Thievery Corporation is on the Eighteenth Street Lounge record label named after the DC club owned by Eric Hilton, but several of their singles and EP's appear on the 4AD and !K7 labels.
Formed in the summer of 1995 at D.C.’s Eighteenth Street Lounge. Rob Garza and Lounge co-owner Eric Hilton bonded over club life, dub, bossa nova and jazz records, then decided to see what would come of mixing all these in a recording studio. From this, the duo was born and their self started label Eighteenth Street Lounge Music began to emerge on an international level.
The duo caught the ears of underground DJ’s with their first two 12" offerings, Shaolin Satellite and 2001: a Spliff Odyssey. Their 1997 debut LP, Sounds from the Thievery Hi-Fi began to both define a new genre of electronic music and connect with an international community of like-minded souls. Though the terminology has varied (downtempo, chill out, left field and a myriad of other permutations), they have maintained their unique musical standards for the duration of their popularity.
In 2002, they released The Richest Man in Babylon on their ESL label. This fifteen track album is similar in sound and timbre to their earlier 2000 release, The Mirror Conspiracy, and features performances by vocalists Emiliana Torrini, Pam Bricker, and Loulou.
In 2005 they released The Cosmic Game, which has a darker, more psychedelic sound than The Richest Man in Babylon. The album also featured more high-profile guest singers on it, including Perry Farrell, David Byrne, and Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips.
In 2006, the group released Versions, a selection of remixes done by Thievery Corporation for other artists and toured the United States, playing at Lollapalooza.
The group released their fifth studio album, Radio Retaliation, on 23 September 2008.
The language of the group's lyrics are as diverse as English, Spanish, French, Persian, Portuguese, Romanian and Hindi. This reflects the group's global feel and collaborative structure.
They were the opening act on August 1, 2009 for Sir Paul McCartney at FedExField in Landover, Maryland.
On July 27, 2010, Babylon Central, the cinematic directorial debut of founding member Eric Hilton, was released. Set (and shot) in Washington, D.C., the film follows tripwire events in the interconnected lives of its characters, each influencing power brokers' schemes to manipulate international currencies.
In June 2011, Thievery Corporation released their sixth album, Culture of Fear.
In January 2012, Thievery Corporation launched a remixes contest in conjunction with Dubspot.
Manha
Thievery Corporation Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tão bonita, manhã
Tão bonita, manhã
Manhã
Tão bonita, manhã
Tão bonita, manhã
Tão bonita, manhã
Tão bonita, manhã
Manhã
Tão bonita, manhã
Tão bonita, manhã
Manhã
Tão bonita, manhã
Tão bonita, manhã
Manhã
Tão bonita, manhã
Tão bonita, manhã
The Thievery Corporation's song "Manhã" is sung in Portuguese, and the phrase "Tão bonita, manhã" translates to "So beautiful, morning." The repetition of this phrase throughout the song creates a dreamy and hypnotic atmosphere, as if the singer is lost in the beauty of the morning. The simplicity of the lyrics also creates a sense of innocence and childlike wonder, as if the singer is experiencing the world with fresh eyes.
The song's instrumentation is a blend of electronic beats and traditional Brazilian instruments, such as the berimbau and cuica. This fusion of styles reflects the Thievery Corporation's eclectic musical influences and their commitment to exploring different cultures through their music. The use of these instruments also adds to the song's romantic and exotic feel.
Ultimately, "Manhã" is a celebration of the beauty and wonder of the natural world. It is a reminder to appreciate the small moments in life and to find joy in simple pleasures. The song's repetitive lyrics and dreamy instrumentation create a sense of tranquility and peace, inviting the listener to slow down and bask in the beauty of the morning.
Line by Line Meaning
Manhã
This is a Portuguese word that means 'morning' or 'dawn'. The repetition of this word signifies the importance of the subject matter that is going to be discussed.
Tão bonita, manhã
The first line translates to 'Such a beautiful morning'. The use of 'Tão bonita' emphasizes the beauty of the morning and sets a positive, almost upbeat tone for the rest of the song.
Tão bonita, manhã
The second line is a repetition of the first, further emphasizing the beauty of the morning and setting the mood for the song.
Tão bonita, manhã
The third line is a repetition of the previous two lines, creating an emphasis on the beauty and importance of the morning.
Tão bonita, manhã
The fourth line continues the repetition, further emphasizing the beauty and significance of the morning.
Tão bonita, manhã
The fifth line is a repetition of the previous line, further reinforcing the importance of the morning and setting the tone for the rest of the song.
Tão bonita, manhã
The final line continues the repetition, solidifying the significance and beauty of the morning as the central focus of the song.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Robert Manuel Garza, Eric Hilton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@VibeXplorer
One of my very favorite Thievery tracks. Has that incredible magical quality to it that their best stuff has. Sleek, evocative, perfect for travel moments, and, of course, it has bossa nova in its DNA. Gem masterpiece.
@bryantbell714
one of my favorites along with Scene At the Open Air Market..... beautiful tracks. Been listening for years........ will never die.
@bingolio
Listening to this track is transcendent.
@sithmorpheus9747
In love with this song for years
@velhapsicodelica4747
Morning... so beautiful morning
@GypsySky27
Beautiful gem...............A favorite <3
@frozenintears
This song was released on the jewel case version of the album. The digipak version doesn't have this. I love how Thievery has so many different variations and details to their stuff.
@TheThunderbird63
Sounds like Bebel Gilberto is singing. Which would make sense because she also sang on "Scene at the Open Air Market", which is also on that album.
@digitalsnake3287
Top ten all time fave song
@marssilver
I wish this album was on Spotify...whelp, just means I gotta go buy it..vinyl here I come!!