Translate

Wednesday, January 31, 2024

The Brazilian Capoeira Song "Zum Zum Zum" In The 1993 American Movie "Only The Strong" ISN'T The Original Version Of That Song



PlayNowPlayL8tr, Oct 31, 2016

Capoeira Video MashUp set to Zum Zum Zum Capoeira Mata Um performed by Serapis Bey (1993)


****
Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases a YouTube video of Capoeira performed to the song "Zum Zum Zum"/"Zoom Zoom Zoom". 

This post also showcases a YouTube video of a "Zoom Zoom Zoom" Mazda car commercial.  

This pancocojams post presents information that implies if not outright states that the Capoeira song "Zum Zum Zum" ("Zoom Zoom Zoom") as it was recorded in the 1993 American movie "Only The Strong" is the original version of that song. However, the history of Capoeira and a few comments in YouTube discussion threads on "Zum Zum Zum" refute that conclusion.

Additions and corrections are very welcome.

The content of this post is presented for historical, folkloric, and cultural purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who originally composed the Capoeira song "Zum Zum Zum" and thanks to those who wrote and performed covers of that song as "Zoom Zoom Zoom" (as those reworked songs help to increase awareness about the sport and art of Capoeira.)

Thanks also to all those who are featured in this showcased video and thanks the publisher of that video on YouTube. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post.

****
PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
I believe that the version of "Zum Zum Zum" that is part of the sound track for the 1993 American movie Only The Strong" and was later reworked in the 2000s Mazda car commercials is itself a re-working of a very old Capoeira song.

Please add any information and/or comments about the folk sources of "ZumZumZum" and/or about other Capoeira songs in the comment section of this pancocojams post. Thanks!  

****
SHOWCASE VIDEO #2



Tom Bush Mazda, Seot, 3, 2015

****
PARTIAL LYRICS FOR THE VERSION OF "ZUM ZUM ZUM" (WITH ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS OF THE PORTUGUESE WORDS) FROM THE 1993 AMERICAN MOVIE "ONLY THE STRONG"

"Zum zum zum Capoeira mata um - Zoom zoom zoom Capoeira can kill one Zum zum zum Capoeira mata um - Zoom zoom zoom Capoeira can kill one Zum zum zum Capoeira mata um - Zoom zoom zoom Capoeira can kill one Zum zum zum Capoeira mata um - Zoom zoom zoom Capoeira can kill one Onde tem marimbondo? - Where there are wasps? É zum zum zum! - It's zoom zoom zoom! Onde tem marimbondo? - Where there are wasps? É zum zum zum! - It's zoom zoom zoom! Onde tem marimbondo? - Where there are wasps? É zum zum zum! - It's zoom zoom zoom! Onde tem marimbondo? - Where there are wasps? É zum zum zum! - It's zoom zoom zoom! O A O A E - Oh ah oh ah yeh Quero ver bater - I want to see it hit Quero ver cair - I want to see it fall O A O A E - Oh ah oh ah yeh".... -snip-
The complete lyrics for this version of "Zum Zum Zum" and their English translations are included in the video summary for the video that is given at the top of this pancocojams post.

****
SOME INFORMATION AND SOME COMMENTS ABOUT THE CAPOEIRA SONG "ZUM ZUM ZUM"(ALSO KNOWN AS "ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM") FROM THE 1993 AMERICAN MOVIE "ONLY THE STRONG"

Almost all of the online information and comments about the Capoeira song "Zum Zum Zum" (more widely known as "Zoom Zoom Zoom" state or imply that the version of that song in the 1993 American movie Only The Strong is the original version of that song.

For example:
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoom-Zoom-Zoom
"Zoom-Zoom-Zoom" (also known as "Zum Zum Zum" or "Zoom Zoom") is the title of a capoeira song, made popular by the 1993 movie, Only The Strong, for whose soundtrack the song was recorded by Jibril Serapis Bey and written by Kao Rossman.[1][2] It is one of three Serapis Bey recordings which appear on the soundtrack to the film. Another recording of "Zum Zum Zum" was made by Spank for the year 2000[3] Mazda car commercials in conjunction with the company's slogan "Zoom-Zoom." …
-snip-
Read the entry about Mazda that is found below in this pancocojams post. That entry includes the statement that "The Zoom-Zoom music was originally written and composed by Kao Rossman and titled as "Zoom-Zoom-Zoom. " This statement -along with the often found statement that the song ""Zum Zum Zum"/"Zoom Zoom Zoom" is by Serapis Bey effectively erases the history of this song before the 1993 American movie OnlyThe Strong.

Statements that indicate that "Zum Zum Zum"/"Zoom ZoomZoom" is by Serapis Bey (or written by Kao Rossman) fail to indicate that this is a cover of a traditional song i.e. a re-worked version of a traditional song that Serapis Bey performs and/or that was written by Kao Rossman.
-snip-
There is very little information online about Kao Rossman and Jibril Serapis Bey
I'm assuming that 
Kao Rossman and Jibril Serapis Bey are American (from the United States) because the movie Only The Strong is an American production.

I haven't found any biographical information about either men online.
 
I've found a few YouTube videos about an African American Hip Hop artist (rapper) named Jabril Serapis Bey, but I haven't been able to substantiate whether this is the same person who is credited with recording (singing) the song "Zum Zum Zum", and two other Capoiera songs in the 1993 movie Only The Strong:

Here are links to two of those videos (Warning- These videos include profanity and the use of what is now commonly referred to as the "n word".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dR9Lwtv3rhY "JIBRIL SERAPIS BEY UPCLOSE AND PERSONAL INTERVIEW WITH INDIE HEAT" published by Sope Watson, July 6, 2011

SOPE OF SOPE PRODUCTIONS / INDIE HEAT TOOK IT TO THE PEACE GARDEN TO GET IN DEPTH WITH MAKAVELI BRANDED RECORDING ARTIST JIBRIL SERAPIS BEY, IN STONE MOUNTAIN GEORGIA. "1 THUG 1 LUV UNTI THE WORLD BLOW". CHECK OUT THIS INTERVIEW TO SEE WHAT HE HAD TO SAY AND WHATS UP AND COMING... INDIEHEAT.COM

and

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkT4FaNQZME Jibril Serapis Bey
darealhiphopnetwok, Oct 8, 2007

The RealHiphopNetwork Featuring Music Artist Jibril 

**
I've found no information about Kao Rossman other than references to his work in the "OnlyTheStrong" movie: such as this link:

https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/1369167%7C0/Kao-Rossman/#overview
'Only the Strong (1993)
Song Producer ("Donovan'S Mix" "Paranue" "Zoom-Zoom-Zoom" "Olele, O'Lala"), Songs ("Donovan'S Mix" "Paranue" "Zoom-Zoom-Zoom")"

****
Some other online references about the movie Only The Strong:     

Example #1
From https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107750/soundtrack/
"
Paranauê

Performed by Serapis Bey

Produced by Kao Rossman and Stuart Shapiro

[…]

Zoom-Zoom-Zoom

Performed by Serapis Bey

Produced by Kao Rossman

 

Donovan's Mix

Produced by Stuart Shapiro and Kao Rossman

 

Olelê, O'Lalá

Performed by Serapis Bey

Produced by Kao Rossman"

**
Example #2
From 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOUmRNnTBP0&t=2s "Zoom ZoomZoom" GXStream, Apr 20, 2008

1. @robertodefarias, 2009
"
Music : Zoom Zoom Zoom

Artist : Kao Rosman

Trilha Sonora (Song of Movie) : Only the Strong" ("Esporte Sangrento",from Brasil).

Mas a popularidade da música se deve à campanha publicitária da Mazda, que começou a usar a composição nos comerciais de TV e rádio no Japão em 2000.
-snip-
Google translate from Portuguese to English
"
But the song's popularity is due to Mazda's advertising campaign, which began using the song in TV and radio commercials in Japan in 2000."

**
2. 
@gummislayer1969, 2012
"
The name of the song is, in fact Zoom, Zoom, Zoom by Serapis Bey."

****
SOME INFORMATION & SOME COMMENTS ABOUT SONG/JINGLE "ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM" USED IN MAZDA CAR COMMERCIALS

Excerpt #1
From 
https://newsroom.mazda.com/en/publicity/release/2002/200204/0408e.html April 8, 2002, (For Your Information), Mazda Goes 'Zoom-Zoom' with New Brand Message - The worldwide Zoom-Zoom communications campaign comes to Japan -
"
Mazda Motor Corporation is to start a full-scale domestic communications campaign using its new brand message "Zoom-Zoom" for the first time in Japan. Capturing the love of motion experienced as a child, Zoom-Zoom is being used around the world to leverage the Mazda brand. Starting on April 10, a new campaign will promote all Mazda vehicles in Japan.

[...]

Zoom-Zoom has already proved a great success with customers in North America, Europe and Australia, and was first presented in Japan as a theme of the Mazda stand at Tokyo Motor Show last year. Its introduction in Japan will complete the introduction of Zoom-Zoom in all major markets worldwide.

[...]

The new communications campaign in Japan is based on the use of Zoom-Zoom Music in radio and TV advertisements for all of the Mazda models. The Zoom-Zoom music was originally written and composed by Kao Rossman and titled as "Zoom-Zoom-Zoom."* It was specially remixed for Mazda to achieve that fun-to-drive emotion and Mazda is using the music globally. In addition, a little boy named "Micah" appears in the advertisements as a messenger who sends the brand message to customers, whispering Zoom-Zoom reminding adults of that fun childhood moment. The film and music are full of life and energy, perfectly representing the fun and fun-to-drive characteristics of Mazda vehicles.

The Zoom-Zoom advertising campaign starts on April 10 on TV, with the teaser advertisements for Mazda's all new mid-size car, Atenza.

*"Zoom-Zoom-Zoom" is compiled in the original sound track of the 1993 film "Only the Strong (20th Century Fox)." Mazda's reproduction version is not for sale, but only for advertising use."...

****
Excerpt #2
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdD1HcwgqvQ

Zoom-Zoom-Zoom: Original & Mazda Commerical Version" published by Earworm_James,
Apr 8, 2018

[partial summary by that video publisher]

"0:00 Original by Serapis Bey

2:53 Remake used in Mazda Commerical said to be by Spank"...

****
Excerpt #3
From 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOUmRNnTBP0&t=2s "Zoom ZoomZoom" GXStream, Apr 20, 2008

1. @GXStream,2008
"Don't worry, I know it well, only that on YT most people search this song using that strange english transcript."
-snip-
This comment was written in response to several commenters who wrote that the real title of this song is "Zum Zum Zum"

"That strong English transcript" refers to the title "Zoom Zoom Zoom" that is used for that song in the United States and in other countries because of Mazda commercials and other factors. 

**
2.
@PapaBudkin, 2009

"It's because of Mazda that's it's so well known in the states"
-snip-
"It's"=The song "Zum Zum Zum"/"Zoom Zoom Zoom"

**
2. @TheSharkPrince, 2009
"There WAS a commercial featuring a different version of this song. But please don't think that's where it originally bagan or came from. ;) "


**
3. @psycho826, 2010
"so this is where mazda got their slogan lol"

**
4. @composerdoh, 2010
"interesting that Mazda used this as their slogan, when it's to warn of people getting in trouble..."

**
5. @ANOTHERDumbass, 2011
"@anonimboy60 lol i didnt know this was a capoeira song until last year. I first heard it on a car commercial xD"

**
6.  @singlelightproductions508, 2015
"Brazilian version of Mazda's slogan."

**
Reply

7. @musicianhayd, 2015
"
Nope Kevin Gonzalez *Mazda's slogan = truncated version of Brazil's capœira song"

**
8. @erikj.2066, 2021
"I usta have to listen to this while on hold waiting to talk to someone at Mazda tech support.

Parts department usta sell allot of Zoom-Zoom stickers at the time too."

