His style is sometimes called samba-funk, and it incorporates many jazz, bossa nova, and hip hop elements as well. His first two albums, Achados e Perdidos and Japanpopshow, were released by ybmusic. On the thirtd, but pioneering Arrocha (Six Degrees Records), he has built upon prior success in creating a melodically addicting and rhythmically potent exploration of modern Brazil.
Discovered by California hip-hop outfit Blackalicious on a 2005 South American tour, the duo helped Curumin gain international recognition by releasing his debut, Achados e Perdidos, in the United States. After successfully launching his presence in the States at CMJ that same year, he was quickly booked to perform at Chicago's World Music Festival and the M3 Conference the following year. Natalie Portman included his track 'Tudo Bern Malandro' on a compilation; when 'Guerreiro' was used in a Nike ad during the FIFA World Cup, the fame he never sought was ensured.
It was Curumin's second album, JapanPopShow, that really launched him in 2008. His unique fusing of samba, reggae, electronica, funk and hip-hop earned him gigs at Central Park Summerstage, Los Angeles's Grand Performances, the Montreal Jazz Fest, the Red Hot Rio +2 concert at Brooklyn's BAM and San Francisco's Stern Grove. He's performed alongside Femi Kuti, Jorge Ben, Money Mark, Blackalicious and Juana Molina, and earned glowing accolades from the NY Times, Spin, the Village Voice and Billboard.com.
Part of a wave of evolutionary Brazilian artists updating their native soundscape, this self-professed tropicalia and funk addict now delves deeply into the electronic sound of his MPC to control the direction. 'I created different atmospheres and textures from doing a lot of research with all of the albums I have here in my house,' he says. Being that his home would not cater to a full band set-up, Arrocha dives right into the heart of his intentions: it's a warm, sensitive journey featuring gorgeous melodies floating over a wash of spacious percussion, guitars and bass, while never losing the danceable beats that his culture demands.
Paris Vila Matilde
Curumin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Vagando pelo velho mundo,
Sem seu perfume suave...
Eu todo areleto da terra,
Terra firme a me esperar.
Ela na Sé as seis da tarde,
Desce na Vila Matilde,
Eu todo ar, ele é toda terra,
Terra firme a me inspirar.
Te deixei o meu amor...
The lyrics of Curumin's song "Paris Vila Matilde" describe a feeling of nostalgia and longing for someone who is far away. The first verse speaks about a soldier who is wandering through the old world, missing the sweet scent of his loved one. The soldier is eager to return home to his beloved, who is waiting for him on solid ground.
The second verse introduces a female character who is waiting for her lover in Vila Matilde, while she looks down on the city from the Sé Cathedral. The lyrics express her longing for his return and the inspiration that she receives from him, despite the distance between them. The chorus provides a final message of love, as the singer tells his beloved that he has left his love with her.
Overall, the lyrics of "Paris Vila Matilde" convey a sense of distance and longing, but also the enduring nature of love and the hope of a future reunion. The song's wistful and romantic tone is underscored by its smooth rhythms and hazy guitar lines, which create an atmospheric soundscape that complements the lyrics' emotional depth.
Line by Line Meaning
Saudade de um soldado em guerra,
Longing for a soldier at war,
Vagando pelo velho mundo,
Wandering through the old world,
Sem seu perfume suave...
Without his sweet fragrance...
Eu todo areleto da terra,
Me, all restless from the earth,
Terra firme a me esperar.
Steadfast earth awaits me.
Ela na Sé as seis da tarde,
She at Sé at six in the evening,
Desce na Vila Matilde,
Descends in Vila Matilde,
Saudade da sua viajem...
Longing for her voyage...
Eu todo ar, ele é toda terra,
I'm all air, he is all earth,
Terra firme a me inspirar.
Steadfast earth inspires me.
Te deixei o meu amor...
I left you my love...
Contributed by Brody O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.