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.
Irene cara mia
Jorge Ben Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Irene cara, cara mia
Flash dance ouvi você cantar
Maravilhado eu fiquei e não resisti
E no cinema eu dancei, dancei
Dancei, dancei, dancei, dancei, dancei, dancei
Chegando em casa com a música na cabeça
Bati cabeça a madrugada inteira
Dançar também
Ai, ai, ai, ai, ai, ai
Uma canção que fala de amor e de alegria
Das coisas simples e belas da vida
Das coisas que podem correr por aí
Alegrando as pessoas
E fazendo um bem espiritual
Minha música suburbana urbana
Com raízes africana oriental
Com ligeiro toque universal
É para você, esse som de Penkelê, Penkelê, Penkelê
Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance, Irene
Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance, Irene
Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance, Irene
Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance, Penkelê
Afoxé quero ver penquelequiá
In the song "Irene Cara Mia", Jorge Ben sings about the impact that the character of Irene Cara had on him. He heard her sing in the movie "Flashdance" and was mesmerized by her voice. He went to the cinema and danced to her songs, unable to resist the rhythm that moved him. The music stayed in his head, and he went home, continuing to dance and bang his head to the beat all night long. He then woke up and wrote a song about Irene, a love and joy-inspired song about simple and beautiful things in life that can spread positivity and spiritual well-being to others.
The song is an ode to Irene and, through her, music, dance, and cultural diversity. It mixes different musical genres, incorporating elements of African and Oriental rhythms with universal touches in a way that reflects his roots and urban influences, creating a fresh and distinct sound. The lyrics convey a message of love and positivity and the power that music and dance have to bring people together, fostering a sense of community, and spreading joy to all those who experience it.
Line by Line Meaning
Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance, Irene
The singer urges Irene to dance multiple times, emphasizing the importance of dancing in this song.
Irene cara, cara mia
The singer addresses Irene with affectionate terms, calling her 'cara mia' which means 'my dear' in Italian.
Flash dance ouvi você cantar
The singer heard Irene sing a song from the movie 'Flashdance'.
Maravilhado eu fiquei e não resisti
The artist was amazed by Irene's singing and couldn't resist the urge to dance.
E no cinema eu dancei, dancei
The artist danced in the cinema while listening to Irene's singing.
Dancei, dancei, dancei, dancei, dancei, dancei
The singer emphasizes the act of dancing with repetition.
Chegando em casa com a música na cabeça
The singer had the music from the movie in his head when he got home after watching it.
Bati cabeça a madrugada inteira
The artist danced all night to the music from the movie.
E quando acordei fiz uma canção para você
The artist was inspired to write a song for Irene after dancing all night.
Dançar também
The artist invites Irene to dance with him.
Ai, ai, ai, ai, ai, ai
An exclamation of emotion or excitement, emphasizing the joy of dancing and making music.
Uma canção que fala de amor e de alegria
The song is about love and joy, celebrating life's simple and beautiful things.
Das coisas simples e belas da vida
The song celebrates the simple and beautiful things in life.
Das coisas que podem correr por aí
The song celebrates the things that can bring joy to people's lives.
Alegrando as pessoas
The song's purpose is to bring joy and happiness to people.
E fazendo um bem espiritual
The song has a spiritual or uplifting effect on people.
Minha música suburbana urbana
The artist's music is a blend of urban and suburban influences.
Com raízes africana oriental
The singer's music is influenced by African and Oriental music.
Com ligeiro toque universal
The singer's music has a universal quality that transcends geographic and cultural boundaries.
É para você, esse som de Penkelê, Penkelê, Penkelê
The artist dedicates this music to Irene, with the repeated phrase 'Penkelê' as part of the song's beat.
Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance, Irene
The artist urges Irene to dance again, with repetition to emphasize the importance of dancing in this song.
Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance, Penkelê
The artist again urges dancing, but with the added reference to the song's beat, 'Penkelê'.
Afoxé quero ver penquelequiá
The singer celebrates African influence on this music, with a specific reference to 'Afoxé', a type of music and dance with African roots.
Contributed by Charlotte D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.