Roberto Leal was born in Vale da Porca, Portugal. At age thirteen he emigrated to Brazil along with his parents and ten siblings, in four trips.
In São Paulo, after working as a shoemaker and candy seller, he began his career as a fado and romantic singer. Thanks to the success achieved in the 70s, he presented himself as the ambassador of the Portuguese culture in Brazil.
His line “ai cachopa, se tu queres ser bonita, arrebita, arrebita, arrebita”, (“oh girl, if you want to be beautiful, turn it up, turn it up, turn it up”) became very famous. Leal sold thousands of records at the time, being very successful on audience TV shows.
Roberto Leal is frequently mentioned by the press and on polls and the most known Portuguese in Brazil, surpassing names as Mário Soares, José Saramago, Fernando Pessoa and even Pedro Álvares Cabral (discoverer of Brazil). Yet today he’s acclaimed as being ‘cult’ by Brazilians of all ages, although in Portugal he isn’t considered a representative of the Portuguese culture – neither the erudite nor the popular (specially between Portuguese aged 40 or less).
He has sold more than 17 million records and has recorded more than three hundred songs. Leal even participated in a movie about his own life, “O Milagre” (“The Miracle”), beating many box-office records.
Arrebita
Roberto Leal Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Arrebita arrebita arrebita
Casei com uma Gabriela
Por ela ter muita guita
Agora minha espinhela
Arrebita arrebita arrebita
Ai cachopa se tu queres ser bonita
Arrebita Arrebita Arrebita
Na saIda faz sempre fita
Mas quando me ve chegar
Arrebita Arrebita Arrebita
Ai cachopa se tu queres ser bonita
Arrebita Arrebita Arrebita
Toda mulher ciumenta
No homem nao acredita
Pois com nada se contenta
Arrebita Arrebita Arrebita
Ai cachopa se tu queres ser bonita
Arrebita Arrebita Arrebita
A mulher que tem pelos na venta
Sera se num e esquisita
E da raca barulhenta
Arrebita Arrebita Arrebita
Ai cachopa se tu queres ser bonita
Arrebita Arrebita Arrebita
The lyrics to Roberto Leal's song "Arrebita" are a mix of playful jabs at gender roles and societal expectations, as well as a celebration of the joy of life. The opening line, "Ai cachopa se tu queres ser bonita" roughly translates to "Oh young lady if you want to be beautiful," indicating the beginning of a hypothetical conversation between a man and a woman. The refrain of "Arrebita arrebita arrebita" functions as a kind of encouragement, urging the woman to be lively and enthusiastic. The next line, "Casei com uma Gabriela" suggests that the man speaking is married to a woman named Gabriela, and the reason for the marriage is because she has a lot of money. This line is followed by "Agora minha espinhela arrebita," which could be translated to "Now my spine is straightened," indicating that the man is feeling confident and secure because of his financial situation.
The second verse suggests that the singer is a night worker who encounters some difficulty on his way out of work, but is able to overcome it with confidence when he arrives home. The refrain underscores the idea that being lively and exuberant is important, particularly when it comes to impressing a partner. The third verse takes a more critical stance on gender relations, suggesting that women are inherently jealous and unable to trust men. The final lines of the song suggest that a woman who is assertive and willing to make noise is ultimately more attractive than one who is meek or passive.
Line by Line Meaning
Ai cachopa se tu queres ser bonita
Hey girl, if you want to be pretty
Arrebita arrebita arrebita
Come on, perk up, cheer up
Casei com uma Gabriela
I married a Gabriela
Por ela ter muita guita
Because she had a lot of money
Agora minha espinhela
Now my back is hurting
A noite eu vou trabalhar
At night, I go to work
Na saIda faz sempre fita
On the way out, she always makes a scene
Mas quando me ve chegar
But when she sees me coming home
Toda mulher ciumenta
All jealous women
No homem nao acredita
Don't believe in their men
Pois com nada se contenta
Because they're never satisfied
A mulher que tem pelos na venta
The woman who has hair on her nose
Sera se num e esquisita
Is she weird?
E da raca barulhenta
And of the noisy race
Lyrics © Editora e Importadora Musical Fermata do Brasil Ltda.
Written by: Roberto Leal
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@pedrojunior4108
Ai cachopa se tu queres ser bonita
Arrebita arrebita arrebita
Casei com uma Gabriela
Por ela ter muita guita
Agora minha espinhela
Arrebita arrebita arrebita
Ai cachopa se tu queres ser bonita
Arrebita Arrebita Arrebita
A noite eu vou trabalhar
Na saIda faz sempre fita
Mas quando me ve chegar
Arrebita Arrebita Arrebita
Ai cachopa se tu queres ser bonita
Arrebita Arrebita Arrebita
Toda mulher ciumenta
No homem nao acredita
Pois com nada se contenta
Arrebita Arrebita Arrebita
Ai cachopa se tu queres ser bonita
Arrebita Arrebita Arrebita
A mulher que tem pelos na venta
Sera se num e esquisita
E da raca barulhenta
Arrebita Arrebita Arrebita
Ai cachopa se tu queres ser bonita
Arrebita Arrebita Arrebita
@francimarcastro8058
Sempre será amado por nós brasileiros e também pelos portugueses. Saudade eterna. ❤❤❤❤❤ Para sempre em nossos corações .
@rossanalicciardi2703
Anche a me piace molto...l'ho scoperto da poco. Canta in cielo Roberto Leal ! E 🌹❤️
@auroradosanjos4909
Ele alegrou muito os Brasileiros com suas danças e alegria ! Ninguém consegue iguala lo Amo o d +
@volurdemoraes9574
9 ANOS ATRAS ROBERTO LEAL CANTANDO ESSA MÚSICA,,, ARREBITA ARREBITA ,,,SAUDADES PORTUGUÊS BRASILEIRO QUERIDO POR TODOS OS LADOS DO BRASIL AMOOOOOOOO DMAIS SUAS MÚSICAS AGORA VC ESTA CANTANDO SUAS MELODIAS NO ANDAR DE CIMA DESCANSE EM PAZ SEREI SEMPRE SUA FÃ 💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔
@sarahferreira4750
grande Roberto leal esse é show
@orlandopintosilva1593
Muito linda
@franciisco05
Ele era Português de Portugal, né?
@mariahelenarodrigues7763
Roberto leal não morreu p s vivo em todo o planeta terra
@julioneto5622
Pêsames há família desse grande e inesquecível artista!!! Descanse em paz , vc Roberto Leal nos alegrou e sempre nos fez feliz com sua música
@ronypaiva3643
A 1 ANO SEM O CANTOR PORTUGUÊS MAIS BRASILEIRO ATÉ O LOCAL ONDE ESTÁ ENTERRADO É NO BRASIL ANTÔNIO JOAQUIM FERNANDES TINHA TODO O MEU RESPEITO.