****
Excerpt #4
From 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SufUq4M0EY "ZumZumZum", Diego Aguilar B. Capoeira

Apr 26, 2012  #MúsicaCapoeira #Capoeira

#MúsicaCapoeira #LetrasCapoeira #Capoeira 🇧🇷

1. @PoeticEquation, 2020
"
All this time they now had me thinking this is a car theme song🤨"

** 

2. @Derpypawz2008, 2021
"
Gotta love where the Mazda commercial came from lol"


****
SOME INFORMATION AND SOME COMMENTS ABOUT CAPOEIRA SONGS AND SPECIFIALLY ABOUT THE SONG "ZUM ZUM ZUM" BEFORE THE MOVIE "ONLY THE STRONG" AND BEFORE THE MAZDA CARE COMMERCIALS

Excerpt #1
From https://www.abada.org/capoeira-history/ Capoeira History [no author or publishing date given]
"What is Capoeira?

Capoeira (pronounced ka-poo-ey-da) is an Afro-Brazilian martial art form that incorporates acrobatics, dance, percussion, and songs in a rhythmic dialogue of body, mind, and spirit. Two opponents play each other inside a circle formed by the other players, who create rhythm for the game by clapping, singing, and playing traditional instruments.

[...]

Brief History

Capoeira developed as a result of more than three hundred years of slavery in Brazil. Enslaved Africans were taken by Portuguese colonists from various cultures in Africa. In Brazil, generations of enslaved African people shared the cultural customs, dances, rituals, and fighting techniques that would combine to become capoeira. Slaves used capoeira to fight to escape and resist capture, but concealed its combative purpose through music, song, and dance.

After the abolition of slavery in Brazil in 1888, capoeira was illegal and its practitioners were socially ostracized for more than 40 years. Mestre Bimba, the legendary Capoeira Master, rescued the art form and proved its legitimacy, opening capoeira’s first official school in Bahia, Brazil, in 1932.

Capoeira was born as an expression of resistance and resilience that brought spiritual and emotional empowerment. The cultures of enslaved Africans, Brazilian indigenous peoples, and Portuguese immigrants all contributed to the art of capoeira, and the art form is a reflection of the cultural and social integration of the diverse people comprising modern-day Brazil.

Capoeira has developed into a means of empowerment and a forum for social and cultural exchange. It is now an internationally respected art of grace and strength that combines ritual, self-defense, acrobatics, and music."...

****
Excerpt #2
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capoeira_music
"Capoeira music is the traditional musical accompaniment used in Afro-Brazilian art capoeira, featuring instruments like berimbau, pandeiro, atabaque, agogô, and reco-reco. The music plays a crucial role in capoeira roda, setting the style the energy of a game.

Music in the context of capoeira is used to create a sacred space through both the physical act of forming a circle (roda) and an aural space that is believed to connect to the spirit world.[1] This deeper religious significance exists more as a social memory to most capoeira groups, but is generally understood as evidenced in the use of ngoma drums (the atabaques of candomblé), and the berimbau whose earlier forms were used in African rituals to speak with the ancestors."...

****
Excerpt #3
From 
https://thecapoeirablog.wordpress.com/2008/06/11/intro-to-capoeira-music-singing/
…"First, let’s go over the basic types of capoeira songs so we know what we’re dealing with. Songs in capoeira come in a few different forms:

Ladainha – a solo sung at the beginning of the roda. The ladainha usually occurs in capoeira angola, but can be found in regional too.

Quadra – a four-verse song in the call-and-response style.

Corrido – songs with one or two verses that are also answered by the chorus in call-and-response.

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of capoeira songs out there. Some are more well known than others, some written by famous mestres, and some written anonymously. Lyrics might be different from group to group, but most of them stay very similar across the capoeira world."...
-snip-
I added italics to highlight this sentence.

****
Excerpt #4
From http://gingacapoeira.com/music 
..."Music and song are an inseparable part of Capoeira Regional. The song sets the rhythm and tone of the game, leads the Roda, tells a story and directs the players. Capoeira's songs speak eloquently of the country's history of slavery and liberation, racial conflict and cultural integration, economic hardship and spiritual wealth, and articulates the game inside the Roda through metaphor and philosophy.

