Lambando is a fascinating word because it's not a standard Portuguese verb. It was creatively invented for this song, derived from the noun Lambada, the name of the famous Brazilian dance.
The -ando suffix is the Portuguese equivalent of the English -ing ending for verbs. Therefore, Lambando essentially means "dancing the Lambada." The line "Lambando estarei" translates to "I will be dancing the Lambada," perfectly capturing the song's blend of nostalgic sorrow and the joyful energy of the dance.
This song might sound like a party, but the story is all about a breakup! It starts with a fantastic bit of revenge: "Chorando se foi quem um dia só me fez chorar" (Crying, the one who one day only made me cry, has gone). The person who broke the singer's heart is now the one left in tears, full of regret for a love "Que um dia não soube cuidar" (That one day they didn't know how to care for).
Instead of being sad, the singer decides to dance through the memories. They hold on to the good parts, like the "Dança, sol e mar" (Dance, sun, and sea). They'll be "Lambando estarei" (I will be dancing Lambada) while remembering how their love, even if it was short, "Por um dia um instante foi rei" (for one day, one moment, was king). It's a mix of song, laughter, and pain, all wrapped up in an unforgettable dance.
Kaoma was a French Brazilian group formed in Paris in late 1988, built around the Brazilian singer Loalwa Braz, who had been living in France for years and recorded in Portuguese, Spanish, French and English. She fronted a genuinely international line-up: bassist Chyco Dru from Martinique, guitarist Jacky Arconte from Guadeloupe, keyboardist and producer Jean-Claude Bonaventure, drummer Michel Abihssira and backing vocalist Fania Niang.
In the summer of 1989 the band released "Lambada", which topped the charts across Europe and Latin America and set off a worldwide dance craze. The song was not original, though: it was an unauthorised Portuguese version of "Llorando se fue", written in 1981 by the Bolivian folk group Los Kjarkas. After a two year legal battle, French courts ruled in favour of the original authors, and the Hermosa brothers, along with Portuguese lyricists Marcia Ferreira and Jose Ari, were finally credited and compensated.
Kaoma released three albums before splitting up in 1999. Loalwa Braz kept performing until her death in Brazil in 2017, and "Lambada" remains one of the most recognisable Portuguese language songs ever recorded.