An uncommon artist with an uncommon sopranino voice, Ney Matogrosso fell in the Brazilian popular music scene like a bomb in the '70s aboard the Secos & Molhados. The end of the group marked the beginning of a fertile and successful solo career in which he began exploring his sensuous and charismatic persona through satiric and ironic repertories. As time passed, he substituted self-contained and deeply sensitive interpretations of classics for the popular and classical Brazilian music. Along with his representative and prolific solo discography, for which he received three platinum and three gold records, Matogrosso recorded in Itália with Astor Piazzola, performed in Argentina, Uruguay, participated in two Montreux Jazz Festivals (Switzerland), and toured Portugal several times. He also performed in Israel and the U.S., but always refused invitations to develop an international career. Matogrosso also worked as an actor in Sonho de Valsa (by Ana Carolina, the director, not the singer/composer) and Caramujo Flor (short subject by Joel Pizzini), and directed shows by RPM, Cazuza, and Simone.
Arriving in Rio de Janeiro in 1966, Matogrosso became a hippie leather artisan and divided his time between Rio, São Paulo, and Brasília, where he was a close friend of singer/composer Luli. Through her he met João Ricardo, who had a vision for a groundbreaking group and was searching for a high-pitched male voice. Invited by Ricardo, Matogrosso moved to São Paulo where he spent one year dedicating himself to exhaustive rehearsals, artisanship, and theater plays. With the explosive success of Secos e Molhados and the group's final dissolution, Matogrosso started his solo career exploring his unusual voice timbre, his mesmerizing scenic persona, and his androgynous visuals, enhanced by innovative and exotic costumes. A second solo album, Água do Céu - Pássaro, was supported by the show Homem de Neanderthal, in 1975, with which Matogrosso opened in Rio de Janeiro, drawing both raves and packed houses. "Barco Negro" and "Homem com H" appeared amongst considerable polemics aroused by the usual conservatives on duty. In that period, he worked with Astor Piazzola in Milan, Italy, where he recorded a double single with the Argentinean composer. A cleaner Matogrosso recorded Bandido in 1976, having his first national hit as a solo artist with "Bandido Corazón," written especially for him by Rita Lee.
Bambo de Bambu
Ney Matogrosso Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
olha o bambo de bambu, bambulelê
olha o bambo de bambu, bambulalá
eu quero ver dizer três vezes
bambulê, bambulalá
fui a um banquete na casa do Zé Pequeno
a mesa tava no sereno pra todo mundo caber
tinha mais homem que mulher
mas só não tinha o que comer, bambu
no tal banquete dito-cujo referido
mulher que tinha marido
não passou aperto, não
pois as danadas, para não morrer de fome
cada qual comeu seu homem
não tiveram indigestão, bambu
conheço um homem que tem 17 filhos
que pôs tudo no desvio
pra polícia empregar
a mulher dele, de beleza ainda promete
dar a luz a dezessete
pra depois então parar, bambu
The song "Bambo de Bambu" by Brazilian singer Ney Matogrosso, is a playful and humorous critique of the excesses and inequalities of Brazilian society. The song starts with the repetition of the line "olha o bambo de bambu", which can be interpreted as an invitation to pay attention to the absurdities that are about to be presented. The following lines describe a banquet at Zé Pequeno's house, where there is plenty of silverware, but no food. The situation is made worse by the fact that there are more men than women, leaving many guests hungry. The solution? Eat bamboo. The line "só não tinha o que comer, bambu" is a pun on the word "bambu", which means both bamboo and a colloquial expression for poverty.
The second part of the song tells the story of a man who has 17 children and hopes to get them all jobs in the police force. He also reveals that his wife is pregnant with another 17 children, promising to stop after that. This exaggerated scenario highlights the dysfunctional nature of Brazilian society, where people often resort to extreme measures to survive and provide for their families. The line "a mulher dele, de beleza ainda promete dar a luz a dezessete" is also a pun, as "dar a luz" means both "give birth" and "shine".
Overall, "Bambo de Bambu" is a satirical song that exposes the contradictions and paradoxes of Brazilian society, using humor and wordplay to comment on social issues.
