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."
Fliperama
Tom Zé Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Filip, flip, filip, filip, flip
Flipé - pépé - pépé - pépé
Rará - rará - rará - rará
Rará - rará - rará - rá
Râ - mamá - mâma - mamá - mamá
Fliperama
O louco comandante Flip
quer fazer uma guerra na Terra
Oferece um caminhão e o seu cinturão
Que para a batalha não falha.
E no quarto faz com ela
A terceira arruela
Do amor que tem a violência,
Com o pirulito da ciência - á - á - á
Com o pirulito da ciência - á - á
Pelo pirulito da ciência - â - â
Pelo pirulito da ciência - â
Apelo
Tom Zé's song Fliperama is a playful and subversive critique of the military-industrial complex and its insidious influence on society. The song opens with the repeated sounds of a pinball machine ('flip, flip, flip') which serve as a metaphor for the mechanization and dehumanization of warfare. The nonsensical syllables that follow ('Filip, flip, filip, filip, flip', 'Flipé - pépé - pépé - pépé', 'Rará - rará - rará - rará', etc.) create a sense of disorientation and confusion, suggesting that the world of war and politics is often incomprehensible and absurd.
The lyrics then introduce a character called the "louco comandante Flip" (crazy Commander Flip) who wants to start a war on Earth, and is offering a truck and his belt to do so. He is a caricature of the military leaders who promote war as a solution to global problems. The third verse switches to a more personal level, describing Flip's sexual conquests with a woman in a hotel room ("no quarto faz com ela/A terceira arruela/Do amor que tem a violência"). Here, Tom Zé is pointing out the link between militarism and patriarchy, as well as the glorification of violence in our culture.
Overall, Fliperama is a clever and humorous commentary on the dangers of militarism and the need for peace and human connection. It highlights the absurdity of war and the ways in which it dehumanizes and destroys lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Flip, flip, flip
Repetition of the sound 'flip' to create a playful and rhythmical opening.
Filip, flip, filip, filip, flip
Further repetition of the sound 'flip,' maintaining the upbeat and playful tone of the song.
Flipé - pépé - pépé - pépé
The repetition of syllables and sounds continues, building a nonsensical and whimsical atmosphere.
Rará - rará - rará - rará
Another nonsensical repetition of sounds, adding to the silly and playful tone of the song.
Rará - rará - rará - rá
The repetition continues, mixing up the sounds for variation and unpredictability.
Râ - mamá - mâma - mamá - mamá
More playful repetition of sounds, with some syllables possibly referencing familial relationships.
Fliperama
The chorus comes in, repeating the word 'fliperama,' a reference to arcade games and possibly serving as a metaphor for the world at large.
O louco comandante Flip
Introducing a character named 'Flip,' who is referred to as both 'louco' (crazy) and 'comandante' (commander), possibly hinting at a megalomaniacal figure in power.
Com a sua moedinha
The character is portrayed as having only a single coin, implying a lack of resources or power.
Quer fazer uma guerra na Terra
Despite their lack of power, the character desires to start a war on Earth, possibly commenting on the destructive tendencies of those in power.
Oferece um caminhão e o seu cinturão
To entice others to join their cause, the character offers a truck and their belt as weapons, emphasizing their relative weakness and lack of resources.
Que para a batalha não falha
Despite these limited resources, the character insists that their weapons will not fail them in battle.
E no quarto faz com ela
A sudden shift in tone as the character is revealed to be sexually involved with someone else, possibly indicating a personal motivation for their warlike tendencies.
A terceira arruela
A reference to the Kama Sutra, suggesting that the sexual encounter is experimental and possibly unconventional.
Do amor que tem a violência
A phrase that implies a link between love and violence, emphasizing the dangerous and destructive nature of the character's motivations.
Com o pirulito da ciência - á - á - á
A playful and nonsensical phrase, possibly referencing the idea of using scientific knowledge for dangerous purposes.
Com o pirulito da ciência - á - á
Repeating the previous phrase with some variation, keeping up the whimsical and unpredictable atmosphere.
Pelo pirulito da ciência - â - â
Another variation on the previous phrase, possibly hinting at some form of scientific experimentation or manipulation.
Pelo pirulito da ciência - â
The final line before the chorus repeats, continuing the nonsensical and playful theme of the song.
Apelo
The chorus repeats, with the word 'apelo' meaning 'appeal' or 'plea,' possibly tying back into the character's motivations for starting a war.
Contributed by Taylor V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@gabrielfagundes776
Tom Zé é genial ❤❤❤❤