Aterciopelados, whose name translates as "The Velvety Ones," was formed by former members of Delia Y Los Aminoacidos -- Andrea Echeverri, who plays acoustic guitar and sings lead, and Héctor Buitrago, who plays bass guitar. The original drummer Andres Giraldo* was replaced by Alejandro Duque in 1995 and the original guitar player Charlie Marquez was replaced by Alejandro Gomez Caceras in 1997. Also, lead singer Andrea Echeverri was chosen by Gustavo Cerati to sing "En la Ciudad de la Furia" for Soda Stereo's MTV Unplugged album.
Andrés Giraldo was also part of the Bogotá based band Bloque de Busqueda, known for their mix of artisan / folkloric music with a modern twist full of prominent beats.
Echeverri came out with a self-titled solo album in 2004, "Aemeo" is the lead song in this album.
The band recieved Grammy award nominations in 1997 and 1998.
In October of 2006 they released the album Oye, just a couple of months after Héctor Buitrago came out with his Conhector first solo album.
Caribe Atómico
Aterciopelados Lyrics
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No hay veleros ni hombres rana, bañistas ni marineros
Caribe atómico
No te bañes en sus aguas tiene espumas sospechosas
Solo nada el pez plutonio entre olas de acero y plata
Mayday mayday
Guardacostas advierten no hacerse a la mar
Mayday mayday
Puedes pescarte un virus tropical
Soplan vientos pestilentes sobre su arena caliente
El mar brilla radiactivo, es un caldo de cultivo
Caribe atómico
Del lugar paradisíaco de romance y aventura
Solo queda un mar muerto vertedero de basura
Caribe atómico
Mayday mayday
Guardacostas advierten no hacerse a la mar
Mayday mayday
Puedes pescarte un virus tropical
Mayday mayday
The lyrics to Aterciopelados' "Caribe Atómico" tell of the danger and destruction of the Caribbean sea due to human pollution and nuclear experimentation. The first verse warns against going to the beach due to the strange state of the ocean. The absence of sailboats, divers, and sailors paints a picture of a sea that is no longer safe or navigable. The chorus, with the repeated line "Caribe atómico," emphasizes the nuclear aspect of the destruction, indicating that the contamination is so extreme that even the fish in the water are radioactive.
The second verse is even more explicit in its warning, saying not to bathe in the water due to the suspicious foam and plutonium fish. The line "solo nada el pez plutonio entre olas de acero y plata" is a powerful image of a sea that has become unnatural, filled with metal and toxic substances. The chorus is repeated, and then the final verse laments the loss of a once-idyllic location. The Caribbean was once a paradise of romance and adventure, but now it is a "vertedero de basura" or landfill. The final chorus repeats the Mayday warning, indicating that the situation is urgent and dire.
Line by Line Meaning
No te vayas a la playa que el caribe está muy raro
Don't go to the beach, the Caribbean is strange and abnormal.
No hay veleros ni hombres rana, bañistas ni marineros
There are no sailors, divers, swimmers, or seafarers.
Caribe atómico
Atomic Caribbean.
No te bañes en sus aguas tiene espumas sospechosas
Don't bathe in its waters, it has suspicious foams.
Solo nada el pez plutonio entre olas de acero y plata
Only the plutonium fish swims amid waves of steel and silver.
Mayday mayday
Urgent distress signal used in radio communications.
Guardacostas advierten no hacerse a la mar
Coastguards warn not to venture out to the sea.
Puedes pescarte un virus tropical
You can fish for a tropical virus.
Soplan vientos pestilentes sobre su arena caliente
Stinking winds blow over its hot sand.
El mar brilla radiactivo, es un caldo de cultivo
The sea glows radioactive, it's a breeding ground.
Del lugar paradisíaco de romance y aventura
From the paradise of romance and adventure.
Solo queda un mar muerto vertedero de basura
Only a dead sea landfill remains.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANDREA ECHEVERRI, HECTOR BUITRAGO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind