ROCK Sex: "UMBABARAUMA!" - James Brown > Jorge Ben > Imperial Teen > Soulfly

ROCK Sex gets the ball and runs with it.

Today, a culture relay from Funk to Samba to Electro to Indie Rock to Thrash Metal.

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Brazil's Jorge Ben Jor made a Funk homage to a soccer star with his song "Ponta de Lanca Africano (Umbabarauma)" in 1976.

The song began (like all things) as a cross-cultural hybrid, this one between Brazilian Tropicalia and West African rhythms with some decided U.S. Funk swagger. A prime influence was The Minister Of New New Super Heavy Funk, James Brown, as evidenced by the rhythmic groove of this classic example.

JAMES BROWN -"The Payback" (1973)



Jorge Ben's lyrics homage "Umbabarauma/ an African point man/ ...a man whose mind is made up."

JORGE BEN -"Ponta de Lança Africano (Umbabarauma)" (1976)



The song was made more internationally famous in 1989 when it was the spotlight hit on David Byrne's Brazilian compilation album, "Beleza Tropical". A striking animated video helped drive its success.:




In England, it morphed into Big Beat Electronica in a mash-up with Graham Central Station's "Now Do U Wanta Dance" (1977).

FILA BRAZILLIA -"Pots And Pans" (1993)



Imperial Teen, a kind of indie supergroup based out of San Francisco, used the rhythm guitar lick as a departure point for their own stellar song, "Yoo Hoo". The song was used in the film Jawbreaker, and star Rose McGowan appears in the song's video:

IMPERIAL TEEN -"Yoo Hoo" (1999)




SOULFY, a Thrash band that Brazilian Max Calavera formed after Sepultura, did a hard-crashing cover of it that extended its fame.

SOULFLY- "Umbabarauma" (1998)



It came full-circle to Brazil with this funky collective.

GRUPO BATUQUE -"Ponta de Lança Africano (Umbabarauma)" (2000)




"Run, kick, find a hole, thrill and give thanks
See how the whole city empties out
On this beautiful afternoon to watch you play"


© Tym Stevens

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See Also:

• "Fame" - James Brown > David Bowie > James Brown

• "Think!" - 5 Royales > James Brown > Marvin Gaye > Lyn Collins > DJ Rob Base

• "Oye Como Va!" - Tito Puente > Santana > Kinky

• "Crosseyed And Painless" - Fela > Talking Heads > Brazilian Girls > Angelique Kidjo


• The Real History of Rock and Soul!: The Music Player Checklist

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ROCK Sex: "Radio Head" - Talking Heads > Tito Lariva > Radiohead

Thom Yorke and David Byrne

"Transmitter, picking up something good/ Hey, Radio Head/ The sound of a brand new world!"
-Talking Heads


ROCK Sex transmits another example of how everyone relays a wavelength.

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David Byrne co-wrote and starred in an indie film called TRUE STORIES in 1986. Naturally TALKING HEADS made a soundtrack record, including this song:

TALKING HEADS -"Radio Head" (1986)



The trick was that, in the film, the songs were sung by the actors. "Radio Head" was sung by Tito Lariva, backed up by famed accordianist Esteban "Steve" Jordan and his band.

Tito Lariva had been a pioneer in the Los Angeles Punk scene with his band The Plugz. They're most famous for their cover of "Secret Agent Man" as "Hombre Secreto", and for their Morricone-esque work on the REPO MAN (1984) soundtrack, such as the closer song "Reel Ten". He then fronted The Cruzados with their hit "Motorcycle Girl". And he's been a staple in Robert Rodriguez films as TITO + TARANTULA from the El Mariachi trilogy to the theme for "MACHETE".

TITO LARIVA -"Radio Head" (1986)



An English band named ON A FRIDAY was signed in the early-'90s, but then changed their name to Radiohead based on this song. Here's Thom Yorke signaling his feelings.

RADIOHEAD -"Creep" (1992)



"Baby, you're mind is a radio
Got a reciever inside my head
Baby, I'm tuned to your wavelength
Let me tell you what it says...

The sound of a brand new world"


© Tym Stevens

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See Also:

• "Take Me To the River" - Al Green > Bryan Ferry > Talking Heads

• "Slippery People" -Talking Heads > The Staple Singers

• "Warning Sign" - Talking Heads > Local Natives

• "Crosseyed And Painless" - Fela > Talking Heads > Brazilian Girls > Angelique Kidjo

• ROCK Orgy: "Genius of Love"

• "Wordy Rappinghood" - Tom Tom Club > Chicks On Speed


• The Real History of Rock and Soul!: The Music Player Checklist

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ROCK Sex: "Slippery People" -Talking Heads > The Staple Singers

ROCK Sex ties to get a grip on the slip.

Today, the relay hand-off of "Slippery People".

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Possessed by the fever somewhere between Fela and New Orleans, here's Talking heads in fluid delirium. They're backed by Nona Hendryx on vocals and Bernie Worrell on keyboards.

TALKING HEADS -"Slippery People" (1983)



And here's the ever wonderful STAPLE SINGERS putting their own liquid moves on it.

THE STAPLE SINGERS -"Slippery People" (1984, remix)



Not long after, POPS STAPLES played the man with the mojo in David Byrne's film, TRUE STORIES.

POPS STAPLES + Talking Heads -"Papa Legba" (1986)




© Tym Stevens

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See Also:

• "Take Me To the River" - Al Green > Bryan Ferry > Talking Heads

• "Radio Head" - Talking Heads > Tito Lariva > Radiohead

• "Warning Sign" - Talking Heads > Local Natives

• "Crosseyed And Painless" - Fela > Talking Heads > Brazilian Girls > Angelique Kidjo

• ROCK Orgy: "Genius of Love"


• The Real History of Rock and Soul!: A Music Player Checklist

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