Moustaki was born Yussef Mustacchi on the 3rd May 1934 in Alexandria, Egypt, of Sephardic Jewish parents who had moved there from Corfu, and who ran a bookshop in the city. The family spoke Italian at home, but Georges (then Yussef) spoke Arabic with his friends and attended a French school to which his Francophile parents sent him and his sisters. In 1951 he moved to Paris, where he was inspired by the young Georges Brassens, in honour of whom he changed his name to Georges Moustaki.
Moustaki wrote and sang in French, Italian, Greek, Spanish, English, Yiddish, and Arabic. Early influences included Edith Piaf, with whom Moustaki carried on a year-long romance. His pan-national approach to music made him a star in Europe in the late sixties and early seventies.
He died on the 23rd May 2013 in Nice, France.
Xu xu beleza
Georges Moustaki Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Avec des guitares dans les mains
On a joué toute la journée
Voici ce que ça a donné
Xu xu beleza xu xu beleza
Comme la porte n'était pas fermée
Y a que les voisins qui gueulaient
Nous on continuait de chanter
Xu xu beleza xu xu beleza
Et quand on en a eu assez
On est allé se promener
Mais voici qu’à peine dans la rue
Cet air nous saute dessus
Xu xu beleza xu xu beleza
Si vous sifflez en travaillant
Et si vous dansez en chantant
Vous pouvez si vous le voulez
Rajouter deux ou trois couplets
Xu xu beleza xu xu beleza
Mais comme il faut faire une fin
À cette chanson qui rime à rien
Je n'ai rien trouvé de mieux
Que de dire une fois ou deux
Xu xu beleza xu xu beleza
The lyrics of Georges Moustaki's song "Xu xu beleza" describe a group of musicians playing their guitars all day long. They create a lively and energetic atmosphere as they continue to sing and play their instruments. The repetition of the phrase "xu xu beleza" adds to the playful and joyful tone of the song.
Despite the door not being closed, many people start to enter and join the musicians. The only ones who complain are the neighbors, while the musicians continue singing and playing without any interruption. This highlights their dedication and passion for music.
As the musicians eventually decide to take a walk, they are surprised to discover that even in the street, the melody of their song surrounds them. This shows that music has become a part of their lives, even beyond the confines of their performance space.
The lyrics encourage the listeners to whistle while working, dance while singing, and even add a couple of extra verses if they wish. This conveys the idea that music can bring joy and inspiration to everyday activities.
In the end, the songwriter acknowledges that the song may not have a clear meaning or purpose. However, he playfully concludes by saying that he couldn't find a better way to end the song than to repeat the phrase "xu xu beleza" once or twice more.
Line by Line Meaning
On était quelques musiciens
There were a few musicians
Avec des guitares dans les mains
With guitars in our hands
On a joué toute la journée
We played all day
Voici ce que ça a donné
This is what it resulted in
Xu xu beleza xu xu beleza
Xu xu beauté xu xu beauté
Comme la porte n'était pas fermée
Since the door wasn't closed
Y a des tas de gens qui sont entrés
Lots of people entered
Y a que les voisins qui gueulaient
Only the neighbors were yelling
Nous on continuait de chanter
We kept on singing
Xu xu beleza xu xu beleza
Xu xu beauté xu xu beauté
Et quand on en a eu assez
And when we had enough
On est allé se promener
We went for a walk
Mais voici qu’à peine dans la rue
But barely in the street
Cet air nous saute dessus
This tune jumps at us
Xu xu beleza xu xu beleza
Xu xu beauté xu xu beauté
Si vous sifflez en travaillant
If you whistle while working
Et si vous dansez en chantant
And if you dance while singing
Vous pouvez si vous le voulez
You can if you want
Rajouter deux ou trois couplets
Add two or three verses
Xu xu beleza xu xu beleza
Xu xu beauté xu xu beauté
Mais comme il faut faire une fin
But since we need to end
À cette chanson qui rime à rien
To this meaningless song
Je n'ai rien trouvé de mieux
I couldn't find anything better
Que de dire une fois ou deux
Than to say once or twice
Xu xu beleza xu xu beleza
Xu xu beauté xu xu beauté
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
François Redhon
Chuchu beleza, João Silva et Raymundo Evangelista (1973), un gros succès du génial Jackson do Pandeiro ! Cette reprise est assez fadasse.