Kaoma: "Lambada" (1989)

Kaoma was a pop group made up in France of former members of the band Touré Kunda: Chyco Dru (bassist), Jacky Arconte (guitarist), Jean-Claude Bonaventure (producer and keyboardist), Michel Abihssira (drums and percussion), Fania (vocals), and Loalwa Braz (lead singer), Chico and Roberta (dancers). Chyco Dru is from Martinique, Jacky Arconte from Guadeloupe, and Loalwa Braz from Brazil.

In 1989, they had a major chart-topping hit with their dance music single "Lambada," a direct cover of Brazilian singer-songwriter Márcia Ferreira's 1986 dance hit "Chorando se foi," which itself was a legally authorized Portuguese-translated rendition of the original 1981 slow ballad, "Llorando se fue" by the Bolivian group Los Kjarkas. Given Kaoma's clear act of plagiarism and release of their single without Los Kjarkas' permission, Los Kjarkas successfully sued. "Dançando Lambada" and "Mélodie d'amour" were the next two singles and were also hit singles, although they failed to earn the same success as "Lambada". "Lambada" peaked at #46 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. It reached #4 in the UK Singles Chart.

The same year, the band released its first album Worldbeat which achieved worldwide success.

In 1991, Kaoma released the album Tribal-pursuit which provided the singles "Danca Tago-Mago" and "Moço do dende".


- Lyrics:

Chorando se foi quem um dia so me fez chorar
Chorando se foi quem um dia so me fez chorar

Chorando estara ao lembrar de um amor
Que um dia nao soube cuidar
Chorando estara ao lembrar de um amor
Que um dia nao soube cuidar

A recordacao vai estar com ele aonde for
A recordacao vai estar pra sempre aonde for

Danca sol e mar guardarei no olhar
O amor faz perder encontrar
Lambando estarei ao lembrar que este amor
Por um dia um instante foi rei

A recordacao vai estar com ele aonde for
A recordacao vai estar pra sempre aonde for

Chorando estara ao lembrar de um amor
Que um dia nao soube cuidar

Cancao riso e dor melodia de amor
Um momento que fica no ar

Losenta Lambada