Their first album, Rotomusic de Liquidificapum, was released in 1993. Since then, they have released another eight: Gol de Quem?, Tem Mas Acabou, Televisão de Cachorro, Isopor, Ruído Rosa, MTV ao Vivo: No Museu de Arte da Pampulha, Toda Cura para Todo Mal and Daqui pro Futuro.
The band's popularity began to increase along with two other groups from Belo Horizonte, Jota Quest and Skank. The band plays pop-rock but frequently resorts to electronic music elements as well. Pato Fu is often said to be influenced by Os Mutantes, a famous Brazilian tropicalist group from the 1960s, probably because of the experimentalism found in both bands' songs. One can find in Pato Fu musical influences by Devo, The Cure, Radiohead, Pizzicato Five, Super Furry Animals and also MPB, among various others.
With the release of Ruído Rosa, Pato Fu was nominated as one of the best bands of the world by Time Magazine in 2001. The band's 10th anniversary in 2002 was celebrated with the release of MTV ao Vivo: No Museu de Arte da Pampulha, a live performance with some of their most famous songs. As of 2005, popular hits include:
* Sobre o Tempo (Gol de Quem?)
* Pinga (Gol de Quem?, about alcoholism)
* Canção pra Você Viver Mais (Televisão de Cachorro)
* Um Dia, Um Ladrão (Televisão de Cachorro)
* Made in Japan (Isopor; the song is almost entirely in Japanese. It was written in Portuguese by John and translated by a Japanese teacher. Its video clip is a tribute to old Japanese Sci-Fi movies and a satire against Americanization which won a VMB (the Brazilian VMA)). The song chorus is from the song Manah Manah '(see the External links section)'.
* Depois (Isopor)
* Imperfeito (Isopor)
* Perdendo Dentes (Isopor)
* Eu (Ruído Rosa)
* Ando Meio Desligado (Ruído Rosa)
* Por Perto (MTV Ao Vivo (Museu de Arte da Pampulha))
* Não Mais (MTV Ao Vivo (Museu de Arte da Pampulha))
* Uh Uh Uh, Lá Lá Lá, Ié Ié! (Toda Cura para Todo Mal)
* Anormal (Toda Cura para Todo Mal)
Fernanda Takai and John are married and had a daughter, Nina, in 2003.
The name of the band was taken from a Garfield comic strip where Garfield attacked a mailman with his "Cat Fu" techniques. The band liked the wordplay, but decided to replace Gato (cat) with Pato (duck). Coincidentally or not, the expression had also previously appeared in the Brazilian translation of the Howard the Duck movie; in it, Howard says he knows "Pato Fu" (Quack Fu in the original).
2 Malucos
Pato Fu Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bem perto de mim
Não vou deixar pedaços meus
Pra todo lado e aqui
Vem, segure a minha mão
Vamos juntos entrar em decomposição
Quem ouviu a nossa prece?
Ter o nosso perdão?
O mundo está parando
Mas nem presto atenção
Qual é a novidade
Qual é a nova invenção?
The lyrics in Pato Fu's song 2 Malucos talk about personal possessions and not leaving traces of oneself everywhere. The singer wants to hold onto their belongings and keep them close. However, they also express a desire to decompose and let go of themselves while asking which saint deserves their forgiveness. This juxtaposition between holding on and letting go highlights the complexities of human nature.
The singer also acknowledges the world around them seeming to slow down, yet they are not paying attention. They question what is new or innovative. Perhaps this line suggests a lack of engagement or interest in the world, but it could also imply a sense of being overwhelmed and numb to the constant change and development.
Line by Line Meaning
Seguro as coisas que são minhas
I hold onto my possessions dearly
Bem perto de mim
They are always within reach
Não vou deixar pedaços meus
I won't leave my pieces scattered
Pra todo lado e aqui
Everywhere and here
Vem, segure a minha mão
Come, hold my hand
Vamos juntos entrar em decomposição
Let's decay together
Quem ouviu a nossa prece?
Who answered our prayer?
Qual santo que merece
Which saint deserves
Ter o nosso perdão?
To be forgiven by us?
O mundo está parando
The world is slowing down
Mas nem presto atenção
But I don't even pay attention
Qual é a novidade
What is the news?
Qual é a nova invenção?
What is the latest invention?
Contributed by Lila L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.