Remaining true to the experimental and dada impulses of tropicalia, Zé has been noted for both his unorthodox approach to melody and instrumentation, employing unique instruments such as a typewriter. He has collaborated with many of the concrete poets of São Paulo, including Augusto de Campos, and employed concrete techniques in his lyrics. Musically, his work appropriates samba, bossa nova, Brazilian folk music, forró, and American rock and roll, among others. He has been praised by avant-garde composers for his use of dissonance, polytonality, and unusual time signatures.
In the early 1990s, Zé's work experienced a revival when American musician David Byrne discovered one of his albums, Estudando o Samba (1975), on a visit to Rio de Janeiro. Byrne went on to release a compilation of Zé's material as well as two full-length albums of new songs on his Luaka Bop label. A guitar riff from Zé's song Jimmy, Renda-se is sampled on R&B singer Amerie's song Take Control.
Quote: "I don't make art, I make spoken and sung journalism."
Botaram Tanta Fumaça
Tom Zé Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Botaram tanta fumaça
Por baixo da consciência da cidade,
Que a cidade
Tá tá tá tá tá
Com a consciência podre
Botaram tanta fumaça
Por cima dos olhos dessa cidade
Que essa cidade
Tá tá tá tá tá
Está com os olhos ardendo
Botaram tanto lixo
Botaram tanta fumaça
Botaram tanto metrô e minhocão
Pelos ombros da cidade
Que a cidade
Tá tá tá tá tá
Está cansada
Sufocada
Está doente
Tá gemendo
De dor de cabeça
De tuberculose
Tá com o pé doendo
Está de bronquite
De laringite
De hepatite
De faringite
De sinusite
Está de meningite
Tá tá tá tá tá
Com a consciência podre
Botaram tanto lixo
Botaram tanta fumaça
Botaram tanta preocupação
Nos miolos da cidade
Que a cidade
Tá tá tá tá tá
Está de cuca quente
Tom Zé's song Botaram Tanta Fumaça is a powerful commentary on the environmental degradation and pollution of Brazilian cities. The lyrics reflect the frustration and sadness at the state of the city, which has been filled with so much "lixo" (trash), "fumaça" (smoke), and "preocupação" (worry and stress) that it has left the city with a "consciência podre" (rotten conscience), "olhos ardendo" (eyes burning), and a feeling of being "sufocada" (suffocated) and "cansada" (tired).
The lyrics are divided into several parts, each one describing a different type of pollution that has had a negative impact on the city and its inhabitants. In the first verse, the focus is on the "consciência" (consciousness) of the city, which has been buried beneath layers of pollution and waste. The second verse describes the pollution that has affected the eyes of the city, causing them to "arder" (burn). The third verse focuses on the pollution caused by transportation systems like the "metrô" (subway) and the "minhocão" (an elevated highway), which have burdened the city's shoulders with their weight and caused physical ailments like headaches, tuberculosis, bronchitis, and more. Finally, the fourth verse describes the pollution that has affected the minds of the city's inhabitants, causing them to feel stressed and anxious.
Throughout the song, Tom Zé's use of repetition and onomatopoeia (like the "tá tá tá tá tá" in each verse) emphasizes the overwhelming nature of the pollution and its impact on the city. The song is a powerful call to action to address the environmental and social issues that affect urban areas in Brazil and around the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Botaram tanto lixo
There's been so much garbage and waste piled up and dumped in the city
Botaram tanta fumaça
So much pollution has been released into the air, choking the city
Por baixo da consciência da cidade,
Without the city's awareness or concern
Que a cidade
The city has been greatly affected by this
Está com a consciência podre
As such, the city's collective consciousness is corrupt and compromised
Por cima dos olhos dessa cidade
Also, so much dirt and smog has covered and invaded the city, polluting its citizens directly
Está com os olhos ardendo
The city's people have already suffered damages such as irritated eyes and lungs
Botaram tanto metrô e minhocão
Furthermore, the city's public transportation infrastructure (subways and viaducts) have been built on top of the city, adding more weight and smog
Pelos ombros da cidade
Like a heavy load that the city has to bear
Está cansada
The city itself and its inhabitants are exhausted, both physically and mentally
Sufocada
People are actually suffocating from all the pollution
Está doente
The city is sick, plagued with various sicknesses and diseases
Tá gemendo
The city is moaning in agony
De dor de cabeça
Many people have headaches from all the pollution
De tuberculose
There's been an outbreak of tuberculosis
Tá com o pé doendo
People's feet are aching from walking in polluted areas
Está de bronquite
A large number of people now have bronchitis
De laringite
People's throat is swollen from all the particles entering their lungs
De hepatite
There has also been an increase in the cases of hepatitis
De faringite
Frequent sore throats and inflammation
De sinusite
Airborne particles have caused inflammation in people's sinuses
Está de meningite
The city is even facing the risk of meningitis
Botaram tanta preocupação
The city's people, manifesting the city's reality and plight, share the same worries and anxiety
Nos miolos da cidade
Their anxiety has now taken root in the city itself
Está de cuca quente
As a result, the city's inhabitants are losing their cool and sanity, overwhelmed by the current situation
Lyrics © Editora e Importadora Musical Fermata do Brasil Ltda.
Written by: TOM ZÉ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Carla Mariel
o melhor artista vivo do brasil! talentoso e gaio, eis o gênio da música brasileira cantando para as nossas consciencias, muito diferente dos gemidos sem sentido de seus antigos companeiros tropicalhos. e dos romances escandalosos com garotinhas na praia, de certos arrogantes...
manuela nicodemo
Ela tem no meu livro como exemplo 👏👏👏👏
Carlos André
Lendário Tom
Dario Gotti
Grandissimo tom !
manuela nicodemo
Amei essa música
isa mariano
Tommmm Zéeeeee!!! pura vita!!!
manu glau
d+. d q planeta vc é, Tom?
Sthe Ss
😷👍🏼👏👏👏 botaram tanto agrotóxico e estão até com câncer!
Never
👍🏾💛🍀
Jaime Lealzapata
obrigado..