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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Bailamo Bailamo

From Bala · 2002

Lyricist
Pa. Vijay
Singer
Yuavan Shankar Raja
Music director
Yuavan Shankar Raja
Details
Bala2002

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Saalsa saalsayiaeSalsa, oh Salsa girl!
Sample kaatikittuShowing a little sample,
Shock adichiyaeYou gave a shock!
Male
Hei.. cool saaHey, cool girl...
Cool saaiyiaeOh cool girl!
Hei kootamHey, bringing a crowd,
Kootikittu koothadichiyaeGathering a crowd, you danced with joy!
Male
Hey saalsa saalsayiaeHey Salsa, oh Salsa girl!
Sample kaatikittuShowing a little sample,
Shock adichiyaeYou gave a shock!
Male
Hei.. cool saaHey, cool girl...
Cool saaiyiaeOh cool girl!
Hei kootamHey, bringing a crowd,
Kootikittu koothadichiyaeGathering a crowd, you danced with joy!
Male
Bailamo BailamoBailamo, Bailamo (Let's dance)!
Hei podavai railu poguthuHey, the saree train is passing by!
Bailamo..Bailamo...
Bailamo BailamoBailamo, Bailamo!
Hei visilum bhigilumHey, whistles and cheers
Parakkum bailamo..oohyeahWill fly high, Bailamo... oh yeah!
Male
Saalsa saalsayiaeSalsa, oh Salsa girl!
Sample kaatikittuShowing a little sample,
Shock adichiyaeYou gave a shock!
Male
Hei.. cool saaHey, cool girl...
Cool saaiyiaeOh cool girl!
Hei kootamHey, bringing a crowd,
Kootikittu koothadichiyaeGathering a crowd, you danced with joy!
Male
Kannala paathaWhen seen with her eyes,
Iva kannala paathaaWhen she looks with her eyes,
Ul nenja vettumIt slices the inner heart,
Oru kathikkappalLike a knife boat!
Male
Munnala paathaLooking from the front,
Munnala paathaLooking from the front,
Iva muzhusaaga nikkumShe stands completely,
Oru yuthakkappalLike a warship!
Male
Thooram ninnalaeIf she stands at a distance,
Thooram ninnalaeIf she stands at a distance,
Paai maram nee thaanaeAren't you the sail-mast?
Padam kaatuShow us a grand spectacle!
Male
Pakkam vanthaalaeWhen she comes close,
Pakkam vanthaalaeWhen she comes close,
Joraa sudakkumSnapping with style,
Steam boat-ehLike a steam boat!
Male
Uttalakadiyae ummakuttiyaeOh naughty girl, oh sweet child!
Kallathoni pola vanthuComing like a stealthy boat,
Ennai kannadichiyaeYou winked at me!
Yeii..yeii yeii yeiiHey... hey hey hey!
Male
Bailamo BailamoBailamo, Bailamo!
Hei podavai railu poguthuHey, the saree train is passing by!
Bailamo..Bailamo...
Bailamo BailamoBailamo, Bailamo!
Hei visilum bhigilumHey, whistles and cheers
Parakkum bailamo..oohyeahWill fly high, Bailamo... oh yeah!
Male
Oru glassu beeruA glass of beer,
Athai adichaalae boruDrinking that is boring!
Koojavil kudichaaDrinking from a earthen jug,
Ada maamoi joruOh uncle, that is true energy!
Male
Alibaaba yaaruWho is Alibaba?
Namma paatannu kooruSay that he is our ancestor!
Kadaloram pooraAll along the seashore,
Namma kodi thaan paaruLook, it's our flag that flies!
Male
Ghori mohamaduvumGhori Mohamad,
Gajini mohamaduvumAnd Gajini Mohamad,
Kadathal senjangoThey committed smuggling back then!
Appo daHey buddy!
Kadathi ponathaiWhat they smuggled away,
Naanum neeyum thaanIf you and I,
Thiruppi kondantha thappadaaa ….Brought it back, is that a mistake?
Male
Yakka yakkaa thaanOh sister, oh sister!
Sukka sukkaa thaanOh dried fish, oh dry snack!
Munthaanaiyil moodi vechathuWhat is hidden inside the saree drape,
Mukka mukka mukka thaanIs three-quarters of the mystery!
Haan…haaan..haan…Haan... haan... haan...
Male
