"KOOHII RUMBA (Coffee Rumba)"
Performed by: Sachiko Nishida (Original Version),
                       Yosui Inoue (Yosui's 2001 Version)
                       Tomiko Van

Japanese Lyrics: Seiji Nakazawa
Composition: J(ose) M(anzo) Perroni [!!]

Arrangement: Yoshihiko Kawakami (Original Version),
                       Masaru Hoshi (Yosui's 2001 Version)
                       sin (Tomiko Van/"VOICE" Version)

Song from at least:
[2 CD singles] - Coffee Rumba, Coffee Rumba
[2 albums] - UNITED COVER, VOICE ~cover you with love~

»Romaji, and Layout Designed by: Oasis Heart3 (WAFTF)

»Translation by: *TangerineRaven* (DAIForum.com)
»Lyrics Revised by: Megchan (WAFTF & Megchan.com)

Print Lyrics

Mukashi ARABU (Arabia) no erai Obou-san ga
Koi o wasureta aware na otoko ni
Shibireru youna kaori ippai no
Kohaku-iro shita
Nomimono o oshiete agemashita [1]
Yagate kokoro ukiuki
Tottemo fushigi kono MUUDO (Mood)
Tachimachi otoko wa
Wakai musume ni koi o shita

KONGA MARAKASU (Congas Maracas)
Tanoshii RUMBA no RIZUMU (Rhythm)
Minami no kuni no jounetsu no AROMA
Sore wa suteki na nomimono
KOOHII MOKA (Coffee Mocha)-matari
Minna youki ni nonde odorou
Ai no KOOHII RUMBA (Coffee Rumba)

Mukashi ARABU (Arabia) no erai Obou-san ga
Koi o wasureta aware na otoko ni
Shibireru youna kaori ippai no
Kohaku-iro shita
Nomimono o oshiete agemashita [1]
Yagate kokoro ukiuki
Tottemo fushigi kono MUUDO (Mood)
Tachimachi otoko wa
Wakai musume ni koi o shita

 [2] KONGA MARAKASU (Congas Maracas)
    Tanoshii RUMBA no RIZUMU (Rhythm)
    Minami no kuni no jounetsu no AROMA
    Sore wa suteki na nomimono
    KOOHII MOKA (Coffee Mocha)-matari
    Minna youki ni nonde odorou
    Ai no KOOHII RUMBA (Coffee Rumba)

Minna youki ni nonde odorou
Ai no KOOHII RUMBA (Coffee Rumba)...



Once upon a time there was an Arabian monk
Who met a pitiful man who had forgotten how to love,
And he told him
Of an amber-colored drink
With an aroma so strong it could knock you out. [1]
Before long, his heart was filled with cheer,
And so strange was this mood.
Suddenly, the man
Fell in love with a young girl...

Congas and maracas
Make a fun rumba beat.
The passionate aroma of the southern country
Could only be this wonderful drink--
Coffee, mocha-flavored.
In their cheer, everyone drinks and dances.
It's the coffee rumba of love.

Once upon a time there was an Arabian monk
Who met a pitiful man who had forgotten how to love,
And he told him
Of an amber-colored drink
With an aroma so strong it could knock you out. [1]
Before long, his heart was filled with cheer,
And so strange was this mood.
Suddenly, the man
Fell in love with a young girl...

 [2] Congas and maracas
    Make a fun rumba beat.
    The passionate aroma of the southern country
    Could only be this wonderful drink--
    Coffee, mocha-flavored.
    In their cheer, everyone drinks and dances.
    It's the coffee rumba of love.

In their cheer, everyone drinks and dances.
It's the coffee rumba of love...
Oasis Heart3's Notes:
[1] "age" isn't an English word. It's Japanese, and pronounced "ahh-geh".

[2] In the original, Sachiko Nishida version, she sings this verse twice...but it's only sung ONCE in Yosui Inoue (and Tomiko Van)'s version. Also in Sachiko Nishida's version, the last two lines ("minna youki...") are sung repeatedly until the song fades out. Yosui Inoue (and Tomiko Van) only sings these lines once.


[!!] History of the Song: "Coffee Rumba" was originally a Venezuelan/Spanish song called "Moliendo Café". =)

     "Moliendo Café" was originally done in Venezuela (sung in Spanish). It was created in 1958 by Hugo Blanco (and his uncle, J[osé] M[anzo] Perroni), and performed by Mario Suárez. The song has since become a classic in Venezuela and other Spanish-speaking countries.

     At the time of production however, Hugo was still underage, so his uncle had to copyright it alone. (they kept arguing over who the real creator/owner was, even when J.M. Perroni was on his deathbed.)

     Hugo became very popular as time went on. He was even able to spread his music across the world, even reaching Japan. In 1961, he rewrote "Moliendo Café" in Japanese (and called it "Coffee Rumba"), and it was sung by Sachiko Nishida. And in 1962, he had "Moliendo Café" redone in Italian, by a lady called Mina. The song kept its original title when it was done in Italy.

     "Coffee Rumba" became a hit in Japan as well, and many artists covered it. In 2001, Yosui Inoue (an idol singer since the '70s, with huge hits like "Yume no Naka e") did a cover of the song as well (his version was the theme song for a TV show called "AX").