Taco was born to a Dutch couple in Jakarta (On a side note, Indonesia was once a Dutch colony). Prior to his worldwide hit with Puttin' on the Ritz, he fronted a Berlin-based band called Taco's Bizz. Their niche was performing Depression-era oldies in a more contemporary style, and soon Taco was courted by record labels to release a solo single. Puttin' on the Ritz gained so much attention that an entire album was funded by RCA Records. Both the album and the single were hits in Europe, and thanks to a popular MTV video for Puttin' on the Ritz, the single and the album became hits in America as well, selling over 500,000 copies of Taco's 1982 debut album After Eight.
A follow-up album, Let's Face The Music, was recorded in 1984 for RCA, but it failed to recreate Taco's initial success, and he vanished from the American market immediately thereafter. Taco continued to record, however, focusing mostly on the German market with albums Swing Classics/In The Mood Of Glenn Miller in 1985 and Tell Me That You Like It in 1986 for Polydor. In 1987 he recorded the self-titled album Taco. In 1989 he briefly flirted with contemporary dance music by releasing a pair of singles, Love Touch and Got To Be Your Lover, that were blatantly styled after the high energy disco sound popularized by Stock Aitken Waterman. Afterwards he repositioned himself as a swing/soul singer. He has collaborated with Geff Harrison of Kin Ping Meh fame.
He currently resides in Germany, occasionally performing in Berlin and recording.
He has been referenced on the TV show The Simpsons. Episode BABF19, "Behind the Laughter", features Willie Nelson saying, "Thank you, Taco, for that loving tribute to Falco", as well as the end of the tribute itself. Recently, Taco was referenced in an episode of The Venture Bros. in describing Klaus Nomi's tuxedo attire.
The Breaks
Taco Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I break you off, we breaking up
I think we're both kind of broken, don't ya think so
Let's take a break I'll break you
Let's take a break I'll break you
Let's take a break I'll break you
(Don't ya think so)
I break you off, we breaking down
I think we're both kind of broken, don't ya think so
Let's take a break I'll break you
Let's take a break I'll break you
Let's take a break I'll break you
(Don't ya think so)
Let's take a break
We breaking up
I take you down and tape you up
They shake us down, we shaken up
I think we been talking too much
Heard we was the talk of town
They been discussing over brunch
Taking soundbites after lunch
They know I'm taco with the crunch
Rap like Kobe in the clutch
Might hit the Kobe double clutch
Or Mr Green and double dunk
Off on the break I throw it up to Zay
He hit em with the stuff
Now penny got the money up
And all the haters do is huf light
Now I hit em with the information
I decide the litigation
I decide who run the world and all my negus
All my negus tired of waiting
All my negus tired waiting on negus
Only to be told they're not appreciated
Lately I've been kinda lazy
Mixtape coming late, probably like 2080
Call myself a 90s baby even when I'm 98
Let's take a break and break it down
Trying not to speculate
Hope it doesn't escalate, unless it means an escalade
I need some whips and chains for whips and chains that my mammy ate
Making sure my granny ain't worried about her passing day
When it comes to family you just know I got the passion (Aye, aye)
The lyrics of Taco's song "The Breaks" seem to touch on themes of introspection, self-reflection, and the complexities of relationships.
In the first verse, the phrase "Let's take a break and break it down" suggests a need for both the singer and their partner to step back from their relationship and analyze its current state. The repetition of the line "I'll break you" could be interpreted as the singer's desire to tear down emotional barriers and truly understand each other. They acknowledge that they both might be broken in some way, and this realization prompts them to take a break to work on themselves individually.
The second verse reiterates the desire to take a break and break down the relationship, but this time with a sense of urgency. The line "I take you down and tape you up" suggests a need for emotional repair or healing. The mention of being "shaken up" and "talking too much" might indicate that external pressures or rumors have added strain to the relationship. The lyric about being the "talk of town" and being discussed over brunch highlights the scrutiny and judgment they may be facing. Despite this, the singer emphasizes their own artistic identity and the power they hold in shaping their own narrative.
The third verse introduces additional layers to the narration. The line "Now penny got the money up" suggests financial success or stability, which allows them to rise above the negative opinions and criticisms they face. The repeated mention of "all my negus" (a term of endearment and camaraderie) suggests a desire to uplift and empower their community. There is a sense of frustration and impatience with the lack of appreciation they feel, as well as a acknowledgment of their own occasional laziness.
