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."
Ui!
Tom Zé Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Eu invento ai
Você inventa chore
Eu invento ui
Você inventa o luxo
Eu invento o lixo
Você inventa o amor
Eu invento a solidão
Você inventa o amor
Eu invento a solidão
Você inventa grite
Eu invento ai
Você inventa chore
Eu invento ui
Você inventa o luxo
Eu invento o lixo
Você inventa o amor
Eu invento a solidão
Você inventa o amor
Eu invento a solidão
Você inventa a lei
E eu invento a obediência
Você inventa Deus
E eu invento a fé
Você inventa o trabalho
E eu invento as mãos
Você inventa o peso
E eu invento as costas
Você inventa a outra vida
Eu invento a resignação
Você inventa o pecado
E eu fico aqui no inferno
Meu Deus, no inferno
Valha-me Deus
Você inventa grite
Eu invento ai
Você inventa chore
Eu invento ui
Você inventa o luxo
Eu invento o lixo
Você inventa o amor
Eu invento a solidão
Você inventa o amor
Eu invento a solidão
Você inventa grite
Eu invento ai
Você inventa chore
Eu invento ui
Você inventa o luxo
Eu invento o lixo
Você inventa o amor
Eu invento a solidão
Você inventa o amor
Eu invento a solidão
Você inventa o amor
Eu invento a solidão
Você inventa o amor
Eu invento a solidão
The lyrics of Tom Zé's song Ui! are a commentary on the power dynamics of society and the individual's response to it. The first verse establishes this dynamic, as the singer responds to the actions of the other person with an exaggerated grunt or scream, creating a sense of opposition. The second verse continues this idea, with the singer emphasizing their ability to create alternate responses. The middle section of the song introduces more societal constructs like laws, religion, and labor, with the singer continuing to assert their own agency in creating responses to them. However, the final lines of the song reveal a sense of hopelessness and despair, as the singer finds themselves trapped in a hellish existence.
Overall, the song is a critique of the ways in which society can constrain individual agency and creativity. The repeated phrases such as "Você inventa" (you create) and "Eu invento" (I create) emphasize this point, showing the conflict between the individual and societal expectations. The use of exaggerated sounds like "ai" and "ui" also serves to convey the sense of opposition and tension in these power dynamics.
Line by Line Meaning
Você inventa grite
You create shouting
Eu invento ai
I create a cry of pain
Você inventa chore
You create tears
Eu invento ui
I create a scream of agony
Você inventa o luxo
You create luxury
Eu invento o lixo
I create trash
Você inventa o amor
You create love
Eu invento a solidão
I create loneliness
Você inventa o amor
You create love
Eu invento a solidão
I create loneliness
Você inventa a lei
You create laws
E eu invento a obediência
And I create obedience
Você inventa Deus
You create God
E eu invento a fé
And I create faith
Você inventa o trabalho
You create work
E eu invento as mãos
And I create hands
Você inventa o peso
You create weight
E eu invento as costas
And I create the back
Você inventa a outra vida
You create the afterlife
Eu invento a resignação
I create resignation
Você inventa o pecado
You create sin
E eu fico aqui no inferno
And I stay here in hell
Meu Deus, no inferno
Oh my God, in hell
Valha-me Deus
God save me
Você inventa grite
You create shouting
Eu invento ai
I create a cry of pain
Você inventa chore
You create tears
Eu invento ui
I create a scream of agony
Você inventa o luxo
You create luxury
Eu invento o lixo
I create trash
Você inventa o amor
You create love
Eu invento a solidão
I create loneliness
Você inventa o amor
You create love
Eu invento a solidão
I create loneliness
Você inventa o amor
You create love
Eu invento a solidão
I create loneliness
Você inventa o amor
You create love
Eu invento a solidão
I create loneliness
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Odair Tadeu De Freitas, Antonio Jose Santana Martins
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Fraser Robinson
Que cara mais incrível é o Tom Zé!
Valmir oliveira de aguiar
Harmonia e arranjos geniais.
Andréia Oliveira
Tom Zé e suas peculiaridades, Lindo, adoro!!!
Gabriela Santana
Sensacional!
AFRIKAJUMP WORLDWIDE
THIS MAN IS EVERGREEN. I LOVE U TOM ZE
Patrick Coffman
Favorite Tom Zé song. I love this guy
TomVanDeusen
Thank you for posting the lyrics in English, they're great.
Marciano Núñez
Me encanta esta canción!! Gracias!
Pamela Pecegueiro
Gênio!!!
no name
such a crazy song love it