In 1963, a trio formed by Rui Alexandre Faria (Rui, the lead vocalist), Aquiles Rique Reis (Aquiles), and Milton Lima dos Santos (Miltinho) in Niterói (Rio de Janeiro) started to perform at the Popular Center of Culture (CPC) of the National Student League (UNE). The CPC of Niterói was founded in Aquiles' home. At the same time, Magro (Antônio José Waghabi Filho) had a bossa nova group with Miltinho and a flutist, bassist, and drummer, called MPB-5. With Magro (the group's lifelong musical director) invited to join the original vocal trio, the quartet became known as Quarteto do CPC. With the extinction of the CPC (and of the UNE) after the military coup in 1964, the group adopted the name of MPB-4, playing in local bars and doing a double single with the first recording of Zé Kéti/Elton Medeiros' "Mascarada" with "Samba Bem" (Luís José) and other songs.
With all of them as college students, they took a period of vacations in 1965 to go to São Paulo, where they did their professional debut at the Pontifícia Universidade Católica's Theater (Tuca). They met producer Chico de Assis and were invited by him for a season with Quarteto em Cy (which was already professional), on the condition that they abandon other aspirations to devote themselves full-time to their group. Deciding for the music, they opened with Quarteto em Cy at the show No Samba Que Eu Vou, when they met Chico Buarque, also introduced to them by de Assis. From 1969 to 1974, Buarque was almost the fifth member of MPB-4 as all of his shows were with the quartet. Together they toured several countries and were deeply influential on the Brazilian youth. de Assis also introduced them to Manoel Carlos, who was one of the directors of the O Fino da Bossa TV Record show hosted by Elis Regina. MPB-4 participated right on the first show singing together with Regina, which was their definitive consecration.
Back in Rio, they participated in the show Contraponto, together with Quarteto em Cy, Oscar Castro-Neves, and Rosinha de Valença. At the Opinião theater, MPB-4 participated in the historic show O Samba Pede Passagem with Aracy de Almeida, Baden Powell, Ismael Silva, and others. The show was recorded live and released in June 1966 as O Samba Pede Passagem. Also in 1966, they released their first LP, which had the first recording for Buarque's "Olê Olá." Having participated in Nara Leão's show Quem Tem Medo de Nara Leão?, in the same year they defended "Canção de Não Cantar" (Sérgio Bittencourt) at the II Festival de Música Popular Brasileira (Festival of Brazilian Popular Music, FMPB, TV Record of São Paulo), which won fourth place. In the next year's edition of the same festival, the group was consecrated definitively with "Gabriela" (Maranhão) and "Roda Viva" (Buarque), achieving, respectively, sixth and third places. Also in 1967, they participated in the II FIC (International Song Festival, TV Globo, Rio) with "O Sim Pelo Não" (Alcivando Luz/Carlos Coquejo) and "Cantiga" (Nelson Motta/Dori Caymmi), which reached sixth and ninth places. In 1968, they opened a show shared with Buarque at the Teatro Toneleros, and also had a season in São Paulo. Three years later, they did the historic show Construção at the Canecão with Buarque, Jacques Klein, and the Orquestra Sinfônica Brasileira (Brazilian Symphony Orchestra) conducted by Isaac Karabtchevski. In the next year, MPB-4 toured Portugal and in 1973, Buenos Aires, Argentina, both with Buarque. In 1975, they participated, with Buarque, in the show República de Ugunga. In 1980, the group released, together with Quarteto em Cy, the children's LP Flicts/de Ziraldo e Sérgio Ricardo. Recording another children's LP in the next year with "O Pato" (Toquinho/Vinicius de Moraes), they had the song presented in the TV Globo musical A Arca de Noé. The LP Caminhos Livres (1983) had another of their hits with an Aldir Blanc song, "A Nível De..." (with João Bosco). In 1991, the quartet launched another of their themed albums, the CD Sambas da Minha Terra, dedicated to the works of Dorival Caymmi, Toquinho/Vinícius, Zé Kéti, and Ary Barroso, among others. Always doing shows and recording frequently, the group commemorated their 30-year career in 1995 with the show Arte de Cantar and the eponymous album. ~ Alvaro Neder, Rovi
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Me Gustan Los Estudiantes
MPB-4 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Jardín de nuestra alegría
Son aves que no se asustan
De animal ni policía
Y no le asustan las balas
Ni el ladrar de la jauría
Caramba y sambalacosa
Me gustan los estudiantes
Que rugen como los vientos
Cuando le meten al oído
Sotanas y regimientos
Pajarillos libertarios
Igual que los elementos
Caramba y sambalacosa
¡Qué viva lo experimento!
