His body of work consists of 21 albums released along his 26-year career. His musical style is mostly rock and ballad, although he wrote songs in many different styles, including variations of styles typical of his native Northeastern Brazil like Forró and Baião, and in fact often used more than one style in the same song, as in "Let Me Sing, Let Me Sing". His debut album, Raulzito e Os Panteras (1968), was produced when he was part of a band of the same name. However, he only gained prominence and critical audience with songs from the album Krig-Há, Bandolo! (1973), such as "Ouro de Tolo" ("Fool's Gold"), "Mosca na Sopa" ("Fly in the Soup"), and "Metamorfose Ambulante" ("Walking Metamorphosis"). Raul Seixas developed a unique musical style that emphasized the maverick and the mystic. His album Gita (1974), influenced by figures such as Aleister Crowley, expresses his views very directly.
Many songs in Gita were co-written with his frequent collaborator, then fellow mystic, and future worldwide bestselling author Paulo Coelho. Raul was interested in philosophy (especially metaphysics and ontology), psychology, history, literature and Latin. In October 2008, nineteen years after his death, Raul Seixas was placed in 19th position in a List of One Hundred Greatest Artists of Brazilian music sponsored by the Brazilian edition of Rolling Stone magazine, topping the likes of Milton Nascimento, Maria Bethânia, Heitor Villa-Lobos and others, demonstrating the influence that Seixas' music continues to hold today.
Roll Over Beethoven
Raul Seixas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gonna mail it to my local DJ
It's a rockin' little record
I want my jockey to play
Roll over Beethoven
I gotta hear it again today
You know my temperature's risin'
My heart's beatin' rhythm
And my soul keeps singing the blues
Roll over Beethoven
And tell Tchaikovsky the news
I got a rockin' pneumonia
I need a shot of rhythm and blues
I think I got it off the writer
Sittin' down by the rhythm review
Roll over Beethoven
We're rockin' in two by two
Well if you fell you like it
Well get your lover and reel and rock it
Roll it over and move on up just
Jump around and reel and rock it
Roll it over
Roll over Beethoven
A rockin' in two by two, oh
Well early in the mornin'
I'm a givin' you the warnin'
Don't you step on my blue suede shoes
Hey little little
Gonna play my fiddle
Ain't got nothing to loose
Roll over Beethoven
And tell Tchaikovsky the news
You know she winks like a glow worm
Dance like a spinnin' top
She got a crazy partner
Oughta see 'em reel and rock
Long as she's got a dime
The music will never stop
Roll over Beethoven
Roll over Beethoven
Roll over Beethoven
Roll over Beethoven
Roll over Beethoven
And dig these rhythm and blues
In Raul Seixas's song "Roll Over Beethoven," the lyrics are about the power of rock and roll music and the desire to hear it played loud and often. The singer announces that he is going to write a letter to his local DJ asking him to play his favorite rock and roll record. He is so obsessed with the song that he has to hear it again and again, and he implores Beethoven to step aside and make way for the new sound.
The lyrics also mention the physical reaction that rock and roll music can cause, with the singer's temperature rising and his heart beating in rhythm to the music. He describes his love for rhythm and blues and his need for a "shot of rhythm and blues" to cure his "rockin' pneumonia." The lyrics also reference other musical greats like Tchaikovsky, whose classical music is contrasted with the rock and roll beat that the singer loves.
The song concludes with a call to action for listeners to dance and have fun, with the lyrics encouraging people to "reel and rock it" and to "jump around and reel and rock it." Overall, the lyrics to "Roll Over Beethoven" celebrate the power of rock and roll music and its ability to inspire joy and movement in its listeners.
Line by Line Meaning
We're gonna write a little letter
We're going to write a letter to the local DJ.
Gonna mail it to my local DJ
We'll mail the letter to the local DJ.
It's a rockin' little record
The song we want played is a rocking record.
I want my jockey to play
We want the DJ to play our song.
Roll over Beethoven
We want the music to be fast and exciting.
I gotta hear it again today
We want to hear the song again today.
You know my temperature's risin'
We are excited and energized by the music.
And the jukebox's blowin' a fuse
The jukebox is playing loud and energetically.
My heart's beatin' rhythm
Our hearts are beating to the rhythm of the music.
And my soul keeps singing the blues
We are deeply connected to the music.
And tell Tchaikovsky the news
The excitement of the music will spread to other composers.
I got a rockin' pneumonia
We are so energized by the music it feels like a fever.
I need a shot of rhythm and blues
We need more music to keep us going.
I think I got it off the writer
We are inspired by the songwriter's creativity and energy.
Sittin' down by the rhythm review
We are enjoying the music and taking it in.
We're rockin' in two by two
We are dancing with a partner and enjoying the music together.
Well if you fell you like it
If you like the music as much as we do,
Well get your lover and reel and rock it
Dance with your partner and enjoy the music together.
Roll it over and move on up just
Keep dancing and enjoy the music more and more.
Jump around and reel and rock it
Keep moving and dancing, and enjoy the music even more.
A rockin' in two by two, oh
We are dancing together and enjoying the music together.
Well early in the mornin'
Early in the morning,
I'm a givin' you the warnin'
We are telling you now,
Don't you step on my blue suede shoes
Don't mess with us or our things.
Hey little little
Hey little girl,
Gonna play my fiddle
We are going to keep enjoying the music and dancing.
Ain't got nothing to lose
We have nothing to worry about and are free to enjoy the music.
And dig these rhythm and blues
We love and enjoy this style of music.
You know she winks like a glow worm
She is winking and looking very lively and energetic.
Dance like a spinnin' top
She is dancing quickly and energetically.
She got a crazy partner
She has a partner who is dancing like crazy.
Oughta see 'em reel and rock
They are dancing together and really enjoying the music.
Long as she's got a dime
As long as she has some money,
The music will never stop
The music will keep playing and we will keep dancing and enjoying it.
Roll over Beethoven
The music should keep energizing and exciting us.
Roll over Beethoven
We want the music to keep playing and energizing us.
Roll over Beethoven
Roll over and keep playing the energetic, fast music.
Roll over Beethoven
Keep the music going, energizing and inspiring us.
Roll over Beethoven
We love and appreciate the rhythm and blues style of music.
And dig these rhythm and blues
We are really enjoying and appreciating this style of music.
Contributed by Allison M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Marcel Alves Araujo
on Sunseed
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