Shakira, Gogol Bordello, D.J. Shantal and the history of the Gypsy song

Gypsies seem to care less about their past history then the present history and their songs. They survived throughout the centuries as a nation and they will do so in the future as well. Their sense of belonging to the community is not only strong but it is the most important value that makes a true Gypsy to be what he or she is. They wear their costumes as a symbol of their Romanipen (Gypsyness) and they sing their songs about how they feel and that keeps them together as a community.

The traditional costume for Gypsy women includes several layers of colorful skirts and patterned shirts. The traditional hairstyle is braided with beads and gold or silver coins woven into them.
Modern Gypsy girls are wearing the latest fashion items always chosen for their striking appearance and colors. Their clothes always look a bit like costumes and it suits them well

Russian Gypsy music is one of the most melodic Gypsy music Great artists, composers, writers, poets, in the past as well in the present got inspired by the tunes of the Russian Gyspy songs. Russian singers, whether of Gypsy origin or not, include most of the times Gypsy songs in their repertoire.
Instrumental artists show their virtuosity by playing Gypsy songs and always amaze a grateful public.

Whenever they shortly stopped near a community or other, people accepted their presence knowing that they will go further after a while, so everybody just enjoyed the adventure to have them informal neighbors for a little time: the Gypsy men traded horses, made gold and silver jewelries or brass pots and sold them to the locals. Gypsy women were telling the fortunes to the local ladies and maidens, gave traditional medicines for real or imaginary illnesses or cast small spells for those who had a bone to pick with some relative.
When the caravan disappeared one day, not few from the community missed their songs and the short period of excitement that the Gypsies used to bring with themselves.

I am posting some old Gypsy songs from Hungary, well known and loved by Hungarians and also some new Gypsy songs for party times.At the end, a beautiful sad Gypsy song of sorrow, as Gypsies have their sad stories too, as any of us has.

Whenever the Gypsy travelers shortly stopped near a community or other, people accepted their presence knowing that they will go further after a while, so everybody just enjoyed the adventure to have them informal neighbors for a little time: the Gypsy men traded horses, made gold and silver jewelries or brass pots and sold them to the locals. Gypsy women were telling the fortunes to the local ladies and maidens, gave traditional medicines for real or imaginary illnesses or cast small spells for those who had a bone to pick with some relative.
When the caravan disappeared one day, not few from the community missed their songs and the short period of excitement that the Gypsies used to bring with themselves.

It is unclear how Gypsies are organized nowadays, across borders and legislations. The community keeps together, all speak the same language, although in dialects. I wish the Gypsies would protect and preserve what's so beautiful about their music and nature. I believe they will do, knowing the passion and pride the Gypsies consider themselves part of one great nation. They deserve to, for their love of freedom.

It is unfortunate that the Gypsy culture is undergoing a severe misrepresentation. The music industry, always in need of new and exotic trends, discovered the Gypsy potential. Hopefully they will go further with the trend and bring forward more of the hidden treasures of the genuine Gypsy music and the beautiful Gypsy songs. The Gitanos are an important branch of the Gypsy music -- Gitanos singing made the delight of the world long before Shakira

In French the name for Gypsies is Gitan for the Gypsy male and Gitane for the Gypsy female. The French also gave the name Gitanes for a blend/brand of cigarettes -- very popular at the stage when people used to smoke a lot. Nowadays, with all the campaign for the cigarettes being harmful for health, less people smoke cigarettes -- and they try to find blends that are milder. The Gitanes are very strong -- quite smelly -- but a good tobacco, a real delight for the real smoker. For some reason, the French Gypsies did not get their music that much in the public awareness, as other Gypsies did in the Eastern regions of Europe.

The Turkish Gypsies have been recently recognized as a minority by the Turkish authorities. They are part of the melting pot of cultures in a space where so many roads crossed throughout history. Gypsies appeared in Constantinople before 1000 AD.

Last but not least, the music where it all started. Gypsy songs from India, from which all the others originated. They are the living proof of where Gypsies from all over the world can trace their commom ancestors. India is the place where the Gypsy songs have been born.