Saalsa saalsayiaeSalsa, oh Salsa girl!
Sample kaatikittuShowing a little sample,
Shock adichiyaeYou gave a shock!
Male
Hei.. cool saaHey, cool girl...
Cool saaiyiaeOh cool girl!
Hei kootamHey, bringing a crowd,
Kootikittu koothadichiyaeGathering a crowd, you danced with joy!
Male
Bailamo BailamoBailamo, Bailamo!
Hei podavai railu poguthuHey, the saree train is passing by!
Bailamo..Bailamo...
Bailamo BailamoBailamo, Bailamo!
Hei visilum bhigilumHey, whistles and cheers
Parakkum bailamo..oohyeahWill fly high, Bailamo... oh yeah!
Male
Hey saalsa saalsayiaeHey Salsa, oh Salsa girl!
Sample kaatikittuShowing a little sample,
Shock adichiyaeYou gave a shock!
Male
Hei.. cool saaHey, cool girl...
Cool saaiyiaeOh cool girl!
Hei kootamHey, bringing a crowd,
Kootikittu koothadichiyaeGathering a crowd, you danced with joy!
Male
Saalsa saalsayiaeSalsa, oh Salsa girl!
Sample kaatikittuShowing a little sample,
Shock adichiyaeYou gave a shock!
Male
Hei.. cool saaHey, cool girl...
Cool saaiyiaeOh cool girl!
Hei kootamHey, bringing a crowd,
Kootikittu koothadichiyaeGathering a crowd, you danced with joy!
Male
Bailamo BailamoBailamo, Bailamo!
Hei podavai railu poguthuHey, the saree train is passing by!
Bailamo..Bailamo...
Bailamo BailamoBailamo, Bailamo!
Hei visilum bhigilumHey, whistles and cheers
Parakkum bailamo..oohyeahWill fly high, Bailamo... oh yeah!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Bailamo Bailamo' is an upbeat, high-energy dance track from the 2002 Tamil movie 'Bala'. The song blends Latin dance influences (such as Salsa and the Spanish word 'Bailamo', meaning 'let us dance') with vibrant local Tamil folk rhythms and street slang (Kuthu style). The lyrics exuberantly describe the striking presence of a captivating woman, comparing her alluring gaze and posture to various nautical vessels like warships, steamboats, and stealthy boats. The verses switch between playful banter, youthful swagger, and humorous historical allusions. Lyricist Pa. Vijay uses clever metaphors, wordplay, and modern loanwords to match the fast-paced, youth-centric composition, turning the song into a festive celebration of dance, romance, and untamed energetic fun.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monaai (Initial Alliteration)

Hei kootam / Kootikittu koothadichiyae

Repetition of the 'ko' sound at the beginning of words in the line creates a rhythmic flow.

Metaphor (Uruvagim)

Iva muzhusaaga nikkum / Oru yuthakkappal

The lyricist compares the girl's full-front appearance directly to a warship ('yuthakkappal') and a steam boat ('steam boat-eh').

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Ghori mohamaduvum / Gajini mohamaduvum

The second letters 'ri' and 'ji' rhyme in structure across consecutive historical character references.

Code-Mixing / Linguistic Hybridity

Bailamo Bailamo / Hei visilum bhigilum / Parakkum bailamo..oohyeah

Seamlessly blending Spanish ('Bailamo'), English ('Sample', 'Shock', 'Steam boat'), and local Tamil folk slang.

Did you know?

Trivia

Although the prompt lists the composer as unknown, the music for 'Bala' (2002) was composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja. The title word 'Bailamo' is derived from the Spanish verb 'Bailar' ('Bailamos' meaning 'Let's dance'), reflecting the Latin pop trend that was popular in early 2000s Tamil cinema music.

Keep listening

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