- Brazilian band Cabaret hails from Rio de Janeiro, formed after the demise of a previous underground hit called Glamourama. Their sound is heavily influenced by glam rock, also incorporating some Brazilian rock elements. Currently (as of February 2007) the band is comprised of Marvel (vocals), Myself Deluxe (bass), Peter Glitter (guitar) and De la Foca (drums).
Cabaret has somewhat of a cult status after their first album, "Cabaret", received a wide span of good reviews from both the alternative and mainstream Brazilian music press. The band is also known for their theatrical live performances, often gaining new fans after energetic performances, specially of underground hits "Messias Pessoal", "Dama da Noite" and "Cadáver no Palco". The band's website is http://www.radiocabaret.com.br .
- The Polish Cabaret was formed in 1997 by two friends: Jarosław Pawlik and Mariusz Radecki. But it is the year 2000, when a new musician - Michał ‘IA’ Bieniek (ex-Noise Gate) - joins CABARET, that can actually be considered the initial date of the band’s conscious artistic activity. It is also then that the band first starts achieving minor triumphs.
http://www.cabaret.net.pl
http://www.myspace.com/cabaretband
So What
Cabaret Lyrics
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You say fifty marks. I say one hundred marks, a
[spoken in rhythm]
Difference of fifty marks-
Why should that stand in our way?
As long as the room gets let,
The fifty that I will get
Is fifty more that I had yesterday,
When you're as old as I..
Is anyone as old as I?-
What difference does it make?
An offer comes, you take.
[sings]
For the sun will rise
And the moon will set
And learn how to settle
For what you get.
It will all go on if we're here or not
So who cares? So what?
So who cares? So what?
When I was a girl,
My summers were spent by the sea.
So what?
And I had a maid
Doing all of the house-work, not me.
So what?
Now I scrub all the floors
And I wash down the walls
And I empty the chamber pot.
If it ended that way,
Then it ended that way,
And I shrug and I say:
So what?
For the sun will rise
And the moon will set
And learn how to settle
For what you get.
It will all go on if we're here or not
So who cares? So what?
So who cares? So what?
When I had a man,
My figure was dumpy and fat.
So what?
Through all of our years
He was so disappointed in that.
So what?
Now I have what he missed
And my figure is trim,
But he lies in a churchyard plot
If it wasn't to be
That he ever would see
The uncorseted me,
So what?
For the sun will rise
And the moon will set
And learn how to settle
For what you get.
It will all go on if we're here or not
So who cares? So what?
So who cares? So what?
So once I was rich
And now all my fortune is gone,
So what?
And love disappeared
And only the memory lives on,
And so what?
If I've lived through all that
(And I've lived through all that)
Fifty marks doesn't mean a lot.
If I like that you're here
(And I like that you're here)
Happy New Year, my dear,
So what?
For the sun will rise
And the moon will set
And learn how to settle
For what you get.
It will all go on if we're here or not
So who cares? So what?
So who cares? So what?
It all goes on.
So who cares? Who cares?
Who cares? So what?
The song “So What” from the musical Cabaret is sung by Fraulein Schneider, an old landlady who has faced a lot of hardships in her life but has learned to accept them with a casual “So What?” attitude. The beginning verse of the song refers to a negotiation with a tenant over a room rent, but Fraulein’s response to the disagreement is that it doesn’t matter as long as the room gets let, and she’ll take what she can get. The second verse details Fraulein’s past - she remembers spending her summers by the sea, having a maid to do all her house-work, and having a man whose disappointment in her appearance made her feel bad about herself. However, she accepts those memories as a part of her life with a simple “So what?” and moves forward.
The recurring phrase “So what?” is not a callous disregard for the events in her life, but a thoughtful acceptance of them. She recognizes that life goes on, with or without her, and she might as well make the best out of whatever it throws her way. The song’s message is one of resilience and acceptance, urging people to move on and focus on the bigger picture. The musical Cabaret is set in the 1930s in Berlin, a period of political upheaval and societal change, so this song’s lyrics can be interpreted in that context as well, with the increasingly dangerous political situation making Fraulein’s troubles seem relatively insignificant.
Line by Line Meaning
You say fifty marks. I say one hundred marks, a Difference of fifty marks- Why should that stand in our way? As long as the room gets let, The fifty that I will get Is fifty more that I had yesterday, Ja?
Fraulein Schneider is willing to compromise on price because getting something is better than getting nothing. Even if she earns less than what she hoped for, she still makes progress financially.
When you're as old as I.. Is anyone as old as I?- What difference does it make? An offer comes, you take.
Age is insignificant, and when an opportunity arises, it should be embraced regardless of age or time.
For the sun will rise And the moon will set And learn how to settle For what you get. It will all go on if we're here or not So who cares? So what? So who cares? So what?
Life goes on regardless, so why worry or complain?
When I was a girl, My summers were spent by the sea. So what? And I had a maid Doing all of the house-work, not me. So what? Now I scrub all the floors And I wash down the walls And I empty the chamber pot. If it ended that way, Then it ended that way, And I shrug and I say: So what?
Fraulein Schneider's life experiences have been a mixed bag, with some pleasant memories and some not so pleasant. Regardless, she accepts how her life has turned out as she faces the challenges that come her way.
When I had a man, My figure was dumpy and fat. So what? Through all of our years He was so disappointed in that. So what? Now I have what he missed And my figure is trim, But he lies in a churchyard plot If it wasn't to be That he ever would see The uncorseted me, So what?
Fraulein Schneider's body shape was a source of tension in a previous relationship, but since then, she has gained self-confidence and embraced her body. Even though her partner died before he could see the new her, she is still content with her decision and doesn't regret it.
So once I was rich And now all my fortune is gone, So what? And love disappeared And only the memory lives on, And so what? If I've lived through all that, Fifty marks doesn't mean a lot. If I like that you're here Happy New Year, my dear, So what?
Fraulein Schneider has seen both highs and lows financially and in love, but she acknowledges that these events have shaped who she is today. As a result, she doesn't place much emphasis on monetary value, recognizing that being content with someone you care about is more important in life than wealth.
It all goes on. So who cares? Who cares? Who cares? So what?
Despite life's ups and downs, it continues to move forward. Although this is a harsh reality, Fraulein Schneider's attitude is one of resilience and optimism in the face of adversity.
Contributed by Sophia C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.