Born to an Argentine mother and an American father, he lived most of his childhood in the San Francisco Bay Area, but moved with his family to Buenos Aires at the age of 12.
Johansen made a brief appearance in the local rock scene with the band Instrucción Cívica in the 80s (only album Obediencia Debida in 1985), but went to New York in 1990. There he met and married his Argentine wife, with whom he has a daughter. He played in the CBGB's club for long years, until he created a group, and in 2000 recorded the album with the same name, The Nada, a mix of different Latin sounds with modern pop, funk and rock.
During the same year, and with the new album in his hands, he returned to Argentina, where he currently lives. The album was relatively successful and Kevin and the group went on tour as far as Spain.
By the end of 2002 Johansen recorded Sur o no sur. Again, Kevin surprises with a combination of Latin music, pop, and humour.
During 2003, Kevin became a huge success in Argentina, playing in June at the Gran Rex Theatre, the largest Buenos Aires hall. Again in Spain, he promoted his new album with concerts in Madrid and Barcelona, this time with bigger audiences. He also performed during the MTV Latino awards, from where he continued a concerts tour to Miami, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco prior to the release of the album in United States.
In 2004 he continues with concerts in Mexico, Chile, Belgium and again Spain (now in many different cities) with an even greater response from the people and the media. At the Latino Grammy Awards, Sur o no sur was nominated for "Album of the year", "Song of the year" (La Procesión) and "Best Music Video" (La Procesión).
In between trips, Johansen recorded his third album (relased as Kevin Johansen + The Nada, City Zen, which was well-received both by fans and the media. The cover of his susequent album, Logo, was drawn by cartoonist Liniers.
Logo
Kevin Johansen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Todo tiene Logo... 'Ya tein', ya tein Logo
Veneration Logo... 'Axé', axé Logo
Si no tiene Logo, falta poco, saravaravá!
Manteca, chuleta, buseca... 'Ya tein Logo'!
Carlito, Robinho, Dieguito... 'Ya tein Logo'!
Mengano, Fulano, Caetano*... 'Ya tein Logo'!
Coraza, coracao, coragem... 'Ya tein...'
Saraza, bobaza, bobagem...
Su tio, mi hermana, tu abuela...
Si no tiene Logo, falta poco, saravaravá...
Todo tiene Logo... 'Até', Até Logo
Generation Logo...'Ya tein', ya tein Logo
Veneration Logo... 'Axé', Axé Logo
Todo tiene Logo...'Ya sé', hasta el pogo
Saravaravá...
Compre todo ahora porque ahora ya es mañana
Y mañana ya va a ser pasado
Si no compra todo, seguro lo compra otro
Y despues, seguro se lamentará
Todo 'on sale', aproveche que sale temprano
Y sin más demora
Sino compra ahora, va a caer en bancarrota
Espiritual, Intelectual y Emocional!
El Yoga, en boga y la toga…
Orgánico, higiénico, transgénico…
El Mantra, el tantra, el "chantra"…
El Rock Star, el Pop Star, el "Old Star"…
Recuerdo cosas de otros tiempos,
De cuando el Almacén no tenía luces de neón
Cuando el paraíso no tenía marquesina…
"I was hangin'around, waitin' for somethin' to happen'
When nothin' happened at all
Until I found a Trademark, a Brand
I fell in love with
I fell in love with that lovely, big fat
(It's the final...) LOGO!!!
Generation Logo, Até! Até Logo.
Todo tiene Logo, Ya tein! Ya tein, Logo.
Veneration Logo, Axé! Ashé, Logo!?
Si no tiene Logo, falta poco, Saravaravá!
Compre todo ahora…
Carlito, Robinho, Dieguito
La Roña, la Doña, Maconha
El Dating, el rating, skating
El Dealing, el feeling, el peeling
El Mantra, el Tantra, el "Chantra"
Festival, Carnaval (Tein Logo!)
Ya se fue, ya vendrá, Saravá!
Recuerdo cosas de otros tiempos,
De cuando el Almacén no tenía luces de neón
Cuando el paraíso no tenía marquesina…
It's the final…Logo!
The song "Logo" by Kevin Johansen is a satirical jab at consumer culture and the obsession with branding and logos. The chorus goes "Generation Logo... Everything has a logo" and lists various things that have become part of our identity because of their logos, from food items like chuleta and buseca to celebrities like Carlito, Robinho, and Diego Maradona. The verses continue this theme, mentioning the various trends and fads that people chase after, from organics to mantras to dating and skating. Johansen critiques this culture of constant consumption, urging listeners to buy everything now because tomorrow it will be gone, and to beware of falling into bankruptcy because they didn't buy the right logos.
The use of the word "saravaravá" throughout the song is a reference to the Afro-Brazilian religion Candomblé, and specifically to the greeting "axé saravaravá" which roughly translates to "may the life force be with you." In the context of the song, the use of this term suggests that consumer culture has co-opted and commodified even religious or spiritual practices.
Overall, the song is a humorous but pointed commentary on the impact of branding and consumerism on our society, and the way that logos have come to represent not just products or companies, but entire lifestyles and identities.
Line by Line Meaning
(Coro) Generation Logo...'Até', Até Logo
The Logo generation, starting with Até, Até Logo
Todo tiene Logo... 'Ya tein', ya tein Logo
Everything has a Logo, already got it, already got the Logo
Veneration Logo... 'Axé', axé Logo
Respect for Logo, Axé, Axé Logo
Si no tiene Logo, falta poco, saravaravá!
