In March 1987 they released Soy una arveja, an album which unlike their previous record featured dark, humorous and satirical lyrics based around characters from the city of Tajo, a fictional city (an inside-joke between the members). This would also be their first album to feature the drummer Álvaro Pintos.
They would later release Emilio Garcia in 1988 and Canciones del Corazon in 1991. However, in 1994 with the release of Otra navidad en las trincheras the band unexpectedly gained massive popularity in Uruguay and stopped being a cult band. This caused Otra navidad en las trincheras to become the #1 best selling album in the country for a long time.
After the success of their previous album they released Barranca Abajo, a concept album revolving around the life of a fictional character named José Barrancas created by the band. The next year El tren bala was released and generated controversy throughout the country due to the Ministry of Education and Culture's attempts to ban the album over the song "El dia que Artigas se emborracho" which made fun of uruguayan national hero José Gervasio Artigas. However, this only expanded the group's popularity. Afterwards Revista ¡¡Ésta!! was released in 1998.
Riki Musso temporarily left the band in 2000 before the release of Cortamambo due to differences with their label and bandmates about the album cover. However, his brother convinced him to stay. Their 2004 self-titled album was the first to feature Juan Campodonico who would later produce all of their post-Cortamambo discography including Raro, a power pop album which made the band well known in other countries, allowing them to tour through South America. Riki would leave the band a second time due to musical differences with Bipolar being his last contribution to El Cuarteto de Nos.
Gustavo Antuña replaced guitarist Riki Musso in 2010 and joined the band alongside keyboardist Santiago Marrero. The first album to feature them both was the more pop rock influenced Porfiado which won two latin grammy awards.
Mírenme
El Cuarteto De Nos Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mírenme, la espera terminó
Mírenme, sé que soy el mejor
Mírenme, quiéranme, tóquenme, soy yo, soy yo
Que todos miren, que transpiren y suspiren, que al verte pasar expiren
Tu deseo es que tu esbelta figura envidien, y no olviden
Cuando se entibien en brazos de Morfeo, que feo
Tu cuerpo ansía la travesía de otro día, idiota
Si no se nota tu presencia es otra derrota
Calzate el Versace, el cinto de Gucci, peinate cuchi
Pero la mona aunque vista de seda, mona se queda, lo mismo da que la vista Al Qaeda
Será ese trauma que te incita a mostrarte
Creés ser parte y lo demás descarte y que tu cara es arte
Te sentís un 29 de febrero
Y sos sólo otra ceniza en el cenicero
Mírenme, sí, sí, ya llegué, acá estoy
Mírenme, la espera terminó
Mírenme, sé que soy el mejor
Mírenme, quiéranme, tóquenme, soy yo, soy yo
Rey de la disco, bailando sin miedo a romperte un menisco
De tanto mirarte todo el mundo va a quedarse bizco
Hasta el obelisco se está arrodillando y la vas gozando, como un evasor del fisco
¿qué pensás, que la fiesta termina cuando vos te vas?
Tu neurona es analfabeta, bobeta, enchufate otra anfeta, careta
Para dejar de comer, kilos perder y hacerte ver
Con tu cuidada silueta, reíte nomás de un nerd por antojos
Y cuidate que alguien por joder no te haga mal de ojo
Siempre pensando que te están filmando con una Fuji
Te ves duro como Marlon Brando y sos blando como el sushi
Ni el budismo ni el Islam, tu religión es el glam
Pero sos un clon y tu vida es puro spam
Mírenme, sí, sí, ya llegué, acá estoy
Mírenme, la espera terminó
Mírenme, sé que soy el mejor
Mírenme, quiéranme, tóquenme, soy yo, soy yo
Sos el becado de un curso de retrasados
Y te ves como modelo top por photoshop mejorado
Y por llamar la atención suena tu ringtone
Y pensás que Platón es un millonario
Sesos de dinosaurio, like a Rolling Stone
Hace ruido tu moto y el escape arreglás
Así cuando llegás parece un terremoto
Tenés una Honda y decís "es una Harley como el cometa"
Te falta maqueta, cachorro, te fumas un porro y te sentís Bob Marley
Vas al doctor si en la cara te sale un grano espontáneo
Lo que tenés lleno de pus es el cráneo
Aunque en el fondo das pena y nadie te da pelota
Como Dorian Grey la apariencia es tu ley y no te quiere ni tu mascota
Mírenme, sí, sí, ya llegué, acá estoy
Mírenme, la espera terminó
Mírenme, sé que soy el mejor
Mírenme, quiéranme, tóquenme, soy yo, soy yo, soy yo, soy yo
The song "Mírenme" by El Cuarteto De Nos is a satirical commentary on society's obsession with superficial appearances and the desire for validation and recognition. The lyrics depict a narcissistic protagonist who craves attention and validation from others in order to feel important and valuable. The chorus repeatedly demands for others to "look at me," reinforcing the singer's need for external approval. The verses highlight the superficiality and emptiness of the singer's actions, with references to designer clothing and material possessions being used as substitutes for inner worth and purpose.
The lyrics also mock the singer's delusions of being exceptional and unique, despite being just like everyone else. This is evident in the line "Y sos sólo otra ceniza en el cenicero" (You're just another ash in the ashtray), which implies that the singer's efforts to stand out are in vain as they are no different than anyone else. The song also critiques the societal pressure to conform to certain beauty standards, with lines such as "tu cerebro es como el de un microbio" (your brain is like that of a microbe) and "calzate el Versace, el cinto de Gucci, peinate cuchi" (put on Versace shoes, a Gucci belt and style your hair), suggesting that society values appearance over intellect or talent.
Line by Line Meaning
Mírenme, sí, sí, ya llegué, acá estoy
I demand attention and recognition because I'm here now.
Mírenme, la espera terminó
The wait is over, I've arrived and you should pay attention to me.
Mírenme, sé que soy el mejor
I want everyone to acknowledge that I am the best.
Mírenme, quiéranme, tóquenme, soy yo, soy yo
I want to be loved and admired by everyone, and I need them to validate my existence.
Que todos miren, que transpiren y suspiren, que al verte pasar expiren
I demand people's full attention and admiration, to the point where they are transfixed and lose their breath in awe of me.
Tu deseo es que tu esbelta figura envidien, y no olviden
My desire is for people to envy and remember my slim figure.
Cuando se entibien en brazos de Morfeo, que feo
It would be a shame if people forget about me when they fall asleep.
Que, obvio, tu cerebro es como el de un microbio
I insult those who don't pay attention to me by insinuating that their brains are as small as microbes.
Tu cuerpo ansía la travesía de otro día, idiota
I mock those who are only concerned about their physical appearance and not deeper aspects of life.
Si no se nota tu presencia es otra derrota
If people don't notice me, it feels like I've lost.
Calzate el Versace, el cinto de Gucci, peinate cuchi
I encourage people to wear expensive designer clothing and style their hair in a fashionable way in order to seek attention.
Pero la mona aunque vista de seda, mona se queda, lo mismo da que la vista Al Qaeda
Even if you dress extravagantly, you are still who you are, and it doesn't matter if you're trying to hide it.
Será ese trauma que te incita a mostrarte
I suggest that those who try too hard to seek attention may have some underlying trauma that causes this behavior.
Creés ser parte y lo demás descarte y que tu cara es arte
I criticize those who believe they are the only important part of a situation and that their appearance is everything.
Te sentís un 29 de febrero
I ridicule those who feel unique and special, even though they are just like everyone else.
Y sos sólo otra ceniza en el cenicero
Ultimately, everyone is just a part of the whole and not as special as they may think.
Rey de la disco, bailando sin miedo a romperte un menisco
I describe a person who dominates the dance floor without fear of injury or disruption.
De tanto mirarte todo el mundo va a quedarse bizco
People will strain their eyes trying to keep up with this person's attention-seeking behavior.
Hasta el obelisco se está arrodillando y la vas gozando, como un evasor del fisco
Even monuments are bowing down to this person, who is enjoying the attention they receive as if they are getting away with something illegal.
¿qué pensás, que la fiesta termina cuando vos te vas?
I challenge the idea that the party ends when this person leaves, implying that it won't because they are the life of the party.
Tu neurona es analfabeta, bobeta, enchufate otra anfeta, careta
I insult those who I believe to be uneducated and suggest they take drugs to improve their intellect, while calling them posers.
Para dejar de comer, kilos perder y hacerte ver
I mock those who prioritize losing weight over other aspects of their life and personality.
Con tu cuidada silueta, reíte nomás de un nerd por antojos
I criticize people who judge and make fun of others for their intellectual pursuits or hobbies, despite their own superficiality.
Y cuidate que alguien por joder no te haga mal de ojo
I warn these attention-seekers to watch out for people who may give them bad luck or curse them for their arrogance.
Siempre pensando que te están filmando con una Fuji
I suggest that attention-seekers always feel like they are being watched or filmed, even when they are not.
Te ves duro como Marlon Brando y sos blando como el sushi
I criticize those who try to appear tough or masculine, but are really soft and weak deep down.
Ni el budismo ni el Islam, tu religión es el glam
I suggest that these attention-seekers worship only superficial things like material possessions and appearance, not deeper ideologies.
Pero sos un clon y tu vida es puro spam
I criticize people who copy and imitate the trends and behavior of others, and who fill their lives with meaningless noise and spam.
Sos el becado de un curso de retrasados
I insult those whom I believe to be unintelligent or backward.
Y te ves como modelo top por photoshop mejorado
Despite their limitations, some people think they look like professional models in edited photos.
Y por llamar la atención suena tu ringtone
I suggest that attention-seekers will do anything to draw attention, even changing their phone ringtone to something flashy and irritating.
Y pensás que Platón es un millonario
I mock those who don't understand intellectual figures and concepts, thinking that Plato is a wealthy person.
Sesos de dinosaurio, like a Rolling Stone
I ridicule people who I believe to be mentally deficient and compare their intelligence to that of a dinosaur, referencing the classic song by The Rolling Stones.
Hace ruido tu moto y el escape arreglás
I suggest that attention-seekers modify their motorcycles to make them louder and more obnoxious, just to draw attention.
Así cuando llegás parece un terremoto
By doing so, I imply that when this person arrives, it feels like an earth-shaking event.
Tenés una Honda y decís "es una Harley como el cometa"
I criticize people who try to pass off cheaper or less impressive things as something more impressive, even comparing a Honda motorcycle to a Harley Davidson.
Te falta maqueta, cachorro, te fumas un porro y te sentís Bob Marley
I suggest that this person lacks substance and authenticity, yet still tries to appear cool or rebellious by smoking marijuana and pretending to be like Bob Marley.
Vas al doctor si en la cara te sale un grano espontáneo
I insult people who are overly concerned with their physical appearance, even going to the doctor for a spontaneous acne outbreak.
Lo que tenés lleno de pus es el cráneo
By doing so, I imply that this person values their outward appearance more than their inner self or intellect.
Aunque en el fondo das pena y nadie te da pelota
Despite their efforts to gain attention and admiration, this person is pitiable and ultimately ignored by others.
Como Dorian Grey la apariencia es tu ley y no te quiere ni tu mascota
Just like the character of Dorian Gray, this person values appearance over substance, to the point where even their pets don't love or care for them.
Contributed by Julia N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.