In 2000, after the disband of the popular Chilean rock band Los Tres, lead vocalist Álvaro Henríquez decided to start a new musical project. Later that same year, along with Camilo Salinas, Nicolás Torres and Pedro Araneda (originally it was Cristián Espiñeira, but later replaced) he formed this new band, named Pettinellis after his mother's lastname.
After participing in a tribute album for Violeta Parra in 2001, they release their first studio album in 2002, that went Gold disc for its sales with singles like "Hospital" and "Ch Bah Puta la Güeá". In 2003 they performed the theme song of the movie "Sexo con Amor", that became one of the most succesful Chilean movies.
In 2004 Nicolás Torres and Camilo Salinas decide to leave the band, fact that led to the definitve disband of Pettinellis. Since then Álvaro Henríquez started a solo career, and Nicolás Torres started to focus on his band Silvestre.
In 2011 they announced to come back with a live show on august 19.
Niña
Pettinellis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
estas media borracha
se puede asustar
dile que despues tu la llamas
que estas media borracha
se puede asustar
A: No busques oro donde no hay
he visto gente que muere sola
y sigue apenas con las venas rotas(x2)
B: No se va a saber(x4)
Niña, no hables con tu padre
porque esta que arde
y te quiere chiflar
dile que despues tu lo atiendes
te va a dejar sin dientes
pero le va a gustar
A
B
The lyrics to Pettinellis's song Niña speak to a young woman who is presumably drinking and considering talking to her parents. The first verse advises her not to talk to her mother while she's drunk, as it could scare her. Instead, she should call her later when she's sober. The second verse gives similar advice regarding the woman's father, warning that he's in a bad mood and might get violent. Despite the potential consequences, the song implies that the woman is free to make her own choices and take her own risks.
The song seems to be about the recklessness and independence of youth. The lyrics caution the woman not to make rash decisions, but they also acknowledge that she will do what she wants, even if it's not the wisest course of action. The repeated refrain of "no se va a saber" (it won't be known) reinforces this idea - the woman is free to do what she wants, as long as she doesn't get caught.
Overall, the lyrics of Niña are open-ended and somewhat ambiguous. They leave a lot of room for interpretation, and the listener is left to decide whether the woman's actions are admirable, misguided, or somewhere in between.
Line by Line Meaning
Niña, no hables con tu madre
Don't talk to your mother right now
estas media borracha
You're a little drunk
se puede asustar
She might get scared
dile que despues tu la llamas
Tell her you'll call her back later
que estas media borracha
Because you're a little drunk
se puede asustar
She might get scared
Niña, no hables con tu padre
Don't talk to your father right now
porque esta que arde
Because he's very angry
y te quiere chiflar
And he wants to yell at you
dile que despues tu lo atiendes
Tell him you'll deal with him later
te va a dejar sin dientes
He might hit you
pero le va a gustar
But he might enjoy it
A
Don't look for gold where there isn't any, a half-truth is not the truth. I've seen people die alone, barely holding on with broken veins.
B
It won't be known.
Contributed by Lincoln P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.