Jorge Duílio Lima Meneses, known professionally as Jorge Ben Jor, and previ… Read Full Bio ↴Jorge Duílio Lima Meneses, known professionally as Jorge Ben Jor, and previously as Jorge Ben, is a Brazilian singer, songwriter and musician.

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.

Menina crioula
Jorge Ben Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Crioula!

Essa menina crioula
Essa crioula menina
Tá demais!

A sua pele negra
Macia e aveludada

É demais!

Vai ser bonita assim
Lá em casa!
(Vai, vai, vai!)
Vai ser dengosa assim
Lá em casa!
(Vai, vai, vai!)

Clássica crioula
Meiga mulher
De pura raiz
Tens o andar de uma guerreira
Crioula!

Tens no sangue um vulcão
Tens um gesto de princesa
Crioula!

Continuas sendo a dona da festa
E do meu coração
Crioula!

A verdadeira guerreira!
A verdadeira crioula Brasileira!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Jorge Ben's song "Menina crioula" celebrate the beauty and strength of a black woman. The song opens with the repetition of "crioula," a term used in Brazil to refer to a person of mixed African and European ancestry. The next two lines, "Essa menina crioula / Essa crioula menina," establish the subject of the song as a young woman of this heritage. The refrain, "Tá demais!" could be translated as "She's amazing!" and expresses the singer's admiration for her.

The following lines describe the young woman's physical features, specifically her black and velvety skin. The singer exclaims that she will be beautiful and affectionate in his home. The repetition of "vai, vai, vai!" adds an enthusiastic and almost playful tone to the end of each line. The next stanza amplifies the woman's strength and regal aura, using the metaphor of a warrior's step. The singer notes that she has a volcano within her and carries herself like a princess.

The final lines affirm the power and beauty of this young woman, acknowledging her as the "true warrior" and "true Brazilian crioula." Overall, the song Menina Crioula celebrates the intersection of beauty, strength, and cultural heritage associated with black women in Brazil.

Line by Line Meaning

Essa menina crioula
This girl, who is of mixed race descent

Essa crioula menina
This mixed race girl

Tá demais!
She is too much!

A sua pele negra
Her dark skin

Macia e aveludada
Is soft and velvety

É demais!
It is amazing!

Vai ser bonita assim
You will be so pretty

Lá em casa!
Here, in my home!

(Vai, vai, vai!)
(Go, go, go!)

Vai ser dengosa assim
You will be like a sweet little thing

Lá em casa!
Here, in my home!