Seu Jorge has gained exposure through his work as an actor and soundtrack composer. He appeared in the critically acclaimed 2002 film City of God as Mané Galinha, directed by filmmakers Fernando Meirelles and Katia Lund, and then played Pelé dos Santos in Wes Anderson's The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, for which he provided much of the soundtrack in the form of Portuguese language cover versions of David Bowie classics. Bowie later went on to say about his cover album, The Life Aquatic Studio Sessions, that "had Seu Jorge not recorded my songs in Portuguese I would never have heard this new level of beauty which he has imbued them with".
In June 2006, he performed at Bonnaroo music festival in Manchester, Tennessee and at the Festival Sudoeste TMN in Portugal. He has also performed in 2006 at the Bluesfest in Ottawa, Ontario and performed at the Harbourfront in Toronto, Ontario. Jorge's performances are known for their excitement as well as for getting the crowd moving. In January 2010 he performed with Thievery Corporation at the Austin City Limits.
His album 'América Brasil' had a limited Brazilian release in 2007 under his label Cafuné Gravadora, distributed in the UK by Proper Music Distribution. In May 2010, Now-Again Records announced that Jorge's new album, Seu Jorge & Almaz, a collaboration with drummer Pupillo and guitarist Lucio Maia from Nação Zumbi and bassist and composer Antonio Pinto would be released in North America, Japan, Australia and New Zealand on July 27 and in Europe on September 14. The album has been described as "how powerful Brazilian soul music can be".
In 2011, he collaborated with Beck on the Mario C. remix of "Tropicália" for the Red Hot Organization's most recent charitable album Red Hot+Rio 2.
In 2012, he collaborated with American fashion designer Rachel Roy on a line of sportswear, footwear, jewelry and handbags.
In 2015, he was nominated for the 16th Latin Grammy Awards in the Best Brazilian Contemporary Pop Album category.
On September 8, he performed after lighting the cauldron in the 2016 Summer Paralympics opening ceremony in Rio de Janeiro.
According to a DNA test, Seu Jorge is 85.1% African, 12.9% European and 2% Amerindian. He belongs to haplogroup R1b, suggesting that his paternal lineage probably derives from Western Europe.
Chega no Swingue
Seu Jorge Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Esperando pra festa começar
Você daí, você de lá
Enchendo os meus olhos daqui do palco
A muito tempo estamos reclamando o rumo do país
Mas agora não dá mais
Só nos resta é sacudir em paz
Só nos resta querer viver bem mais
É que você agora possa estar aqui
Salve a vida
Salve o amor
E vem curtir comigo esse clima
Explodindo a vida pra cima
Chega no suingue
Que vai dar o que falar
Aqui tem gafieira
Que você pode se soltar
Chega pra cá
In Seu Jorge's song "Chega no Swingue," the singer reflects on the diversity of people waiting for the party to start. From his vantage point on the stage, he sees people from all walks of life, all coming together to enjoy the music and the moment. Despite the challenges the country faces, Seu Jorge encourages his audience to let go of their worries and embrace the joy of the moment. He urges them to dance and move with the music, to shake off their cares and celebrate life.
The phrase "chega no swingue" translates to "get on the swing," a common call in Brazilian music for people to start dancing. Throughout the song, Seu Jorge makes references to the traditional Brazilian dance known as gafieira, a style known for its complex footwork and lively energy. He invites his listeners to join him in the gafieira, to let loose and experience the exhilaration of the dance.
Overall, the lyrics of "Chega no Swingue" are a celebration of life and community. Seu Jorge emphasizes the importance of coming together in joyous moments, of letting go of anxieties and embracing the rhythm and energy of the music.
Line by Line Meaning
Vejo tanta gente diferente
I see so many different people
Esperando pra festa começar
Waiting for the party to start
Você daí, você de lá
You over there, you over here
Enchendo os meus olhos daqui do palco
Filling my eyes from the stage here
A muito tempo estamos reclamando o rumo do país
For a long time we've been complaining about the direction of the country
Mas agora não dá mais
But now it's no longer possible
Só nos resta é sacudir em paz
All we have left is to shake it out in peace
Só nos resta querer viver bem mais
All we have left is to want to live much more
E o que me importa
And what matters to me
É que você agora possa estar aqui
Is that you can be here now
Salve a vida
Cheers to life
Salve o amor
Cheers to love
E vem curtir comigo esse clima
And come enjoy this atmosphere with me
Explodindo a vida pra cima
Raising life up to the top
Chega no suingue
Get into the rhythm
Que vai dar o que falar
It's going to make a fuss
Aqui tem gafieira
Here there's a gafieira
Que você pode se soltar
Where you can let loose
Chega pra cá
Come over here
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JORGE MARIO DA SILVA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind