Prague Twin

Thursday, March 08, 2007

Gypsy.cz

Now for something completely different...

You can see a higher quality version of the below video, and listen to the whole album if you want at Gypsy.cz.



If you like hip hop and Gypsy music, this may be the first group to combine the two. I saw them in concert last night in a great venue in the center of Prague. Great fun. It was the band leader's mother's birthday (47) and he gave her a cake on stage.

There is quite a bit of animosity between Czechs and the Romany population. Here in Prague, some of those problems are being broken down. Last night was such an occurance with Czechs, foreigners, and Romanies all having a good time without any problems.

The night lifted my mood and hopefully broke my silence. Having said that, I travel to the U.S. on Saturday, so there may be a bit of a pause coming up for me.

Belly of the beast, here I come!

posted by Praguetwin at 2:44 PM

10 Comments:

  • All I can say is--brilliant. What a great combination of styles and a well produced video. It is good to hear the bad relations between Czechs and Romanies may be melting. Have a safe trip to U.S. You may feel the mood changing here, too. Slowly, but surely, we are waking up to the mess our frat boy in chief has made for us.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:19 PM  

  • How often do you get back to the States?

    By Blogger Frederick, at 9:34 PM  

  • Thanks for the exposure to this sort of music. I think, however, I'll stick to Spanish Gypsy music. There aren't many Gypsys in Eastern Europe, are there? I seem to remember they were the second most killed in camps in WWII, a very distant second to the Jews.
    Safe trip.

    By Blogger Roger Fraley, at 1:35 AM  

  • Misha,

    Welcome. Glad you enjoyed it. I"m looking forward to seeing the "new" U.S.

    Frederick,

    I try to get back once a year. This time it has been 18 months.

    By Blogger Praguetwin, at 3:19 AM  

  • Roger,

    No one really knows how many Romanies were exterminated during WWII, but estimates are that between 70 and 80 percent were killed. They had no representation at the war crime trials, no have they been compensated in any way, despite being the only other group targeted for genocide by the Nazis.

    There are an estimated 300,000 (or 3%) in the Czech republic, but it is hard to determine since only 11,000 are listed as Romany in the official records.

    Slovakia has a higher percentage.

    By Blogger Praguetwin, at 3:33 AM  

  • I have never liked hiphop..blues are my poison, but I LOVE THIS!

    thanks Michael :)

    By Blogger Unknown, at 4:38 AM  

  • You are very welcome. Spread the word.

    By Blogger Praguetwin, at 8:21 AM  

  • Interesting mix.

    I read a book several years ago called "Bury Me Standing" about the plight of Gypsies in modern-day Eastern Europe. Romania seemed to be the worst offender, but there seemed to be a lot of hatred in Slovakia and the Czech Republic also. The book wasn't very complimentary to Gypsies either; they're certainly not blameless. The hatred seems to be mutual.

    I'm glad that at least for this concert, the warring factions could get together.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11:54 PM  

  • Everything you said is true Tom. There is a lot of hatred here in CZ, but it isn't like it comes from nowhere. Having said that, people are starting to learn that just because someone is a Gypsy it doesn't automatically mean they are a criminal.

    By Blogger Praguetwin, at 4:02 PM  

  • I like Gypsy music and found out that in many clubs in Prague you can hear it.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 4:14 PM  

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