O Rappa (pronounced "Oh Hah-pah") is a popular Brazilian reggae/rock band f… Read Full Bio ↴O Rappa (pronounced "Oh Hah-pah") is a popular Brazilian reggae/rock band from Rio de Janeiro. Their sound is a rich, refreshing meddle of reggae and rock often combined with elements of funk, hip-hop, rap and samba. They are also known for their smart, socially conscious lyrics; the members themselves work on numerous social projects in the country.

Current Formation
* Marcelo Falcão - vocals
* Xandão (Alexandre Menezes) - guitars
* Lauro Farias - bass
* Nelson Meirelles - keyboards
* Marcelo Lobato- drums

Origins

O Rappa got their start in 1993, when Jamaican reggae artist Papa Winnie arrived in Brazil for a series of show and needed a back up band to support him. Four people were immediately picked: Nelson Meirelles, a well-known Rio de Janeiro indie producer; Marcelo Lobato, former member of África Gumbe; Alexandre (Xandão) Menezes, a musician with African influences; and Marcelo Yuka, a prolific songwriter and member of KMD-5 at the time. After the shows with Winnie, the foursome decided to keep the band going and added a vocalist and fifth member, Marcelo Falcão, recruited through an ad in Rio’s main newspaper. In 1994, they released their first album, O Rappa, on the Warner label.

Tragedy

In 2001, Marcelo Lobato who was originally on keyboard had to take over drum duties after the band’s original drummer and main songwriter, Marcelo Yuka, was shot multiple times during a robbery near his house in Rio, which severely compromised movement in both his legs and one of his arms. Yuka has been the biggest contributor of the band's social projects for years, even after turning paralytic. He is currently working on other music projects such as F.Ur.T.O.

Discography

* O Rappa - 1994
* Rappa Mundi - 1996
* Lado B Lado A (Side B, Side A) - 1999
* Instinto Coletivo - ao vivo (Collective Instinct - Live) - 2001
* O Silêncio Que Precede o Esporro (The Silence Before the Scolding) - 2003
* Lual MTV - 2004
* Acústico MTV (MTV Unplugged) - 2005
* 7 Vezes - 2008

Rodo Cotidiano
O Rappa Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ô ô ô ô ô my brother
Ô ô ô ô ô my brother
Ô ô ô ô ô my brother
Ô ô ô ô ô my brother

É
A idéia lá
Corria solta

Subia a manga
Amarrotada social
No calor alumínio
Não tinha caneta, nem papel
E uma ideia fugia
Era o rodo cotidiano
Era o rodo cotidiano

Espaço é curto
Quase um curral
Da mochila amassada
Uma quentinha abafada
Meu (troco é pouco) se é
(É quase nada)

Meu troco é pouco
É quase nada

Ô ô ô ô ô my brother
Ô ô ô ô ô my brother
Ô ô ô ô ô my brother
Ô ô ô ô ô my brother

Não se anda
Por onde encosta
Mas por aqui não tem jeito
Todo mundo se encosta
Ela some é lá no ralo
(De gente)
Ela é linda, mas não tem nome
É comum e é normal

Sou mais um no Brasil da Central
Da minhoca de metal
Que corta as ruas
Da minhoca de metal que toca as ruas
Como um Concord apressado
Cheio de força
Que voa, voa pesado
Que o ar
E o avião, o avião, o avião, o avião do trabalhador

Ô ô ô ô ô my brother
Ô ô ô ô ô my brother
Ô ô ô ô ô my brother
Ô ô ô ô ô my brother

Não se anda
Por onde encosta
Mas por aqui não tem jeito
Todo mundo se encosta
Ela some é lá no ralo
(De gente)
Ela é linda, mas não tem nome
É comum e é normal

Sou mais um no Brasil da Central
Da minhoca de metal
Que corta as ruas
Da minhoca de metal que toca as ruas
Como um Concord apressado
Cheio de força
Que voa, voa pesado
Que o ar
E o avião, o avião, o avião, o avião do trabalhador

Ô ô ô ô ô my brother
Ô ô ô ô ô my brother
Ô ô ô ô ô my brother
Ô ô ô ô ô my brother

Ô ô ô ô ô
Ô ô ô ô ô

Ô ô ô ô ô
Ô ô ô ô ô

Overall Meaning

The song "Rodo Cotidiano" by O Rappa talks about the struggles of daily life in Brazil, particularly in the Central region. The lyrics describe a crowded and cramped space, where people have to lean on each other just to fit. The central character, perhaps a worker or student, is trying to jot down an idea but doesn't have paper or pen. The idea itself seems to be slipping away, lost in the chaos of everyday life. The minhoca de metal (translated as "metal worm") in the song is likely a reference to the metro, which is used by many commuters in Brazil's larger cities. The song speaks to the frustration and exhaustion of daily life, where a person's individuality and creativity seem to be constantly threatened by the anonymity and crush of mass society.

The repetition of "Ô ô ô ô ô my brother" seems to evoke a sense of companionship and solidarity, as if the singer is addressing a larger audience of people who are all in this same struggle together. The use of repetition and simple phrases creates a kind of chant-like quality to the song, lending it a certain power and immediacy. The phrase "é comum e é normal" (translated as "it's common and it's normal") seems particularly poignant in this context, as it conveys a sense of resignation and acceptance of the harsh realities of Brazilian everyday life.

Line by Line Meaning

Ô ô ô ô ô my brother
Repeating the phrase to grab listener's attention

É A idéia lá Corria solta Subia a manga Amarrotada social No calor alumínio Não tinha caneta, nem papel E uma ideia fugia Era o rodo cotidiano Era o rodo cotidiano
The singer's idea was flowing but was difficult to write down or capture, and the daily grind was hindering the creative process.

Espaço é curto Quase um curral Da mochila amassada Uma quentinha abafada Meu (troco é pouco) se é (É quase nada)
The singer feels cramped and limited, with little sustenance or resources

Meu troco é pouco É quase nada
Expressing frustration with the lack of money or resources available

Não se anda Por onde encosta Mas por aqui não tem jeito Todo mundo se encosta Ela some é lá no ralo (De gente) Ela é linda, mas não tem nome É comum e é normal
Although there is no space, people still come together, and even the most beautiful things often go unnoticed.

Sou mais um no Brasil da Central Da minhoca de metal Que corta as ruas Da minhoca de metal que toca as ruas Como um Concord apressado Cheio de força Que voa, voa pesado Que o ar E o avião, o avião, o avião, o avião do trabalhador
The singer feels like just another person in the crowded city, where everyone is moving fast and working hard to make ends meet.

Ô ô ô ô ô my brother
Repeating the phrase to grab listener's attention

Sou mais um no Brasil da Central Da minhoca de metal Que corta as ruas Da minhoca de metal que toca as ruas Como um Concord apressado Cheio de força Que voa, voa pesado Que o ar E o avião, o avião, o avião, o avião do trabalhador
The artist feels like just another person in the crowded city, where everyone is moving fast and working hard to make ends meet.

Ô ô ô ô ô my brother
Repeating the phrase to grab listener's attention

Ô ô ô ô ô Ô ô ô ô ô Ô ô ô ô ô Ô ô ô ô ô
Repeating the phrase to end the song with impact.

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALEXANDRE MENEZES, ALEXANDRE MONTE DE MENEZES, LAURO JOSE DE FARIAS, MARCELO LOBATO, MARCELO DE CAMPOS LOBATO, MARCELO FALCAO CUSTODIO, MARCOS LOBATO, MARCOS DE CAMPOS LOBATO

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS