamenca). This beautiful debut album (originally released in 1982) showcases them at their brightest. The guitar work is stunning. I would says the best songs include "Djobi, Djoba," "Papa, No Pega Mama," and "Princessia." The Spanish lyrics are great, but I don't want to give it away! Though, I am not fluent, I got the gist of the romance and intensity they convey here. You definitely don't need to speak Spanish to enjoy the music! I guarantee you'll get lost in the beauty and brilliance of their instrumental intros and haunting vocals. It's as if they are sitting right under your window, in the moonlit evening, serenading you.

The Gypsy Kings are one of my favorite bands and "Allegria" is my favorite of their CDs. Even though I don't understand most of the Spanish lyrics, the emotion comes through. The music is fun, sexy and passionate. It makes me feel like dancing, even if I'm just singing along while I clean the house.

This early Gipsy Kings album is all acoustic. Nothing but guitars, vocals, handclapping and superb performances here.

The stripped-down format shows off their brilliant fusion of flamenco and western pop music without the clutter of electronic instruments that can make their music a bit cheesy at times. Excellent album.

This album is just incredible. One of my desert island favorites after owning it for 12 years.

Great GK album in keeping with all their other CDs. The songs sound like they are performed before an audience, with people shouting things like "Ole!" and so on in the background. So on the one hand it's not quite as clean and sterile as a typical studio recording, but at the same time the live feel adds a festive and energetic quality that's pretty refreshing if you like some atmosphere to accompany your music. As far as I can tell the recording is solid, the background noises usually fade after the songs get going.

This GK Cd captures the essence of their music. It is one of the greatest cd's every put together. From begining to end, an amazing display of music.