Line by Line Meaning
olha o bambo de bambu, bambu, bambu
Look at the bamboo stick, bambo, bambo
olha o bambo de bambu, bambulelê
Look at the bamboo stick, bambolele
olha o bambo de bambu, bambulalá
Look at the bamboo stick, bambulala
eu quero ver dizer três vezes bambulê, bambulalá
I want to see you say bambole, bambulala, three times
fui a um banquete na casa do Zé Pequeno
I went to a banquet at Zé Pequeno's house
a mesa tava no sereno pra todo mundo caber
The table was outside for everyone to fit
tinha de toda qualidade de talher
There were utensils of every kind
tinha mais homem que mulher
There were more men than women
mas só não tinha o que comer, bambu
But there was nothing to eat, bambo
no tal banquete dito-cujo referido
In that mentioned banquet
mulher que tinha marido
Women who had husbands
não passou aperto, não
Didn't suffer, no
pois as danadas, para não morrer de fome
Because the darned ones, to not die of hunger
cada qual comeu seu homem
Each one ate her man
não tiveram indigestão, bambu
They didn't have indigestion, bambo
conheço um homem que tem 17 filhos
I know a man who has 17 children
que pôs tudo no desvio
Who put everything aside
pra polícia empregar
For the police to employ
a mulher dele, de beleza ainda promete
His wife, still beautiful, promises
dar a luz a dezessete
To give birth to seventeen
pra depois então parar, bambu
And then stop, bambo
Contributed by Natalie E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@joaotakanorijamjao1312
(Estribilho)
E olha o bambo de bambu, bambu
E olha o bambo de bambu, bambu-lê-lê
E olha o bambo de bambu, bambu-lá-lá
Eu quero ver dizer 3 vezes bambu-lê, bambu-lá-lá
Fui a um banquete na casa do zé pequeno
A mesa tava no sereno
P'rá todo mundo cabê
Tinha de toda qualidade de talher
Tinha mais home que muié
Mas só não tinha o que comer (bambu)
(Estribilho)
E olha o bambo de bambu, bambu
E olha o bambo de bambu, bambu-lê-lê
E olha o bambo de bambu, bambu-lá-lá
Eu quero ver dizer 3 vezes bambu-lê, bambu-lá-lá
E no tal banquete, dito cujo, referido
Mulher que não tinha marido
Não passou aperto não
Pois as danada para não morrer de fome
Cada qual comeu seu home
Não tiveram indigestão (bambu)
(Estribilho)
E olha o bambo de bambu, bambu
E olha o bambo de bambu, bambu-lê-lê
E olha o bambo de bambu, bambu-lá-lá
Eu quero ver dizer 3 vezes bambu-lê, bambu-lá-lá
Conheço um home que tem 17 filho
Que pôs tudo no desvio
P'rá polícia empregá
A mulher dele de beleza ainda promete
Dar à luz a 17
P'rá depois então parar (bambu)
(Estribilho)(2x)
E olha o bambo de bambu, bambu
E olha o bambo de bambu, bambu-lê-lê
E olha o bambo de bambu, bambu-lá-lá
Eu quero ver dizer 3 vezes bambu-lê, bambu-lá-lá
E olha o bambo de bambu, bambu
E olha o bambo de bambu, bambu-lê-lê
E olha o bambo de bambu, bambu-lá-lá
Eu quero ver dizer 3 vezes bambu-lê, bambu-lá-lá
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@joaotakanorijamjao1312
Vejam os ROSTOS FELIZES de Músicos que acompanham Ney no palco: NESSE SHOW os olhos dos Músicos ( Nota 1000) BRILHAM e se DIVERTEM , tanto quanto a alegria do Ney ...!!!!! CASAMENTO QUE DEU CERTO ...!!!!!!!
@RafaelVerissimoAraujo
Atualmente penso que o Ney é a personificação da música brasileira! O Brasil, o estereótipo da nossa cultura alegre e tropical é perfeitamente encarnado nesse grande artista!
@anacarolinasousa6069
Olha o bambo....., que fôlego Ney!! Grande Interprete da música brasileira.
@MegaValds
Delícia ver e ouvir o Ney, sempre muito performático e acompanhado de músicos espetaculares e repertório único! Amo demais!
@Edik_San
Originalmente gravada por Carmem Miranda. Só o Ney para conseguir dar uma nova cara a esta pérola da MPB, sem entretanto perder o toque da grande "pequena notável".
@6161Antonio
Excelente artista. Intérprete de primeira qualidade. Abraço Ney!
@simonecostahillas5838
Que dicção perfeita!!!! Que coisa incrível!!!! Fantástico!!!!
@marcosvinicio3868
Falo sempre.isso!! A dicção desse cara é perfeita.. Essa canção é dificílima e ela não erra nada e sai perfeito. Um dos melhores do mundo,sem mais!
@mariarosalilopes7116
Ney é o homem mais sexy do Brasil. Na hora e no lugar que ele QUISER. hahahah
@ziembinskipedro3150
O Ney é simplesmente maravilhoso. M.A.R.A.V.I.L.H.O.S.O