The final lines of the song express a commitment to both personal growth and family. The phrase "When it comes to family you just know I got the passion" suggests a deep loyalty and love for their loved ones. The mention of whips and chains metaphorically refers to material possessions, which the singer desires to provide for their family, ensuring their comfort and security. It's ultimately a reflection on the artist's desire to balance personal dreams and responsibilities towards their loved ones.
Overall, "The Breaks" explores the need for self-reflection, emotional healing, and the challenges of maintaining relationships in the face of external pressures. It showcases Taco's introspective nature, his desire for personal growth, and the importance he places on family and community.
Line by Line Meaning
Let's take a break and break it down
Let's pause and analyze the situation
I break you off, we breaking up
I'm ending our relationship abruptly
I think we're both kind of broken, don't ya think so
I believe that both of us are emotionally damaged
Let's take a break I'll break you
Let's take a pause and I'll shatter your emotions
Let's take a break I'll break you
Let's take a pause and I'll shatter your emotions
Let's take a break I'll break you
Let's take a pause and I'll shatter your emotions
(Don't ya think so)
(Don't you agree?)
We breaking up
We're ending our relationship
I take you down and tape you up
I bring you down and restrain you
They shake us down, we shaken up
They investigate us thoroughly, causing us to be disturbed
I think we been talking too much
I believe we've been sharing too many details
Heard we was the talk of town
I heard that everyone is gossiping about us
They been discussing over brunch
They have been having conversations about us during brunch
Taking soundbites after lunch
Recording snippets of our conversations after lunch
They know I'm taco with the crunch
They know I'm Taco, the rapper with a unique style
Rap like Kobe in the clutch
I rap skillfully and confidently like Kobe Bryant in crucial moments
Might hit the Kobe double clutch
I might execute a difficult move like Kobe Bryant in basketball
Or Mr Green and double dunk
Or I might perform a spectacular slam dunk like Mr. Green
Off on the break I throw it up to Zay
During a fast break, I pass the ball to Zay
He hit em with the stuff
He scores with an impressive move
Now penny got the money up
Now we have a lot of money
And all the haters do is huf light
And all the haters do is show envy or disapproval
Now I hit em with the information
Now I confront them with the truth
I decide the litigation
I make the decision about legal actions
I decide who run the world and all my negus
I determine who has power and influence in the world, including my close friends
All my negus tired of waiting
All my friends are tired of waiting
All my negus tired waiting on negus
All my friends are tired of waiting for others to take action
Only to be told they're not appreciated
Only to be informed that their efforts are not valued
Lately I've been kinda lazy
Recently, I've been lacking motivation
Mixtape coming late, probably like 2080
My mixtape will be released late, probably in the year 2080
Call myself a 90s baby even when I'm 98
I still identify as a person from the 90s, even when I'm 98 years old
Trying not to speculate
Attempting to avoid making assumptions
Hope it doesn't escalate, unless it means an escalade
I hope it doesn't worsen, unless it involves acquiring a luxury vehicle
I need some whips and chains for whips and chains that my mammy ate
I need some extravagant possessions to compensate for the difficulties my ancestors faced
Making sure my granny ain't worried about her passing day
Ensuring that my grandmother is not concerned about her impending death
When it comes to family you just know I got the passion (Aye, aye)
When it comes to family matters, you can be certain that I have a strong dedication
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Demetirus Foster
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Heather Fritts
This is Mrs. Ureke and Mrs. Fritts's 3rd grade Elementary Virtual Program (Cobb County, GA) class's FAVORITE one yet! We have been inspired and make it a part of EVERY TACO TUESDAY!! Thank you!
Denise Lehman
Ms. Lehman's PE classes at Lake Tahoe Environmental Science Magnet School, Lake Tahoe, Ca
Generation Healthy
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Hattie Shaw
Ms. Shaw's 2nd Grade Class at Lafayette Elementary in Washington, DC
Generation Healthy
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Noele Paris
Mrs. Paris 3rd, 4th, and 5th Graders at John Muir Elementary School in Martinez, California
Keturah Zalmijn
Lighthouse Chirstian School in Jacksonville, Florida. Ms. Z's Elementary class
Generation Healthy
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