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.
Mabel
El Cuarteto De Nos Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
tengo ocho años recién,
y aunque tenga pitito
todos me llaman Mabel
No, no soy un niño corriente
el mundo me ha hecho así
del borracho al vigilante
todos suspiran por mí
Y he pasado horas muy amables
con el senador
con el sacerdote evangelista
con el coronel de la aviación
Sos la morocha del barrio
y suspiramos por tí
y aunque tengas pitito
todos te amamos así
Soy la muñeca pecosa
la del acento francés
la que conoce su oficio
la del más alto cachet
Soy la vedette de la cuadra
la de los labios carmín
la de la boca más tibia
de los placeres sin fin
Y he pasado horas muy amables
con el senador
con el sacerdote evangelista
con el coronel de la aviación
Sos la muñeca pecosa
la de mis noches de hotel
y aunque seas sólo un niño
siempre serás la Mabel
Si tu quisieras buscarme
pregunta aquí en el hotel
por la muñeca francesa
o simplemente Mabel
por la muñeca francesa
o simplemente Mabel
¡Mabel!
¿Mabel?, oui, c'est moi
Che, Francisco, decile a la Mabel que estamos muy contentos que se haya ganado su garbancito, que la barra agradecida, sentí la barra
¡Muy bien!
The song "Mabel" by El Cuarteto De Nos tells the story of a young girl named Mabel who, despite being born biologically male, identifies as female. Mabel is described as a beautiful and alluring figure in the neighborhood, with everyone from the local drunkard to a senator lusting after her. Mabel is proud of her identity and embraces her profession as a prostitute, or "vedette," even commanding a high price for her services. The lyrics suggest that Mabel is well-respected and admired in her community, regardless of her gender identity.
The song can be interpreted as a commentary on gender identity and the societal pressures to conform to traditional gender roles. Mabel, despite being biologically male, identifies as female and confidently asserts her own identity. Her success and popularity in the community suggest that there is a growing acceptance and understanding of gender identity regardless of traditional societal norms. The song also suggests that Mabel's profession does not define her, and she is more than just a sex worker but a vibrant and desirable person.
Line by Line Meaning
Soy la morocha del barrio, tengo ocho años recién, y aunque tenga pitito todos me llaman Mabel
I am a young girl from the neighborhood, just eight years old, but despite being born male, everyone calls me Mabel
No, no soy un niño corriente el mundo me ha hecho así del borracho al vigilante todos suspiran por mí
No, I am not an ordinary child; society made me into who I am now. From the drunkard to the security guard, everyone desires me.
Y he pasado horas muy amables con el senador con el sacerdote evangelista con el coronel de la aviación
I've spent many pleasant hours with the senator, the evangelist priest, and the colonel in the aviation profession.
Sos la morocha del barrio y suspiramos por tí y aunque tengas pitito todos te amamos así
You are the neighborhood's brunette beauty and we all long for you. Even though you are transgender, we love you just the same.
Soy la muñeca pecosa la del acento francés la que conoce su oficio la del más alto cachet
I am the freckled doll with a French accent who knows her business and charges the highest fee.
Soy la vedette de la cuadra la de los labios carmín la de la boca más tibia de los placeres sin fin
I am the star of the block, with my crimson lips and warm, sensual pleasures that are never-ending.
Sos la muñeca pecosa la de mis noches de hotel y aunque seas sólo un niño siempre serás la Mabel
You are the freckled doll that fills my hotel room nights, and though you're just a child, you'll always be Mabel to me.
Si tu quisieras buscarme pregunta aquí en el hotel por la muñeca francesa o simplemente Mabel por la muñeca francesa o simplemente Mabel ¡Mabel!
If you want to find me, ask for the French doll or simply Mabel at the hotel. Mabel!
Contributed by Lincoln B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.