Their musical style covers a wide variety of genres, though it is most commonly labeled as Rock en Español. Their music has been heavily influenced by Mexico's indigenous population and folk music traditions, most notable the Jarocho style of the state of Veracruz, but also by punk and electronic music and other bands in the Mexico City scene. Perhaps the most distinctive feature of their music is Albarrán's nasal voice, which, combined with his impressive lung capacity (as demonstrated on "La Ingrata", an homage to norteño music), makes for a very distinctive sound. They sing entirely in Spanish but have a significant Anglophone following regardless.
They have an especially eclectic sound, and it's commonly said that none of their discs is of exactly the same genre. For example, "Maria" is a bolero style ballad, "La Ingrata" is a mix of rock and "norteño" , while "Eres", a hit included in "Cuatro Caminos" album, is mostly pop-rock.
They were founded in 1989, and since then have had the same musical lineup:
* Rubén Isaac Albarrán Ortega aka "Pinche Juan" ("Fuckin Juan"), "Cosme", "Anónimo" (Anonymous), "Nrü" (pronounced "dshyoo", [dʃju] in IPA), "Amparo Tonto Medardo In Lak'ech" (or "At Medardo ILK"), "G3", "Gallo Gasss", "Élfego Buendía", "Sizu Yantra" (which is his solo moniker as well), "Rita Cantalagua", "Ixi Xoo" and many others. (vocals, guitar)
* Emmanuel "Meme" del Real Díaz: (keyboards, acoustic guitar, piano, programming, vocals, melodion)
* José Alfredo "Joselo" Rangel Arroyo: (electric guitar, acoustic guitar, vocals)
* Enrique 'Quique' Rangel Arroyo: (bass guitar, electric upright bass, vocals)
Mexican folk music player Alejandro Flores is considered the 5th tacubo, as he has played the violin in almost every Café Tacuba concert since 1994. Since the Cuatro Caminos World Tour, Luis "El Children" Ledezma has played the drums in every concert but is not considered an official member of the band.
**Previously known as "Alicia Ya No Vive Aquí" (a tribute to Martin Scorsese's Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore), the band took its final name from a coffee shop (el Café de Tacuba) located in downtown Mexico City. The cafe, which opened in 1912 and had its heyday in the 1940s and 1950s, was representative of the Pachuco scene at the time, something the band would later acknowledge as an influence. The Café de Tacuba is still in operation as a coffee shop and restaurant on Tacuba Street, in Mexico City's Historic Center. The band changed its name to Café Tacvba (changing the u for a v) in order to avoid legal issues with the coffee shop.
1989
Mexico City, Mexico
Dos Niños
Café Tacvba Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
eramos as�
hab�a todo un mundo
para descubrir
pero aquella puerta
nunca abierta est�
que traquila es esta
la primera edad
Eramos dos ni�os
eramos as�
hab�a todo un mundo
para descubrir
Eramos dos ni�os
en la pubertad
el cuarto es peque�o
para respirar
nuestro cambia
cada d�a m�s
los mejores juegos
en la oscuridad
Nuestras mentes cambian
cada d�a m�s
los mejores juegos
en la eternidad
Eramos dos ni�os
eramos igual
eramos dos seres
con el mismo plan
mas la puerta se abre
hacia la libertad
las visiones cambian
en la inmensidad
Nuestro cuerpo cambia
cada dia mas
los mejores juegos
en la inmensidad
The song "Dos niños" by Café Tacvba is a nostalgic reflection on childhood and adolescence. The lyrics describe two children who are full of wonder and curiosity, eager to discover the world around them. However, there is a door that remains closed, suggesting that there are limits to their exploration and understanding at such a young age. The first stanza captures the innocence and simplicity of childhood, with a sense of tranquility and security.
As the children enter their teenage years, the second stanza becomes more introspective, hinting at the challenges and uncertainties that come with growing up. The reference to a small room that feels suffocating reflects the sense of confinement and frustration that many teenagers experience. The lyrics suggest that their minds are expanding rapidly, and that their sense of play is becoming more complex and mysterious.
The final stanza brings a sense of resolution and liberation, as the door is finally opened to a vast and infinite world. The two children are now equals, sharing the same aspirations and possibilities. The lyrics convey a sense of hope and optimism, despite the inevitable changes that come with growing up.
Overall, "Dos niños" is a poignant and beautifully crafted reflection on the joys and challenges of childhood and adolescence.
Line by Line Meaning
Eramos dos niños
We were two children
eramos así
we were like that
había todo un mundo
there was a whole world
para descubrir
to discover
pero aquella puerta
but that door
nunca abierta está
will never open
que traquila es esta
how peaceful is youth
la primera edad
the first age
Eramos dos niños
We were two children
en la pubertad
in puberty
el cuarto es pequeño
the room is small
para respirar
to breathe
nuestro cambia
ours changes
cada día más
every day more
los mejores juegos
the best games
en la oscuridad
in the darkness
Nuestras mentes cambian
Our minds change
cada día más
more and more each day
los mejores juegos
the best games
en la eternidad
in eternity
Eramos dos niños
We were two children
eramos igual
we were the same
eramos dos seres
we were two beings
con el mismo plan
with the same plan
mas la puerta se abre
but the door opens
hacia la libertad
towards freedom
las visiones cambian
the visions change
en la inmensidad
in the vastness
Nuestro cuerpo cambia
Our body changes
cada dia mas
more and more each day
los mejores juegos
the best games
en la inmensidad
in the vastness
Contributed by Aubrey A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Wellingta Macêdo
Esta canción es una verdad impresionante...
Eramos dos niños
eramos así
había todo un mundo
para descubrir
pero aquella puerta
nunca abierta está
que traquila es esta
la primera edad
Eramos dos niños
eramos así
había todo un mundo
para descubrir
Eramos dos niños
en la pubertad
el cuarto es pequeño
para respirar
nuestro cambia
cada día más
los mejores juegos
en la oscuridad ...
Eblis Azazel
Esta canción, justo la escuché en 2002, sabía que fue el año del fin de mi infancia y al año siguiente, ya sería un adolescente.
Ahora que la escuchó 20 años después, me da mucha nostalgia y quisiera volver a esa etapa de mi vida. (Donde tenía esperanza en el futuro e inocencia de perseguir mis sueños más locos).
Angel Gonzalez
Mucho tiempo sin escucharla, me llegó al alma.
Jorge Manzo
Mi interpretación:
Me hace recordar esa etapa en la que dejas de ser un niño para convertirte en un hombre, ese momento donde pierdes la inocencia, cuando descubres que una mujer te complementa, conoces tu cuerpo, el de ella, la primera vez, el amor, sexo.
Desde ese día todo cambia :)
Café Tacvba larga vida!
Mayra Lizette Granados Meza
Correcto! Saludos 😊
Un Usuario
"cuando descubres que una mujer te complementa, "
U otro hombre. Hay que ser inclusivos.
Pablo Luna
Inclusivos? El dice lo que le complementa, una mujer.
ElPerpuli
Es el mito de la cueva de Platon
Manuel Arias
Una de las mejores bandas de latinoamérica,
soloNIRVANA
Manuel Arias yo diria del mundo
soloNIRVANA
Manuel Arias yo diria del mundo