After 2 albums of underground transgressive rock, the band started mixing it with Latin American rhythms such a cumbia, chacarera, candombe and cuartetazo. The lyrics, though, remained acid and critical of political and social problems.
The current line-up is: Gustavo Cordera (voice), Juan Subirá (keyboards and voice), Carlos Martín (drums), Oscar Righi (guitar), "Pepe" Céspedes (bass guitar and voice), Daniel Suárez (voice), Alberto Verenzuela (guitar), and "Cóndor" Sbarbatti (voice and charango); previous members include Charly Bianco (guitar and voice) and Rubén Sadrinas (voice).
Honoring the psychiatric hospital José Tiburcio Borda in Buenos Aires, La Bersuit performs dressed in characteristic pajamas; even though the story of Cordera spending some time in that institution is a mere urban legend, the band has an affinity with everything related to madness and marginalization.
Besides the big success, first in the Buenos Aires' underground movement and then in all the country, Bersuit Vergarabat harvested fans from many countries in South America as well as in Spain.
Discography
* 1992 - Y Punto
* 1993 - Asquerosa Alegría
* 1996 - Don Leopardo
* 1998 - Libertinaje
* 2000 - Hijos del Culo
* 2002 - De la Cabeza (live)
* 2004 - La Argentinidad al Palo: Se Es, Lo Que Se Es (double)
* 2005 - Testosterona
* 2007 - Enano Ningueto
A Los Tambores
Bersuit Vergarabat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Retumba)
Baila la hinchada enroscada en su furia tribal
¿Cuántos días van?
¿Cuántos años van?
¿Cuántos hijos van?
Y la gente
Viven cantando consignas que antes valían
Ya no, ya no valen más
¿Qué no?
Valen, valen, valen mucho más, mas, mas
Caras desfiguradas
Solo se ven por acá.
Por el delirio que crece
Se nos viene el carnaval
Yo no quiero que termine
El agite de vivir
Siempre subido a este viaje
Piedra libre para mi
Yo soy así
Y me hago cargo
Nada ni nadie
Me puede cambiar
Yo soy así
Y me hago cargo
Nada ni nadie
Me puede cambiar
A los tambores
(Ey)
A los tambores
(Ey)
A los tambores
(Ey)
A los tambores
(Ey)
The lyrics to Bersuit Vergarabat's song, A Los Tambores, are about the power of tribal drums, the energy of crowds and the transcendence of certain experiences. The opening lines talk about how the blood is pounding on the drum skin, and how the crowd dances with a fervor that is almost tribal. The questions that follow - "how many days, how many years, how many children?" - suggest that this experience has been going on for a long time, and that it has become an important part of who these people are.
The song goes on to describe the faces of those who are caught up in the excitement of this carnival-like atmosphere, their features twisted into masks of delirium. The singer expresses a desire for this moment to last, to remain on this journey that is marked by an unceasing energy. The repetition of the lines "I am like this, and I take charge, no one can change me" reinforces the idea that this experience has a transformative quality to it, and that those who participate in it are changed in some fundamental way.
The repeated refrain of "a los tambores" is a call to action, a command to keep beating on the drums and keep dancing, to keep the energy and momentum going. Overall, the song is an ode to the transcendent power of music and dance, and the way that these experiences can transform and transport us to another realm.
Line by Line Meaning
Sobre el pellejo del bombo la sangre retumba (Retumba)
The sound of the drum skin resonates with the beating of blood. (Resonates).
Baila la hinchada enroscada en su furia tribal
The crowd dances, twisted in their tribal rage. (Dances).
¿Cuántos días van?
How many days have passed? (Asking for time).
¿Cuántos años van?
How many years have passed? (Asking for time).
¿Cuántos hijos van?
How many children have been born? (Asking for generations).
Y la gente Que sigue soñando las cosas que otros creían Viven cantando consignas que antes valían Ya no, ya no valen más ¿Qué no? Valen, valen, valen mucho más, mas, mas
And the people who continue to dream the dreams that others believed Sing slogans that used to matter, now they don't anymore What? They do matter, matter so much more, more, more. (Reflecting on changing values and beliefs).
Caras desfiguradas Solo se ven por acá. Por el delirio que crece Se nos viene el carnaval
Disfigured faces, seen only here. By the growing delirium, the carnival is coming our way. (Describing anticipation of celebration and release).
Yo no quiero que termine El agite de vivir Siempre subido a este viaje Piedra libre para mi
I don't want the excitement of living to end, always riding on this trip, free as a bird. (Expressing a desire for freedom and adventure).
Yo soy así Y me hago cargo Nada ni nadie Me puede cambiar
I'm like this and I take responsibility, nothing and no one can change me. (Affirming a sense of self).
A los tambores (Ey) A los tambores (Ey) A los tambores (Ey) A los tambores (Ey)
To the drums (Hey) To the drums (Hey) To the drums (Hey) To the drums (Hey). (Emphasizing the importance of the rhythm and celebration).
Lyrics © SADAIC LATIN COPYRIGHTS, INC.
Written by: CARLOS ENRIQUE MARTIN, GUSTAVO EDUARDO CORDERA, JUAN CARLOS SUBIRA, OSCAR RIGHI, RENE ISEL CESPEDES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind