Bastos Tigre

Origin

Recife, PE

Also known as

Manuel Bastos Tigre

Years Active

1902–1957

Genres

MPB, popular music, jingle

Instruments

composer, poet

Biography

Manuel Bastos Tigre was born in Recife on March 12, 1882, and became a prominent Brazilian journalist, poet, composer, humorist, and advertising pioneer. Throughout his multifaceted career, he successfully balanced technical pursuits, graduating from the Escola Politécnica in 1906 and working as an engineer, with a deep dedication to literature and the arts. His creative versatility led him to write poetry, plays, and musical compositions, establishing himself as a notable figure in Brazilian cultural history during the early and mid-20th century.

In the realm of music and popular culture, Bastos Tigre left a lasting mark by writing the lyrics for "Chopp em Garrafa" in 1934, which was set to music by Ary Barroso and famously recorded by Orlando Silva. This pioneering track was inspired by Brahma's bottled beer and is widely considered the very first advertising jingle in Brazil. Beyond his musical contributions, he achieved international acclaim in advertising for creating the famous Bayer slogan, "Se é Bayer é bom", cementing his legacy as a trailblazer in commercial communication alongside his peers in the artistic community.

Parallel to his artistic endeavors, Bastos Tigre dedicated forty years of his life to librarianship, becoming the first librarian in Brazil to enter the profession via a public civil service examination in 1915 at the National Museum. He later served at the Central Library of the University of Brazil for over two decades, and his lasting impact on the field is honored annually through the celebration of Librarian's Day on his birthday, March 12. He passed away in Rio de Janeiro on August 2, 1957, leaving behind a rich legacy of published poetry collections, humorous verses, and foundational contributions to Brazilian advertising and culture.