His characteristic style fuses rock and roll, samba, bossa nova, jazz, maracatu, funk, ska and even hip hop, with lyrics that mix humor and satire, as well as themes esoteric. Jorge's work has a unique importance for Brazilian music, as it incorporates new elements in swing and guitar playing, with characteristics of North American rock, soul and funk. Furthermore, he brought Arab and African influences, coming from his mother, born in Ethiopia.
He influenced sambalanço and samba-rock and was covered and honored by countless exponents of the new generations of Brazilian music, such as Mundo Livre S/A, Os Paralamas do Sucesso, Skank, Fernanda Abreu, Racionais MC's and Belô Velloso. Jorge Ben Jor exploded with the song "Mas, Que Nada!" and, soon after, ratified his talent with another great hit, "Chove Chuva". Two songs that were neither bossa nova nor samba. Purists thought his music was too modern. It was difficult for musicians at the time to follow him, so much so that his first albums were recorded with a group that played samba jazz at Beco das Garrafas, Meirelles e os Copa 5, led by saxophonist J. T. Meirelles.
A Loba Comeu O Canário
Jorge Ben Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Comeu com medo, mas comeu
Pois já tinha até mandado avisar
Que no dia seguinte bem cedinho
Escondidinha ia voltar
Mas bem feito quem mandou mandar
Um canário assim para a exposição
Pois ele estava com a asa direita quebrada
Só voava para um lado só
Não foi por causa de aviso
(Foi, foi, foi)
Foi um erro de seleção
Mas vamos dar um viva ao canário
Pois mesmo com a asa direita quebrada
Às vezes até dando susto
Ele conseguiu emocionar milhões
Milhões de olhos aflitos na TV
Vendo o que acontecia do lado de lá
Naquela segunda-feira de doer
Vendo e chorando e não acreditando
Mas em 86 a loba e os outros que se cuidem
Pois vamos mandar para exposição
Um supercanário bem dotado
Com olhos de gavião, malandragem de urubu
Velocidade de andorinha, deslocamento de beija-flor
Destreza de falcão, força e garra de águia
E pode vir quem quiser
E pode vir quem quiser
Pois em 86 o canário não vai dar colher
Joga canário, canta canário...
The song A Loba Comeu O Canário by Jorge Ben tells the story of a canary that was sent to a bird exposition, but had a broken wing that prevented him from flying properly. Despite the warning that he would return the next day, a loba (female wolf) ate the canary out of fear, as it was an easy target unable to defend itself. However, the lyrics express admiration for the canary, who despite his physical disability, managed to touch millions of people with his singing and emotions. The song ends with a message of resilience and strength, promising to send a new and even more impressive canary to the exposition in the future.
Line by Line Meaning
A loba comeu o canário
The wolf ate the canary
Comeu com medo, mas comeu
She ate it with fear, but she ate it anyway
Pois já tinha até mandado avisar
Because she had already warned
Que no dia seguinte bem cedinho
That the next day, very early
Escondidinha ia voltar
She would return secretly
Mas bem feito quem mandou mandar
But it serves them right for sending
Um canário assim para a exposição
A canary like that to the exhibit
Não podendo voar
Unable to fly
Pois ele estava com a asa direita quebrada
Because his right wing was broken
Só voava para um lado só
He could only fly in one direction
Não foi por causa de aviso
It wasn't due to lack of warning
(Foi, foi, foi)
(Yes, it was)
Foi um erro de seleção
It was a mistake in selection
Mas vamos dar um viva ao canário
But let's give a cheer for the canary
Pois mesmo com a asa direita quebrada
Because even with his broken right wing
Às vezes até dando susto
Sometimes even scaring people
Ele conseguiu emocionar milhões
He managed to touch millions
Milhões de olhos aflitos na TV
Millions of anxious eyes watching on TV
Vendo o que acontecia do lado de lá
Seeing what was happening on the other side
Naquela segunda-feira de doer
On that painful Monday
Vendo e chorando e não acreditando
Watching and crying and not believing
Mas em 86 a loba e os outros que se cuidem
But in '86, the wolf and the others beware
Pois vamos mandar para exposição
Because we'll send to the exhibit
Um supercanário bem dotado
A well-endowed supercanary
Com olhos de gavião, malandragem de urubu
With hawk eyes, vulture's cunning
Velocidade de andorinha, deslocamento de beija-flor
Swallow's speed, hummingbird movement
Destreza de falcão, força e garra de águia
Falcon's skill, eagle's strength and claw
E pode vir quem quiser
And whoever wants can come
Pois em 86 o canário não vai dar colher
Because in '86, the canary won't give in
Joga canário, canta canário...
Sing canary, play canary...
Contributed by Nathaniel C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.