In the early 90's, the effervescent musical scene of Bahia generated a new … Read Full Bio ↴In the early 90's, the effervescent musical scene of Bahia generated a new phenomenon: Timbalada - a huge group of percussionist with tribal paintings on their bodies and a female singer that performed topless. they all played timbaus, a tall drum that hangs from the shoulder of the percussionist and is held between the legs.

A product of the brilliant imagination of singer, songwriter and virtuoso percussionist Carlinhos Brown, Timbalada does justice to Bahia's rhythmic tradition and, at the same time, introduces modernity and boldness to it. The main singer's hoarse voice, the non-sense of the lyrics, the tribal painting an the collective use of sunglasses helped to place Timbalada among the most original and ceative bands to appear in the last years.

Timbalada is an Afro-Brazilian musician group from Candeal, Salvador, Brazil. It was founded by drummer Carlinhos Brown. The musical style is between samba reggae and axé, with strong influences from African music. They are a highly popular group that regularly plays sold-out shows throughout Brazil.

The group is mostly known for its active participation to the carnival each year in the streets of Salvador de Bahia. It also engages in social activism by working with needy children, providing education and drum courses to help them in social integration.

Musically, Timbalada is credited with two major innovations in the instrumentation of Afro-Brazilian music: the revival of the timbal (a tall, high-pitched hand drum), and the development of a rack of 3 surdos (bass drums) that can be played by a single player. The timbal, which had been nearly extinct before Timbalada began featuring it, has since become widespread in many Afro-Brazilian genres, including axé and samba-reggae. The rack of surdos, also called a bateria-de-surdo (surdo drumset) is now widely used by many groups for stage performances when not parading. Because the bateria-de-surdo can only hold 3 surdos within arm's reach of a single player, the traditional 4-surdo arrangements of many samba-reggae rhythms is often trimmed down to a 3-surdo arrangement

Toque De Timbaleiro
Timbalada Lyrics

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Toque de timbaleiro
Sacudindo o mundo inteiro
Foi criado na Bahia
Saudando os orixás
Com a força ijexá
Candomblé, reggae, magia

Embalalalá

Embalalala Timbalalá

Vem com tranças negras lindas
Toque de timbau ê ô
Timbalada revitaliza
Um brugundum bragadá
Brugundum bragadá

Embalalalá
Embalalala Timbalalá

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Timbalada's song Toque De Timbaleiro celebrate the vibrant culture of Bahia, Brazil, where the music and rhythms of the region have the power to shake the entire world. The song pays homage to the orixás, deities of the Afro-Brazilian religion known as Candomblé, whose power is invoked through music and dance. The lyrics also mention the Ijexá rhythm, a key component of Candomblé music that is characterized by a complex polyrhythmic pattern that is said to represent the movement of the sea.

The central metaphor of the song is the "toque de timbaleiro," or the beat of the timbaleiro, referring to the musician who plays the timbal, a type of drum used in many Afro-Brazilian musical traditions. The timbaleiro's beat is said to have the power to revitalize and energize, creating a mystical, almost magical experience for those who hear it. The song also references the reggae and magic that are part of Bahian culture, highlighting the diversity and complexity of the region's artistic traditions.

Overall, the lyrics of Toque De Timbaleiro celebrate the rich cultural heritage and the enduring spirit of Bahia, invoking the power of music, spirituality, and community to create a powerful and transformative experience for all.

Line by Line Meaning

Toque de timbaleiro
The beat of a timbaleiro drum player

Sacudindo o mundo inteiro
Shaking the entire world

Foi criado na Bahia
It was created in Bahia

Saudando os orixás
Praising the orixás, deities in Afro-Brazilian religions

Com a força ijexá
With the strength of the ijexá rhythm

Candomblé, reggae, magia
Candomblé, reggae, magic

Embalalalá
A joyful expression of rhythm and dancing

Embalalala Timbalalá
Invitation to dance to the sound of the timbals

Vem com tranças negras lindas
Comes with beautiful black braids

Toque de timbau ê ô
The sound of the timbau drum

Timbalada revitaliza
Timbalada revitalizes