Me gustan los estudiantes
Porque levantan el pecho
Cuando le dicen harina
Sabiéndose que es afrecho
Y no hacen el sordomudo
Cuando se presenta el hecho
Caramba y sambalacosa
El código del derecho
Me gustan los estudiantes
Porque son la levadura
Del pan que saldrá del horno
Con toda su sabrosura
Para la boca del pobre
Que come con amargura
Caramba y sambalacosa
¡Viva la literatura!
Me gustan los estudiantes
Que marchan sobre las ruinas
Con las banderas en alto
Va toda la estudiantina
Son químicos y doctores
Cirujanos y dentistas
Caramba y sambalacosa
¡Vivan los especialistas!
Me gustan los estudiantes
Que con muy clara elocuencia
A la bolsa negra sacra
Le bajó las indulgencias
Porque hasta cuando nos dura
Señores la penitencia
Caramba y sambalacosa
¡Qué viva toda la ciencia!
¡Qué viva toda la ciencia!
The song "Me Gustan los Estudiantes" by Mpb-4; Quarteto Em Cy celebrates the students as the hope of the future. The song shows the bravery and passion of the students who stand up against injustice and oppression. The lyrics "Que vivan los estudiantes" translates to "Long live the students" and is a call to recognize their important role in society.
The students are described as fearless and unafraid of authority figures, including the police and military. They are compared to birds that are free and do not cower in the face of danger. The song also highlights the students' intellectual curiosity and their desire to experiment and learn.
The lyrics "Me gustan los estudiantes" which means "I like the students" is repeated throughout the song. The students are praised for their courage, dedication, and passion for knowledge. The song also celebrates the contributions of students in various fields, including medicine, science, and literature. The students are seen as the ones who hold the promise of a better future for all.
Line by Line Meaning
Que vivan los estudiantes
Long live the students
Jardín de nuestra alegría
Garden of our joy
Son aves que no se asustan
They are birds that are not afraid
De animal ni policía
Of animal or police
Y no le asustan las balas
And they are not afraid of bullets
Ni el ladrar de la jauría
Or the barking of the pack
Caramba y sambalacosa
Wow and amazing
¡qué viva la astronomía!
Long live astronomy!
Me gustan los estudiantes
I like the students
Que rugen como los vientos
Who roar like the winds
Cuando le meten al oído
When they whisper
Sotanas y regimientos
Cassocks and regiments
Pajarillos libertarios
Free little birds
Igual que los elementos
Like the elements
Caramba y sambalacosa
Wow and amazing
¡Qué viva lo experimento!
Long live the experiment!
Me gustan los estudiantes
I like the students
Porque levantan el pecho
Because they raise their chest
Cuando le dicen harina
When they are told flour
Sabiéndose que es afrecho
Knowing it is bran
Y no hacen el sordomudo
And they do not act deaf
Cuando se presenta el hecho
When the fact is presented
Caramba y sambalacosa
Wow and amazing
El código del derecho
The law code
Me gustan los estudiantes
I like the students
Porque son la levadura
Because they are the yeast
Del pan que saldrá del horno
Of the bread that will come out of the oven
Con toda su sabrosura
With all its deliciousness
Para la boca del pobre
For the mouth of the poor
Que come con amargura
Who eats with bitterness
Caramba y sambalacosa
Wow and amazing
¡Viva la literatura!
Long live literature!
Me gustan los estudiantes
I like the students
Que marchan sobre las ruinas
Who march on the ruins
Con las banderas en alto
With their flags held high
Va toda la estudiantina
The entire student body goes
Son químicos y doctores
They are chemists and doctors
Cirujanos y dentistas
Surgeons and dentists
Caramba y sambalacosa
Wow and amazing
¡Vivan los especialistas!
Long live the specialists!
Me gustan los estudiantes
I like the students
Que con muy clara elocuencia
Who with very clear eloquence
A la bolsa negra sacra
Brought down the sacred black bag
Le bajó las indulgencias
Took away their indulgences
Porque hasta cuando nos dura
Because even when it lasts for us
Señores la penitencia
Gentlemen, the penance
Caramba y sambalacosa
Wow and amazing
¡Qué viva toda la ciencia!
Long live all science!
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: VIOLETA PARRA SANDOVAL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind