Gelem Gelem / Je L'aime Je L'aime
Added 2022-11-18 19:05:03 +0000 UTCHere is another very interesting composition. Gelem Gelem is a famous Gypsy song from the Balkans, often considered the unofficial anthem of all Gypsies. One of the covers by world famous musicians that is worth mentioning is by Vaya Con Dios, an outstanding interpretation released in 2004, with lyrics in French.
This fingerstyle cover is in Dm. It's easy to play and it only has an intro and two parts. In a few places I spiced it up a bit with flamenco rasqueados, but that is optional, it can be replaced with chords which are played as simple quarter notes.
The harmony is placed in D Harmonic Minor, which gives a characteristic oriental sound. The main chords are Dm, A7 and Gm with the addition of Bbmaj7 and to me a very interesting (favorite) short harmonic sequence of Bb7, E7+9 and A7 that gives a real gypsy feel to the song.
