In 1974, a group of students of the Arts and Communication College (ECA) of… Read Full Bio ↴In 1974, a group of students of the Arts and Communication College (ECA) of the University of São Paulo (USP) teamed up under the concept of developing a new approach to MPB. Centered in a colloquial interpretation (in reality, spoken speech "melody") for classic hits and their own material, they mixed elements of pop music with Brazilian rhythms and high doses of philosophical humor. Grupo Rumo was Akira Ueno (bass), Ciça Tuccori (piano), Fábio Tagliaferri (viola), Gal Óppido (drums), Geraldo Leite (vocals), Hélio Ziskind (brass), Luiz Tatit (vocals/violão and the main composer), Ná Ozzetti (joining the group in 1979, vocals), Paulo Tatit (electric guitar/vocal), Pedro Mourão (vocal/violão/percussion), Ricardo Breim (keyboards/vocal), and Zecarlos Ribeiro (vocal/percussion).

In its second phase in 1977, the group focused in the re-creation of less-known classic Brazilian music from songs by Noel Rosa, Lamartine Babo, Sinhô, and other composers. The overall result of their efforts was released on two independent albums in 1981: Rumo and Rumo Aos Antigos, their best albums. In spite of the chronic bad distribution of alternative releases, they managed to sell 20,000 copies and were awarded by APCA (São Paulo's association of Art critics) as Best Vocal Group and Best Instrumental Group of 1981.

Their third album, Diletantismo, had the hit "Ladeira da Memória." Caprichoso (1985) was lauded by the critics, and they followed with successful live performances. Containing the hit "Delírio, Meu!" and the samba-enredo "Release," which tells the group's history. In 1988, the group released the children's record Quero Passear, receiving two Sharp prizes for Best Children's Album of 1988 and Best Children's Song ("A Noite No Castelo"). In 1989, the label Eldorado released a compilation of the group's works, titled O sumo do Rumo. In 1990, they opened a new show in São Paulo (Ópera Room and Centro Cultural São Paulo), Rio de Janeiro (Circo Voador), and Curitiba (Teatro Paiol). In 1991, they recorded live (at the Sesc Pompéia theater) their last album, consisting of new songs. It was reissued by Camerati in 1992, once again receiving the APCA prize; that year, the band was dissolved. Quero Passear was reissued in CD format in 1993, and their first album, Rumo, was reissued on CD by Eldorado in 1997. The line of work of the disbanded group is continued in the solo work of Luiz Tatit.

Sombra
Rumo Lyrics

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Onde vou, onde quer que eu vá
Esta sombra me acompanha
E se projeta nos abismos,
Nos lugares bonitos
Ou no lixo inconseqÃ�¼ente
Que as pessoas deixam esparramados no chão
E não importa se eu não gosto
Ou se eu prefiro vê

Aonde e quando eu quiser

Quando estou alegre
Vou andando e balançando a cabeça
Ela balança também
Ela quer mesmo me provocar
Quer tirar um sarro só pra ver o meu humor

"Olha a cara dele! Como ele é sério!"
(Como ele é sério!)
Agora que ela descobriu que eu sou sério
Eu sou sério mesmo
Dificilmente dou uma risada
E quando dou, é amarela,
Totalmente sem graça, fora de hora
Ha... ha... hahaha...!

Vocês estão vendo
Que eu tento me livrar dela
Mas ela não dá chance
Além de tudo, ainda tira um sarro
"Olha a cara dele, como ele é sério!
Não te deixo nunca
Nem debaixo do chuveiro
E não adianta disfarçar
Onde quer que você vá

Também vou
Você não engana ninguém"

Overall Meaning

In the song "Sombra," Rumo sings about an ever-present shadow that follows him wherever he goes. The lyrics suggest that this shadow, while following him into beautiful places, also appears in the "inconsequential trash that people leave scattered on the ground." The singer acknowledges that he does not always like the presence of the shadow, but it is always with him, regardless of his preferences. The lyrics also explore how the shadow appears to provoke the singer at times, making fun of his serious demeanor and trying to elicit a response from him. Despite the singer's attempt to ignore or get rid of the shadow, it remains a constant presence in his life, even following him "under the shower."

The song's lyrics can be interpreted in a variety of ways, but they seem to speak to the idea of the self as a multiplicity, and to the ways in which we are always accompanied by various aspects of ourselves, including parts we might not necessarily like or want to acknowledge. The shadow in the song could be seen as a metaphor for the unconscious, for our fears and insecurities, or for the negative aspects of ourselves that we try to hide or deny. The song suggests that we can't escape these parts of ourselves, and that we might even benefit from acknowledging and engaging with them, rather than trying to run away.

Line by Line Meaning

Onde vou, onde quer que eu vá Esta sombra me acompanha E se projeta nos abismos, Nos lugares bonitos Ou no lixo inconsequente Que as pessoas deixam esparramados no chão E não importa se eu não gosto Ou se eu prefiro vê Aonde e quando eu quiser
Everywhere I go, this shadow follows me and projects itself on everything - from dark valleys to beautiful places, even on the worthless trash people leave lying around. It doesn't matter if I like it or not, or whether I want to see it, it's always with me.

Quando estou alegre Vou andando e balançando a cabeça Ela balança também Ela quer mesmo me provocar Quer tirar um sarro só pra ver o meu humor
When I'm happy and walking with my head held high, the shadow mimics my movements and tries to taunt me, all to see how I'll react.

"Olha a cara dele! Como ele é sério!" ("Como ele é sério!") Agora que ela descobriu que eu sou sério Eu sou sério mesmo Dificilmente dou uma risada E quando dou, é amarela, Totalmente sem graça, fora de hora Ha... ha... hahaha...!
The shadow makes fun of me for being serious, but it's true - I hardly ever laugh, and when I do, it's forced and awkward, making me feel embarrassed and uncomfortable.

Vocês estão vendo Que eu tento me livrar dela Mas ela não dá chance Além de tudo, ainda tira um sarro "Olha a cara dele, como ele é sério! Não te deixo nunca Nem debaixo do chuveiro E não adianta disfarçar Onde quer que você vá Também vou Você não engana ninguém"
I try to shake off the shadow, but it never leaves me alone. It follows me everywhere, even into the shower, and taunts me by making me out to be too serious for my own good. No matter what I do, it always knows where I'm going and what I'm trying to do, and reminds me that I can't fool anyone.

Contributed by Jayden G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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