After its debut in the 1980 carnival, the band conquered almost two thousand members and started to approach historical themes related to African and Brazilian cultures. The band's first LP, "Egypt, Madagascar", was recorded in 1987 and achieved great success in Bahia and the rest of the country with the song "Faraó". The idea of this LP was to pay homage to the group's roots and show Brazil the Mama Africa, and also to present to the world how the group came about, from the drumming to the influences of the African Gods. Soon after, Olodum became known internationally as an Afro-Brazilian percussion group and toured to many countries in Europe, Japan, and almost all of South America. In 1988 Simone recorded "Me Ama, Mô" live in Pelourinho with Neguinho do Samba and Olodum on the album Simone (1989). One of the moments of greatest exposure for the group was in 1990, when it took part in the track "The Obvious Child", from Paul Simon's album, The Rhythm of the Saints, whose videoclip was recorded in Pelourinho and shown in over a hundred countries. After that, Olodum recorded with other nationally and internationally acclaimed musicians such as Caetano Veloso, Daniela Mercury, Margareth Menezes, Pet Shop Boys, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Jimmy Cliff, and Michael Jackson, spreading the word about their mix of rhythms that includes African drums, reggae, samba, and Latin rhythms. In 2013, he performed a show on the sunset stage of Rock in Rio with the New Zealand singer, songwriter and instrumentalist Kimbra, including a cover of the song "They don't care about us. In addition, she participated in the official music, consequently of the 2014 World Cup opening, with rapper Pitbull and singers Jennifer Lopez and Claudia Leitte. In parallel to its artistic success, the band Olodum participates in social movements against racism and for civil and human rights.
The Olodum Theater Band is a theater group created and linked to the bloco-afro, formed by black actors in 1990.
Over the years, the Olodum Theater Band disengaged from the bloco-afro, and took up residence at the Vila Velha Theater. Thanks to the Bando's occupation, the space was revitalized in 1994 and began to be renovated, being re-inaugurated in 1998. The Bando is still at Teatro Vila Velha today and has produced actors who have consolidated their careers, such as Lázaro Ramos, for example.
Focused on issues of the Brazilian black in its various aspects, the Bando, as it is more commonly called, develops its own language in a format of Experimental Black Theater.
Since October 25, 1984, the Olodum School has been a real space for participation and expression of the afro-descendant community, constituting a national and international reference for its innovative work with art, education and cultural plurality.
This pioneering Afro-Brazilian popular education project originated with the Rufar dos Tambores project, developed in 1984 by Olodum, consisting of free percussion classes of the Afro-Brazilian bloc, and of short term Afro-Brazilian courses.
Initially it aimed to meet a request from the Maciel/Pelourinho community to form a percussion band made up of children and teenagers from the neighborhood.
No Woman No Cry
Olodum Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No woman no cry
No woman no cry
No woman no cry
Cause I remember
When we uses to sit
In the government yard
Observing those hypocrites
Mingle with the good
People we met
Good friends we have
Good friends we lost
Along the way
Have lost
Along the way
In this bright future
We can forgot our past
So dry your tears I say
Não, não chore mais
Não, não chore mais
Menina não chore assim
Bem que eu me lembro
A gente sentado ali
Na grama do aterro sob o céu
Observando estrelas
Junto a fogueirinha de papel
Quentar o frio
Requentar o pão
E comer com você
Os pés de manhã
pisar o chão
Eu sei a barra de viver
Mas se Deus quiser
Tudo tudo tudo vai dar pé
Tudo tudo tudo vai dar pé
Ev'rything's gonna be allright
Ev'rything's gonna be allright
No woman no cry
No woman no cry
Oh my little sister
Don't shed no tears
No woman no cry
The song ‘No Woman No Cry’ by Olodum is a touching and soulful composition, conveying the message that life may be harsh and full of challenges, but we must hold on to hope and everything will be alright. Multiple repetitions of the phrase ‘No woman no cry’ in the chorus reflect the singer's message of comforting a woman who is going through a difficult time and telling her not to cry. The song’s opening lines set the tone for the rest of the song, “Cause I remember when we used to sit, in the government yard in Boston,” recalling memories of the simple and peaceful times when they would gather and share stories with good friends in a safe place.
The verses of the song reflect the individual circumstances of people's lives, commenting on the loss of friends and the hardships that have been faced. The lyrics reveal that despite the difficulties of life, we need to remember the positive moments and let go of the past. The lyrics also highlight the importance of friendship and how it provides comfort and relief in times of need. The lines, “In this bright future, you can't forget your past, so dry your tears, I say” encourage people to let go of their past pain and sadness and focus on the new possibilities life has to offer.
Overall, ‘No Woman No Cry’ is a song about hope, unity, and perseverance in the face of adversity. The lyrics reflect on the memories and hardships of the past while also highlighting the bright future that lies ahead.
Line by Line Meaning
No woman no cry
Women, do not weep. Relax and be calm.
Cause I remember
Because I recall.
When we used to sit
When we sat down.
In the government yard in Boston
In the government yard located in Boston.
Observing those hypocrites mingle with the good
Watching those hypocrites mesh with the good.
People we met
People we encountered.
Good friends we have
Good friends that exist in our lives.
Good friends we lost
Good friends who have left us.
Along the way have lost
Lost them as we journeyed on.
In this bright future we can forget our past
In this promising future we're able to abandon our past.
So dry your tears I say
Therefore, I am telling you to wipe your tears and not to be sad.
Oh my little sister
Oh my dear little sister.
Don't shed no tears
Do not spill any tears.
Everything's gonna be allright
Everything will turn out fine.
Contributed by Victoria Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@claudioottolee
Fico muito Grato a Deus de ter feito parte desta Banda durante 25 anos Com 9 cds gravados e 2 DVDs, Estou nesta gravação, e participei nas divulgações desta música na Tv com Jimmy, pela Sony Music.
@ELSPLELIS
Cara, vc não sabe como gosto dessa música. Ouvi essa música em uma festa de São Thomé das Letras, MG. Cara foi a festa. Melhores lembranças da minha vida. Imagina um adolescente primeira vez saíndo pra outra cidade com a turma, e e São Thomé das Letras, mochila nas costas, manta para o frio, cara não tenho palavras pra descrever. E essa música foi a música. Nunca mais esquecerei.
@luciahelenadasilva1936
Lindo❤ pra sempre olodum
@andrealeitedasilva6654
Olodun é uma força da natureza, sua percussão traz a história do nosso povo, nossas origens. Isso é o melhor do Brasil,
@ibrahimjurnood1084
Jimmy Cliff e Olodum é lenda mundial. Sem palavras.✌👍👏...🇧🇷,🇯🇲.
@tiagobrasgoncalvescoelho1034
Raridade me deu vontade de relembrar esse hit regravado entre o final de 1999 para o começo de 2000 que tudo de bom adoro.
@leticiafernandez805
Woow qué hermosura , soy de Uruguay, lo acabo de escuchar en una emisora de mi país, emociona , lindo que la cultura nos una en amor 💓 en esta nueva humanidad, abrazos
@gleicimarluizafernandes7754
O som do olodum é mesmo contagiante, bom d++++ isso sim é Brasil
@joaopaulowanderley7588
Melhora banda de samba reggae do mundo
@josecarlospintoesilva8288
Espetaculares ! Orgulho de todos nós bahianos e brasileiros .