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
Metamorfosis
Café Tacvba Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
nunca no nunca parecio irreal
sin ninguna cara artificial
no ninguna cara artificial
Cuando la conoci era alguien sin igual
nunca no nunca parecio irreal
sin ninguna cara artificial
Y fue simple y clara
como el agua al brotar
con su cabello siempre
en forma natural
nunca se intereso
por ningun comentario de la sociedad
No preguntes por que
me encanto tanto su ser
era la clase de mujer
que esperaba conocer
no causo ningun problema
por su sencillo proceder
pero cambio
Despues encontre a este ser
con una clase en su piel
(preocupada por la moda
y atrapada dentro de si)
Cambio yendo a la disco
sintiendose snob
criticando el momento
su intelecto cambio
viendo a todos fuera y bajo
de su circulo social
Cambio sintiendose estrella
del rock n' roll
haciendo todo lo
que un dia critico
viendo a todos fuera y bajo
de su circulo social
Cambio llendo a la disco
sintiendose snob
criticando el momento
su intelecto cambio
viendo a todos fuera y bajo
de su circulo social
y no lo pude resistir mas
y no lo pude resistir mas
y no lo pude resistir mas
The song "Metamorfosis" by Café Tacuba is a poignant exploration of the transformation that takes place in a person's identity and personality over time. The first stanza describes the singer's encounter with a woman who was sincere, authentic and real, without any artificiality in her appearance or demeanor. The second stanza depicts how this woman changes over time, becoming more concerned with fashion and social status, and losing touch with her natural self. The chorus of the song emphasizes the dramatic shift that occurs in this woman's identity, and the difficulties the singer experiences in coming to terms with these changes.
The themes of authenticity, identity, and transformation are central to the song, and they are conveyed through the use of vivid imagery and emotive language. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a woman struggling to reconcile her true self with the expectations placed upon her by society, and the effect that this has on her relationships and sense of self-worth. The song highlights the fragility of the human psyche and the constant struggle to maintain a sense of self in a world that is constantly changing and demanding.
Overall, "Metamorfosis" is a powerful and emotional song that explores the complexities of human identity and the transformative power of social pressures and expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
Cuando la conoci era alguien sin igual
When I met her, she was unique and exceptional
nunca no nunca parecio irreal
She never seemed unreal or fake
sin ninguna cara artificial
Without any artificial appearance
Y fue simple y clara como el agua al brotar
She was simple and clear like water that springs
con su cabello siempre en forma natural
Her hair was always in its natural form
nunca se intereso por ningun comentario de la sociedad
She never cared about any society opinions
No preguntes por que me encanto tanto su ser
Don't ask why I was so in love with her being
era la clase de mujer que esperaba conocer
She was the type of woman I was hoping to meet
no causo ningun problema por su sencillo proceder
She didn't cause any trouble with her simple ways
pero cambio
But she changed
Despues encontre a este ser con una clase en su piel
Later, I found this being with a new air of sophistication
(preocupada por la moda y atrapada dentro de si)
(preoccupied with fashion and trapped in herself)
Cambio yendo a la disco sintiendose snob
She changed going to the disco, feeling snobbish
criticando el momento, su intelecto cambio
Criticizing everybody around her, her intellect changed
viendo a todos fuera y bajo de su circulo social
Seeing everyone outside of her social circle
Cambio sintiendose estrella del rock n' roll
Changed feeling like a rock n' roll star
haciendo todo lo que un dia critico
Doing everything she once criticized
viendo a todos fuera y bajo de su circulo social
Seeing everyone outside of her social circle
y no lo pude resistir mas
And I couldn't resist anymore
y no lo pude resistir mas
And I couldn't resist anymore
y no lo pude resistir mas
And I couldn't resist anymore
Contributed by Colin N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Matilda
on Desperte
What does it mean is he a recovering alcoholic? I want to know