Song of the Day: Jorge Ben “Pulo, Pulo”

Appearing on Jorge Ben‘s stellar 1970 LP, Fôrça Bruta (translation: “Brute Force”), “Pulo, Pulo” (or “Jump, Jump”) is a great, slinky dance number. Featuring a samba beat, some gentle horns and Ben‘s always ‘on point’ vocals, the song is a longstanding tropicália classic that has lit up dance floors from Rio to São Paulo for decades.

Jorge Ben was born in Rio de Janeiro in March of 1942 as Jorge Duilio Lima Menezes. He has also performed under the stage name Jorge Ben Jor since the 1980s. Ben was an early innovator in the tropicália/ MPB movement (having previously established himself in the late 1950s and early 1960s as a samba artist). His characteristic style fuses samba, funk, rock and bossa. He is also well known as a wordsmith whose song lyrics are notable for their blend of humor and esotera.

Ben penned a number of songs over the years that have become standards for Brazilian musicians and are well-known throughout his native Brazil. Ben is still writing, recording and performing and swings through DC every couple of years.