Manu Chao, the 63-year-old singer-musician, will release his first new full-length album in 17 years, “Viva Tu,” on September 20, 2024 through Because Music.
“Viva Tu” is his second album, released almost two decades after La Radiolina, from 2007. It features songs in Spanish, French, Portuguese, and English, and was “inspired by his travels and people’s daily lives,” with collaborations from Willie Nelson on “Heaven’s Bad Day” and French singer Laeti on “Tu Te Vas.”
In addition to being a multilingual singer, Manu Chao uses music to promote humanistic worldwide action by using songs about immigration, drugs, love, anti-fascism, capitalism, and solidarity beyond national boundaries.
Photo Credit: Sofia Dowbor
Just one month after the title track’s May release, Chao released the second single from the album, “São Paulo Motoboy,” on Wednesday, June 26. According to a press release, the song is a “brotherly tribute to all of the couriers in São Paulo who risk their everyday lives as they ride their two-wheelers across the huge metropolis.”
The initiative will tackle global concerns and activism in a manner akin to its singles and corresponding music videos. The “São Paulo Motoboy” music video showcases an immersive documentary that portrays the day-to-day activities of “motoboys” in São Paulo. As a former courier, Chao analyzes the risks and significance of the work from a knowledgeable and empathetic stance.
The songs from Chao’s “Viva Tu” album are listed below.
01. Vecinos En El Mar
02. La Couleur du Temps
03. River Why
04. Viva Tu
05. Heaven’s Bad Day (feat. Willie Nelson)
06. Tu Te Vas (feat. Laeti)
07. Coração No Mar
08. Cuatro Calles
09. La Colilla
10. São Paulo Motoboy
11. Tom et Lola
12. Lonely Night
13. Tantas Tierra