The band is considered one of the main groups in Brazilian rock. Like most groups from the 1960s, Os Mutantes were heavily influenced by The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix and Sly & the Family Stone. However, Brazilian musicians were also immersed in their local culture, exercising their own creativity in the use of feedback, distortion and studio tricks of all kinds, just as was done by the Liverpool quartet and the group The Beach Boys. In this sense, Mutantes were pioneers in mixing rock and roll with Brazilian musical and thematic elements. Another characteristic of the group was irreverence. Like Os Mutantes, there began to be a kind of mixture of foreign and Brazilian music and the addition of new ideas, with doses of experimentalism, thus opening the way for musical hybridism.
Os Mutantes began their activities in 1966, as a trio, when they performed on the program O Pequeno Mundo de Ronnie Von on TV Record. On the eve of the program's premiere, the trio had the name "Os Bruxos", but neither Rita Lee nor the Dias Baptista brothers (Arnaldo and Sérgio) were satisfied with that name and wanted to change it. According to Carlos Calado,[2] the idea for the name "Os Mutantes" came from an ironic joke between Alberto Helena Júnior, the program's producer, and Ronnie Von, who, at the time, was reading O Império dos Mutantes, by Stefan Wul, and did not talk about any other subject. "Are you guys still looking for a name for the boys ensemble? Why not The Mutants?" Ronnie Von liked Alberto Helena's idea and took it to the group, who approved it immediately.
The group soon became one of the main exponents of the new MPB, influenced by Tropicália, until it dissolved in 1978. Over these twelve years, nine albums were recorded, two of which - O A e o Z and Tecnicolor - were only released on 1990s, when the group began to be recognized, on the national and international rock scene, as one of the most creative, dynamic, radical and talented of the psychedelic era and the history of world rock. In 2006, the band reunited, without Rita Lee or Liminha, but with the presence of Arnaldo Baptista and Zélia Duncan on vocals. The following year, Arnaldo and Zélia left the band, which was recomposed with other musicians and continues to perform under the leadership of Sérgio Dias, the only remaining member of the original lineup.
Rua Augusta
Os Mutantes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Botei a turma toda do passeio pra fora
Fiz curva em duas rodas sem usar a buzina
Parei a quatro dedos da vitrine
Hi, hi, Johnny
Hi, hi, Alfredo
Quem é da nossa gang não tem medo
Hi, hi, Johnny
Hi, hi, Alfredo
Quem é da nossa gang não tem medo
Meu carro não tem luz, não tem farol, não tem buzina
Tem três carburadores, todos os três envenenados
Só para na subida quando acaba a gasolina
Só passo se tiver sinal fechado (Que legal!)
Hi, hi, Johnny
Hi, hi, Alfredo
Quem é da nossa gang não tem medo
The lyrics of Os Mutantes's song Rua Augusta depict a daring and reckless drive through the famous street in São Paulo, Brazil. The singer describes driving at 120 kilometers per hour, causing pedestrians to jump off the sidewalk. He takes dangerous turns without using the horn, and barely stops the car in front of a store window. However, these actions are not portrayed as excessive or frightening, but rather as a display of bravado and belonging to a particular group. The mentions of Johnny and Alfredo reinforce the sense of camaraderie and loyalty among the gang members, who share a disregard for rules and norms.
The image of the car is also important in the lyrics, as it embodies power and speed, but also a certain lack of control and caution. The lack of lights, horn, and even gasoline, is presented as a badge of honor, a way of showing off one's mechanical skills and rebellious attitude. The final line "Quem é da nossa gang não tem medo" can be translated as "Those who are part of our gang are not afraid", and sums up the ethos of the song: a celebration of individuality, risk-taking, and solidarity.
Line by Line Meaning
Subi a Rua Augusta a 120 por hora
I drove up Rua Augusta at 120 kilometers per hour
Botei a turma toda do passeio pra fora
I made everyone on the sidewalk get out of the way
Fiz curva em duas rodas sem usar a buzina
I made a two-wheel turn without using the horn
Parei a quatro dedos da vitrine
I stopped four fingers away from the window
Hi, hi, Johnny
Hello, Johnny
Hi, hi, Alfredo
Hello, Alfredo
Quem é da nossa gang não tem medo
Those in our gang aren't afraid
Meu carro não tem luz, não tem farol, não tem buzina
My car has no lights, no headlights, no horn
Tem três carburadores, todos os três envenenados
It has three poisoned carburetors
Só para na subida quando acaba a gasolina
It only stops uphill when it runs out of gas
Só passo se tiver sinal fechado (Que legal!)
I only go if the signal is closed (That's cool!)
Contributed by Scarlett B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Mateus Paim de Barros
UUHUUUUUULL UM DIA VOU BOTAR ESSE SOM BEM ALTO PASSANDO PELA RUA AUGUSTA
Carlinhos Barreiros
Um cover tão bom quanto o original - E é a Rita cantando esganiçada assim ? Fantásticos!!
Paulo De tarso
@Tyke Pereira acho q ele tá falando por ser cover do ronnie cord...
Tyke Pereira
Nao é cover nao amigo. É ela mesmo. Lembra da faixa top top? Hehehe a rita lee tinha uma expanção vocal monstruosa
falomitico
O único trecho em que a voz dela é a inconfundível que todo mundo conhece é no segundo "quem é da nossa gangue" da introdução, imediatamente antes de entrar todo o instrumental.
Acsa Campelo
Vou tocar essa música ao passar pela Augusta. Só me falta o carro e ir pra SP
Carlos Teixeira
Olá Leandro.
Muito legal.
Lembro dos Mutantes na Rua Venâncio Aires esquina com a Rua Caraíbas (isso no final dos anos 60), à caminho do clube Palmeiras, onde tocavam nas "domingueiras"
Pareciam uns malucos, com trajes espalhafatosos e a Rita vestida de bruxa, com chapéu e tudo.
Você tem como confirmar se o vocal desse disco era ou não, o da Rita Lee?
Pergunto isso, porque a Rita saiu do grupo por volta de 1972.
É uma informação que não disponho e a capa traz o desenho do que possivelmente seria ela, ou talvez, já uma outra vocalista.
Pedro's yt account
Ela saiu do grupo só em 1973
Carlos Eduardo Militao Delapina
Carlos era ela sim
Gabriela
Vozes perfeitas, muito bem distribuídas,isso sim é cantar bem 👋👋👋👋👋👋👋