Rui Veloso, born in 1957, is a Portuguese rock singer and musician. Regarde… Read Full Bio ↴Rui Veloso, born in 1957, is a Portuguese rock singer and musician. Regarded as the “father of Portuguese rock”, this composer and interpreter had a great impact on the Portuguese music scene with the record Ar de Rock (April 1980).

Songs such as Chico Fininho and A Rapariguinha do Shopping were instant classics in the 1980s. His lyrics, usually written by Carlos Tê, are strongly influenced by Porto's culture. An unconditional lover of the blues, he has played with B.B. King, being also fascinated by Jimi Hendrix. He became one of the most productive and renowned Portuguese musicians, as his discography clearly shows today.

DISCOGRAPHY
ALBUNS
1980 - Ar de Rock
1982 - Fora de Moda
1983 - Guardador de Margens
1986 - Rui Veloso
1988 - Ao Vivo
1990 - Mingos & Os Samurais
1992 - O Auto da Pimenta
1995 - Lado Lunar
1998 - Avenidas
2000 - O Melhor de Rui Veloso
2003 - O Concerto Acústico
2005 - A Espuma das Canções

SINGLES
1980 Ar de Rock - Chico Fininho
1981 Um Café e um Bagaço
1982 Fora de Moda - Estrela do Rock and Roll
1984 Costa Verde
1986 Rock da Liberdade
1986 Rui Veloso - Porto Covo
1986 Rui Veloso - Porto Sentido
1986 Rui Veloso - O Negro do Rádio de Pilhas
1988 Rui Veloso ao vivo - A Ilha
1991 Auto da Pimenta - Logo Que Passe a Monção
1992 Maubere
1995 Mingus & Samurais - Não Há Estrelas no Céu
1995 Lado Lunar - Lagos de Cristais
1995 Lado Lunar - Guadiana
1995 Lado Lunar - Do Meu Vagar
1995 Lado Lunar - Lado Lunar
1995 Lado Lunar - Do Meu Vagar
1998 Avenidas - Limpa Corações
1998 Avenidas - Jura
1998 Avenidas - Todo o Tempo do Mundo
2000 Ar de Rock - Tributo 20 Anos Depois - Chico Fininho
2003 Concerto Acústico - Nunca Me Esqueci de Ti
2003 Concerto Acústico - Os Velhos do Jardim
2005 A Espuma das Canções - Canção De Alterne

Chico Fininho
Rui Veloso Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Gingando pela rua
Ao som do Lou Reed
Sempre na sua
Sempre cheio de speed
Segue o seu caminho

Com merda na algibeira
O Chico Fininho

O freak da cantareira

Chico Fininho
Uh uh

Aos SSS pela rua acima
Depois de mais um shoot nas retretes
Curtindo uma trip de heroína
Sapato bicudo e joanetes

A noite vem já e mal atina
Ele é o maior da cantareira
Patchuli borbulhas e brilhantina
Cólica escorbuto e caganeira

Chico Fininho
Uh uh

Sempre a domar a cena
Fareja a judite em cada esquina
A vida só tem um problema
O ácido com muita estricnina

Da cantareira à baixa
Da baixa à cantareira
Conhece os flipados
Todos de gingeira

Chico Fininho
Uh uh

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Rui Veloso's song, Chico Fininho, speak of a person named Chico Fininho who is always on the move through the streets of what is believed to be a neighborhood in Portugal. The song describes his constant performance of different types of drugs, the influence of the famous musician Lou Reed and his signature style of wearing pointed shoes with bunion-covered feet.

The song talks about Chico's disregard for the norms of society, as he seeks to live his life freely and expressively. His life is characterized by chaos, as he moves from one drug to another, always in a rush, and with no meaningful direction to follow. The lyrics suggest that he may be far from respectable or normal, yet he is accepted within his community, which is full of people who share his lifestyle.

Overall, the song seems to be a representation of a particular culture in Portuguese society, one that is free-spirited and open to different ways of living. It is a reflection of a time and a place when drug culture was accepted, where people engaged in experimentation freely without fear of judgement.

Line by Line Meaning

Gingando pela rua
Strolling down the street

Ao som do Lou Reed
Listening to Lou Reed's music

Sempre na sua
Always doing his own thing

Sempre cheio de speed
Always full of speed (amphetamines)

Segue o seu caminho
Following his own path

Com merda na algibeira
With shit in his pocket

O Chico Fininho
The skinny Chico

O freak da cantareira
The freak from Cantareira

Aos SSS pela rua acima
Going up the street with the SSS (São Paulo Skinheads)

Depois de mais um shoot nas retretes
After another shot in the bathroom

Curtindo uma trip de heroína
Enjoying a heroin trip