Remembered for his highly-commercial approach to pop music, Xavier Cugat (b… Read Full Bio ↴Remembered for his highly-commercial approach to pop music, Xavier Cugat (born: Francisco De Asis Javier Cugat Mingall De Cru Y Deulofeo) made an even greater mark as one of the pioneers of Latin-American dance music. During his eight decade long career, Cugat helped to popularize the tango, the cha-cha, the mambo and the rhumba. His hits included "El Manicero" in the 1930s, "Perfida" in 1940 and the original recording of "Babalu" in 1944. Members of Cugat's band included Desi Arnaz, Miguelito Valdes, Tito Rodriguez, Luis Del Campo, Yma Sumac and his third (of four) wife, Abbe Lane. Cugat used the success of his musical career as a springboard for a movie career that included appearances in such films as Gay Madrid (1930), You Were Never Lovelier (1942), Bathing Beauty (1945), Weekend At The Waldorf (1945), Holiday In Mexico (1946), On An Island With You (1948), A Date With Judy (1948), Chicago Syndicate (1955) and Desire Diabolique (1959). A native of Genoa, Spain, Cugat emigrated with his family to Cuba in 1905. Trained as a classical violinist, he played with the Orchestra of the Teatro Nacional in Havana at the age of twelve. Emigrating to the United States, sometime between 1915 and 1918, he quickly found work accompanying an opera singer. At the height of the tango craze, in 1918, Cugat joined a popular dance band, The Gigolos. His involvement with the group, however, was brief. As the popularity of the tango faded, he took a job as a cartoonist for The Los Angeles Times. Cugat returned to music in 1920, forming his own group, The Latin American Band. Although they played regularly at the Coconut Grove in Los Angeles and supplied the soundtracks for several musical shorts, the group had its greatest success after moving to New York and became the houseband for the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. Despite being criticized for their middle-of-the-road approach, Cugat remained committed to his commercial-minded sound. He later explained, "I would rather play 'Chiquita Banana' and have my swimming pool than play Bach and starve". Cugat and his orchestra remained at the hotel for sixteen years. Beautiful women were consistently featured in Cugat's band. After helping Rita Hayworth to launch her career, he appeared in her film, You Were Never Lovelier. Cugat's recordings of the 1950s featured the singing of his third wife, Abbe Lane. In the mid-1960s, he featured his fourth wife, Charo, who he billed as a "folksinger". Upon his retirement in 1970, Cugat returned to Spain. He died in Barcelona on October 27, 1990. His band, which was led by Tito Puente following his retirement, continues to perform under the direction of dancer, musician and vocalist Ada Cavallo.

Chica Chica Boom Chic
Xavier Cugat & His Orchestra Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Come on and sing the Chica Chica Boom Chic
That crazy thing, the Chica Chica Boom Chic
Brazilians found the Chica Chica Boom Chic
They like the sound of Chica Chica Boom Chic
It came down the Amazon from the jungles
Where the natives greet ev'ry one they meet beatin' on a tom tom
Boom chi-boom chi-boom, boom chi-boom chi-boom,

It don't make sense, The Chica Chica Boom Chic
But it's immense, the Chica Chica Boom Chic
That's all you've got to say to chase the jinx away

Chica Chica Boom, Chica Chica Boom
Chica Chica Boom Chic! Boom Chic!

Overall Meaning

Xavier Cugat & His Orchestra's song, Chica Chica Boom Chic, is a happy and high-spirited song that has a simple message: singing and dancing the Chica Chica Boom Chic can chase the jinx away. The song narrates how the Brazilians found and liked the sound of the Chica Chica Boom Chic, a crazy thing that came down the Amazon from the jungles, where the natives would greet anyone they met by beating on a tom-tom. The lyrics of the song do not make sense, as it seems to be a nonsensical phrase, "Chica Chica Boom Chic," repeated over and over again. Nevertheless, the song's energy and enthusiasm create a feeling of joy and excitement that make people want to sing and dance along.

The Chica Chica Boom Chic is an example of the Latin American craze that swept America in the 1940s and 1950s. It was a time when Latin music and dance styles like the rumba, mambo, and cha-cha-cha became fashionable in the U.S. The song was incredibly popular when it was released in 1941, and it became one of Xavier Cugat's signature tunes. It is still played today in dance halls and clubs, and it is an excellent example of the joyful and exuberant Latin American music that continues to be popular around the world.

Line by Line Meaning

Come on and sing the Chica Chica Boom Chic
Let's all join in and sing the famous Chica Chica Boom Chic song

That crazy thing, the Chica Chica Boom Chic
This amazing and unique tune is known as Chica Chica Boom Chic

Brazilians found the Chica Chica Boom Chic
This famous tune was first discovered and enjoyed by the people of Brazil

They like the sound of Chica Chica Boom Chic
The Brazilians enjoy the sound and rhythm of Chica Chica Boom Chic

It came down the Amazon from the jungles
This tune was originally from the Amazon jungles

Where the natives greet ev'ry one they meet beatin' on a tom tom
The native people of the Amazon jungle play their traditional instrument called a tom tom as a greeting for everyone they meet

Boom chi-boom chi-boom, boom chi-boom chi-boom,
The rhythm of the tom tom is represented by this repeating phrase: boom chi-boom chi-boom

It don't make sense, The Chica Chica Boom Chic
The lyrics of Chica Chica Boom Chic may not have a clear meaning, but it doesn't matter because the tune is still amazing

But it's immense, the Chica Chica Boom Chic
Despite the seemingly nonsensical lyrics, Chica Chica Boom Chic is a massive hit

That's all you've got to say to chase the jinx away
All you need to do to get rid of bad luck is to say the words Chica Chica Boom Chic

Chica Chica Boom, Chica Chica Boom
These are the catchy chorus lines that will have everyone singing along

Chica Chica Boom Chic! Boom Chic!
The chorus ends with a flourish, repeating the words Chica Chica Boom Chic along with the rhythmic sound of a tom tom: boom chic!

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Mack Gordon, Harry Warren

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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