Manu Chao announces first album in 17 years, shares “São Paulo Motoboy”

French-Spanish artist and onetime Mano Negra leader Manu Chao has announced Viva Tu, his first album in 17 years, which will be out September 20 via Because Music. The album is sung in Spanish, French, Portuguese and English, and features a collaboration with Willie Nelson.

The first single from the album is “São Paulo Motoboy” which Chao says is a tribute to couriers in São Paulo, Brazil. “São Paulo is a breathing beast,” he says. “And the couriers are the blood running through its veins, keeping it alive.” It’s instantly recognizable as a Manu Chao song, with an unmistakeable callback to his classic 1999 debut solo single “Bongo Bong” (which Robbie Williams and Lily Allen covered in 2006). The video was shot in São Paulo and features a few of the city’s couriers and you can watch that below.

Manu Chao is on tour across Europe this summer and all dates are listed below.

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Viva Tu
Vecinos En El Mar
La Couleur du Temps
River Why
Viva Tu
Heaven’s Bad Day feat. Willie Nelson
Tu Te Vas feat. Laeti
Coração No Mar
Cuatro Calles
La Colilla
São Paulo Motoboy
Tom et Lola
Lonely Night
Tantas Tierra

MANU CHAO – 2024 TOUR DATES
June 30th BARCELONA, L’HOSPITALET DE LLOBREGAT, Spain – Sala Salamandra
July 3rd BARCELONA, L’HOSPITALET DE LLOBREGAT, Spain – Sala Salamandra
July 6th VIMIANZO, A CORUÑA, Spain – Castelo de Vimianzo
July 13th VALENÇA DO MINHO, Portugal – Festival Contrasta
July 16th AGUEDA, Portugal – Agitagueda Art Festival
July 19th LISBOA, Portugal – Parque Urbano de Seixal
July 22nd ATARFE, GRANADA, Spain – REVIVIR LA AZUCARERA FESTIVAL
July 25th FUENGIROLA – MALAGA, Spain – Castillo de Sohail
July 28th TARVISIO, Italy – No Borders Music Festival
August 1st SEGRATE, Italy – Circolo Magnolia
August 4th FERMO, Italy – Giardini del Parco del Girfalco
August 8th PAESTUM, Italy – Paestum (SA)
August 15th CASTRIGNANO DEI GRECI, Italy – Kascignana Festival
August 20th BAGHERIA – PALERMO, Italy – Piccolo Parco Urbano
August 25th DIAMANTE – CALABRIA, Italy – Teatro dei ruderi
August 31st TALASANI – CORSE, France – Festival Settembrinu di Tavagna
September 14th AUBÉRIVE, France – La Poule des Champs Festival