The music played by a Capoeira group also serves as a marker of identity and community. While many of the traditional songs of Capoeira are used across the various groups and styles of Capoeira, many Capoeira groups also have their own repertoire of songs unique to their community.

[...]

The songs chanted here in the traditional African musical form of call-and-response are called, as quadras, and os corridos. Their usage in the roda was established by Mestre Bimba as a way of keeping the energy of the roda full, fast, and powerful. As quadras are the traditional chants that open the roda, while os corridos are the chants that carry the roda.”
-snip-
Pancocojams Editor-Given this description, I think that "Zum Zum Zum is a corridos. 

****
Excerpt #5
From 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOUmRNnTBP0&t=2s "Zoom ZoomZoom" GXStream, Apr 20, 2008

1. 
@GXStream, 2009
"Well, it's just Capoeira music. People who practice the martial art of Capoeira sing it when two of the group test their skills against each other.

I's suggest taking a few classes, if you want to hear more. Or if you don't want to, search for music CD on the internet, there are quite a few of them."

**
2.
@chavesbra, 2009
"I'm Brazilian and never heard this song before. It is pretty unknown in Brazil."

**
3. @AfridiZindabad, 2009
"if it's true that this song is like 200 yrs old, then the long ago people had REALLY good taste."

**
4. @highirl, 2009
"it's portuguese! this song is very popular in Brasil, it's kinda old, and it's one of the most recognized capoeira's song around here..

(sorry for the pretty poor english"

**
5. 
@AnaLuizaPimentel, 2009
"I'm from Brazil and I NEVER heard this song before. It's really awkward to know this is number one in Japan hahaha The most famous capoeira song in Brazil is "Paranauê".

**
6. @malandrodenwk, 2009
"yoo i hate when people say thats from the movie ONLY THE STRONG and from the mazda commercial.... that song has been around for more than 150 years..."

**
7. @jakethesnake6789, 2009
"I believe the words are originally zum zum zum"

**
8. @malandrodenwk, 2009
"blackbeltwezal... wtf r u talking about "capoeira cappa a ru" ???? you think thats what they say in the song? They say " Capoeira mata um" and the zoom zoom zoom, hes not reffering to a knife, but to a "maribondo" which is a large brazilian fly that at times can be dangerous..."

**
9. @oleyullah, 2009
"it's 'bout some insects in the jungle

their bites are very dangerous... and when slaves were practicing capoeira they could hear 'zum zum zum' made by wings of these bugs passing by

so they had to kill it before it bite a man

and the song is about it"

**
10. @Rottwhaler82, 2010
"Original lyrics:

"Zoom, zoom, zoom Capoeira matar um!

Matar dois, matar tres e matar tambem quatro!

Se tiver berimbao toquando

e matar todos uma ves"

 

Translation:

"Zoom, zoom, zoom. The Capoeira kills one!

He kills two, he kills three and there the fourth gets down dead!

And to the sound of the berimbao (instrument)

He's gonna kill 'em all."
-snip-
Pancocojams Editor's Note: This may indeed be an old version of "Zum Zum Zum",but
there's no way of knowing if these are the original lyrics.

**
11.
@digicool3, 2010
"This song is usually played when someone is about to get in trouble, or to warn someone about your territory,also to get allies attention unto something/someone.(usually another group present).

1)Zoom Zoom Zoom Capoeira mata um

2)(chorus repeat once) Zoom Zoom Zoom Capoeira mata um

1)Zoom Zoom Zoom Capoeira mata um

-> chorus

1)onde tem marimbomdo?

chorus (EH zoom zoom zoom)

1)onde tem marimbomdo?

chorus (EH zoom zoom zoom)

1)olaaa olaeee?

chorus (quero ver bater, quero ver cair)"

**
12. 
@Hotboytrue, 2013
"are they really saying zoom?

**
13.@alanderson27, 2014
"Is zum zum zum... Barulho de maribondo, vespa"

**
14. @ChrisHikari25, 2014
"Marta Oliveira Zum is the sound that the wasp produces, in english " humming "  in portuguese "zumbido"  ( zum )"

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.


No comments:

Post a Comment