"Maracatu Atômico" ( Portuguese for "''Atomic

Maracatu The term maracatu denotes any of several performance genres found in Pernambuco, Northeastern Brazil. Main types of maracatu include '' maracatu nação'' (nation-style maracatu) and ''maracatu rural'' (rural-style maracatu). Maracatu Nação Ma ...

''") is a song written and composed by

Brazil Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...

ian musicians Jorge Mautner and Nélson Jacobina in 1974, and originally performed by Mautner on his self-titled album released in the same year. It is one of the duo's most famous creative outputs, thanks to the numerous

cover version In popular music, a cover version, cover song, remake, revival, or simply cover is a new performance or recording by a musician other than the original performer or composer of the song. Originally, it referred to a version of a song release ...

s it received over the years, the most famous of them being the one made by

Nação Zumbi Nação Zumbi (formerly Chico Science & Nação Zumbi) is a Brazilian band formed by Chico Science. They have been hailed as one of the most important groups to come out of the manguebeat movement in the 1990s. The musicians of the group continu ...

in 1996.

Nação Zumbi cover

Pernambuco Pernambuco ( , , ) is a States of Brazil, state of Brazil located in the Northeast Region, Brazil, Northeast region of the country. With an estimated population of 9.5 million people as of 2024, it is the List of Brazilian states by population, ...

-based Mangue Bit band

covered the song for their second studio album, '' Afrociberdelia'', from 1996; it served as the album's second single. A critically acclaimed

music video A music video is a video that integrates a song or an album with imagery that is produced for promotion (marketing), promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a music marketing device intended to ...

for the song, directed by Raul Machado, was shot in April of the same year. It was the last music video to be ever broadcast by

MTV Brasil MTV Brasil was a Brazilian over-the-air television network owned by Grupo Abril focused on the youth and entertainment. The network was launched on 20 October 1990, as the first specialty television network to broadcast over-the-air, becoming ...

, which ceased its activities on September 30, 2013; it was hosted by former MTV VJ Cuca Lazzarotto, who also hosted the channel's first music video back in its inauguration on October 20, 1990. In 2010, the band re-recorded the song for the soundtrack of the

documentary film A documentary film (often described simply as a documentary) is a nonfiction Film, motion picture intended to "document reality, primarily for instruction, education or maintaining a Recorded history, historical record". The American author and ...

'' Senna''.

Track listing

#Maracatu Atômico (Album Version) – 4:45 #Maracatu Atômico (Atomic Version) – 4:33 #Maracatu Atômico (Ragga Mix) – 3:30 #Maracatu Atômico (Trip Hop) – 3:42

Personnel

Chico Science Chico () means ''small'', ''boy'' or ''child'' in the Spanish language. It is also the nickname for Francisco in the Portuguese language (). Chico may refer to: Places *Chico, California, a city * Chico, Montana, an unincorporated community * Ch ...

– vocals * Dengue – bass * Gilmar Bola 8 –

alfaia The alfaia is a Brazilian membranophone. It is a wooden drum made of animal skin tensioned or loosened through ropes placed alongside the body of the instrument. Alfaias are usually between and in diameter. Their construction is similar to 1 ...

* Gira – alfaia * Jorge dü Peixe – alfaia * Lúcio Maia – electric guitar * Pupillo – drum kit * Toca Ogam – percussion, vocals

Other versions

Gilberto Gil Gilberto Passos Gil Moreira (; born 26 June 1942), is a Brazilian singer-songwriter and politician, known for both his musical innovation and political activism. From 2003 to 2008, he served as Brazil's Ministry of Culture (Brazil), Minister of ...

was the first one to cover the song, for his 1974 album ''Cidade do Salvador''. Gil's version would eventually be included in the soundtrack of the 2002 film '' Durval Discos''. In 2012, Jorge Mautner re-recorded the song alongside Pedro Sá, Alexandre Kassin, Domenico Lancellotti and Berna Ceppas for the soundtrack of the documentary '' Jorge Mautner: O Filho do Holocausto''. In the same year, the song was also covered by singer BNegão at the

closing ceremony An opening ceremony, grand opening, or ribbon-cutting ceremony marks the official opening of a newly constructed location or the start of an event.

of the London Summer Olympics. David Correy, an American Brazilian singer who was a finalist for the second season of ''

The X Factor ''The X Factor'' is a television music competition franchise created by British producer Simon Cowell and his company Syco Entertainment. It originated in the United Kingdom, where it was devised as a replacement for '' Pop Idol'' (2001–200 ...

'' in 2012, wrote an English-language adaptation of the song entitled "Atomic Maracatu".

Critical reception and legacy

Jorge Mautner once stated in an interview that he and Nélson Jacobina were "flattered and very delighted" after listening to

's cover of their song for the first time. Nação Zumbi's iteration of the song was featured in 48th place on a list of the 100 greatest Brazilian songs of all time by magazine ''

Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. The magazine was first known fo ...

''. In 2012, newspaper '' Folha de S.Paulo'' set up a public poll asking readers to vote on the most influential Brazilian music videos of all time, and "Maracatu Atômico" was featured in 3rd place. Nevertheless, the choice (as well as the list itself) received minor criticism by ''Folha'' critic

André Barcinski André Barcinski (New York City, 1968) is an American-born Brazilian journalist, screenwriter, and TV director. He is currently a film and music critic for newspaper '' Folha de S.Paulo''. He's worked for foreign magazines such as '' Creem'', '' ...

, who said the voters "used heart instead of reason during voting" and that the list "eschewed creative originality and historical significance for he voters'affective memories and personal tastes". Commenting on the song's music video, he said that it was too aesthetically derivative from

Red Hot Chili Peppers The Red Hot Chili Peppers are an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1982, consisting of Anthony Kiedis (vocals), Flea (musician), Flea (bass), John Frusciante (guitar), and Chad Smith (drums). Their music incorporates elements of a ...

' " Give It Away".

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Maracatu Atomico 1974 songs 1996 singles Brazilian songs Sony Music singles