If you don't have a Logo, you're almost there, saravaravá!
Manteca, chuleta, buseca... 'Ya tein Logo'!
Lard, chop, stew... already got a Logo!
Carlito, Robinho, Dieguito... 'Ya tein Logo'!
Carlito, Robinho, Dieguito... already got a Logo!
Mengano, Fulano, Caetano*... 'Ya tein Logo'!
Anyone, everyone, Caetano*... already got a Logo!
Todo tiene Logo, até logo, saravaravá!
Everything has a Logo, see you later, saravaravá!
Coraza, coracao, coragem... 'Ya tein...'
Armor, heart, courage... already got it...
Saraza, bobaza, bobagem...
Nonsense, foolishness, stupidity...
Su tio, mi hermana, tu abuela...
Your uncle, my sister, your grandmother...
Si no tiene Logo, falta poco, saravaravá...
If you don't have a Logo, you're almost there, saravaravá...
Todo tiene Logo... 'Até', Até Logo
Everything has a Logo, starting with Até, Até Logo
Generation Logo...'Ya tein', ya tein Logo
The Logo generation, already got it, already got the Logo
Veneration Logo... 'Axé', Axé Logo
Respect for Logo, Axé, Axé Logo
Todo tiene Logo...'Ya sé', hasta el pogo
Everything has a Logo, I already know, even the pogo
Saravaravá...
A Brazilian expression used to express enthusiasm or joy
Compre todo ahora porque ahora ya es mañana
Buy everything now because now is tomorrow
Y mañana ya va a ser pasado
And tomorrow is going to be the past
Si no compra todo, seguro lo compra otro
If you don't buy everything, someone else will for sure
Y después, seguro se lamentará
And then, you'll surely regret it
Todo 'on sale', aproveche que sale temprano
Everything 'on sale', take advantage of the early sale
Y sin más demora
And without further delay
Sino compra ahora, va a caer en bancarrota
If you don't buy now, you'll fall into bankruptcy
Espiritual, Intelectual y Emocional!
Spiritual, Intellectual and Emotional!
El Yoga, en boga y la toga…
Yoga, in fashion, and the toga...
Orgánico, higiénico, transgénico…
Organic, hygienic, transgenic...
El Mantra, el tantra, el 'chantra'…
The Mantra, the Tantra, the 'chantra' (a made-up word)
El Rock Star, el Pop Star, el 'Old Star'…
The Rock Star, the Pop Star, the 'Old Star'
Recuerdo cosas de otros tiempos, De cuando el Almacén no tenía luces de neón Cuando el paraíso no tenía marquesina…
I remember things from other times, When the store had no neon lights, When paradise had no marquee...
"I was hangin'around, waitin' for somethin' to happen'
When nothin' happened at all
Until I found a Trademark, a Brand
I fell in love with
I fell in love with that lovely, big fat
(It's the final...) LOGO!!!
I was hanging around, waiting for something to happen, When nothing happened at all, Until I found a Trademark, a Brand, I fell in love with, I fell in love with that lovely, big fat... (It's the final...) LOGO!!!
La Roña, la Doña, Maconha
La Roña, la Doña, Maconha (street names of drugs)
El Dating, el rating, skating
Dating, rating, skating
El Dealing, el feeling, el peeling
Dealing, feeling, peeling
Festival, Carnaval (Tein Logo!)
Festival, Carnival (Got a Logo!)
Ya se fue, ya vendrá, Saravá!
It's already gone, it's already coming, Saravá!
It's the final…Logo!
It's the final... Logo!
Contributed by Juliana I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@antonskreko
+Esteban Oliva
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@evantz5079
Escuche esta canción en la clase de educación artística....Man no parábamos de reir JAJAJA
@jmaven7516
Incredible, I LOVE this. Kevin is my newest obsession.
@santiagogonzalezrojo3707
La canción es buenísima y el video suma mucho.
Si hubiera mas músicos haciendo videos de este estilo pasaría mas tiempo viendo video clips.
En una parte dice "Su tío, mi hermana, tu abuela" y estás Su tío, su hermana y tu abuela hamacandose en primer plano. jajaja
@deliacedano7622
Escucharlo me saca sonrisas! Hace unos días que descubro este artista y Wow! me ha encantado! mis más sinceros likes! :D
@cristinareinoso6062
me mató !! Una canción sobe la gentifricaciòn !!! y con ese portuñol.. mmm cada dia me gusta mas
@andreaferreiraabirached9194
Esta cancion la conocí gracias a un programa de radio, le gustaba mucho al locutor y la pasaban a cada rato, tanto que se me pego. En esa epoca no me fue fácil encontrarla, ahora veo que hay muchos videos de esta cancion
@luisenriqueortizospina4262
Todo se comercializa, hasta el ser humano. Y es la critica que hace Johansen. Si no somos un producto con su logo, no somos nada. Grande Kevin
@profajessikacosta
Que maravilha!
@AbelValentineee
crecí con esta canción. Me sigue gustando como la primera vez que la escuché
@viviananunez2167
este hombre y su banda me encantan son mis compañeros mientras estoy trabajando y creando ...GRACIAS INFINITAS