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Independent Samba Bands

Sep 12 2011

I’m sure you who study Portuguese are all up to your necks from hearing about Noel Rosa, Zeca Pagodinho, Jorge Ben Jor, and Exaltasamba and how these are all samba and whatnot. Which isn’t untrue. But when was the last time you heard something new? I feel like it’s the cool new hipster thing to listen to independent bands, so why not independent samba bands?

Here’s a song from a São Paulo based band (ok, ok, this is a plug, they’re friends of mine…), A Caçamba de Dona Madalena. It’s really hard to find samba bands whose components aren’t under 50 years old, so it’s really refreshing to listen to these guys who are all in their 20s and know that this genre will certainly live on!! I’ve done my best with the lyrics below

Do you guys know of any other independent Brazilian bands you’d like me to check out and post lyrics for here?

Alice

by Fernando Mostaço da Mata e Lucas Marques.

Alice se vira na vida
Que a vida te vira
Te leva pra frente

Vovó já falou
Que viver de rancor
É só um cobertor
Pra essa dor que se sente

Vai pro Equador
Lá faz muito calor
Pensativo que sou
Não serei convincente

Alice se vira na vida
Que a vida te vira
Te leva pra frente

A TV já chegou
A rotina cansou
O amor acabou
Mas viverá contente

Lhe entreguei uma flor
O seu rosto corou
Esse gesto calhou
para dias mais quentes

Como te ver tranqüila?
Um sonho não te anima?
Quero te ver menina
Em nuvens de parafina

Vovó já falou
Que viver de rancor
É só um cobertor
Pra essa dor que se sente

Lhe entreguei uma flor
O seu rosto corou
Esse gesto calhou para dias mais quentes

Como te ver tranqüila?
Um sonho não te anima?
Quero te ver menina
Em nuvens de parafina

Alice se vira na vida

Que a vida te vira
Te leva pra frente

Brazil’s National Anthem in English

Posted by Rachel No Comments

Aug 26 2011

Now more than ever, you can find quite a few texts online that are translated in both English and Portuguese. To give a few examples, there’s a limited New York Times syndication on MSN of NYT articles translated into Portuguese, and Paul Krugman‘s blog is syndicated in Portuguese on Estadão. As Adir recommended yesterday, reading as much as possible in Portuguese will help you learn new vocabulary, and it can be helpful to read something you’ve already read in English so you’re familiar with the subject.

Today, we’re going to take a very well-known text – the lyrics from the Brazilian national anthem – and compare it to the English translation. Read both versions to get a sense of the vocabulary, and then read the Portuguese version by itself.

Brazilian National Anthem - Hino Nacional do Brasil

The peaceful banks of the Ipiranga
Heard the resounding cry of a heroic people,
And the dazzling rays of the sun of liberty
Bathed our country in their brilliant light.If with strong arm we have succeeded
In winning a pledge of equality,
In your bosom, oh liberty,
Our hearts will defy death itself!Oh adored Fatherland,
Cherished and revered,
All Hail! All Hail

Brazil, a sublime dream, a vivid ray
Of love and hope to earth descends, and
Where in your clear, pure, beauteous skies
The image of the Southern Cross shines forth.

Oh country vast by nature,
Fair and strong, a brave colossus,
Your future mirrors this greatness.

Oh land adored
Above all others,
It’s you, Brazil,

Beloved fatherland!
You are the gentle mother
of the children of this soil,
Beloved land,
Brazil!

Laid out eternally in the
splendor of nature,
In the sound of the sea and the light of heaven,
May you shine, oh Brazil, flower of America,
Illumined by the sun of the New World!

More flowers put forth in your fair,
smiling fields
Than in the most gorgeously
reputed lands;

“More life is to be found in our groves,”
“More love in our lives” in your embrace.

Oh adored Fatherland,
Cherished and revered,
All Hail! All Hail!

May the star-scattered banner flown by you,
Brazil, become a symbol of eternal love,
And may the green-gold flag proclaim always
- Peace in the future and glory in the past -

But if the mighty sword of justice is drawn forth,
You will perceive your children, who adore you,
Neither fear to fight, nor flee from death itself.

Oh land adored
Above all others,
It’s you, Brazil,
Beloved fatherland!

You are the gentle mother
Of the children of this soil,
Beloved land,
Brazil!

Ouviram do Ipiranga as margens plácidas
De um povo heróico o brado retumbante,
E o sol da Liberdade, em raios fúlgidos,
Brilhou no céu da Pátria nesse instante.Se o penhor dessa igualdade
Conseguimos conquistar com braço forte,
Em teu seio, ó Liberdade,
Desafia o nosso peito a própria morte!Ó Pátria amada,
Idolatrada,
Salve! Salve!

Brasil, um sonho intenso, um raio vívido
De amor e de esperança à terra desce,
Se em teu formoso céu, risonho e límpido,
A imagem do Cruzeiro resplandece.

Gigante pela própria natureza,
És belo, és forte, impávido colosso,
E o teu futuro espelha essa grandeza

Terra adorada,
Entre outras mil,
És tu, Brasil,
Ó Pátria amada!

Dos filhos deste solo
és mãe gentil,
Pátria amada, Brasil!

Deitado eternamente em berço esplêndido,
Ao som do mar e à luz do céu profundo,
Fulguras, ó Brasil, florão da América,
Iluminado ao sol do Novo Mundo!

Do que a terra mais garrida  Teus risonhos,
lindos campos têm mais flores;
“Nossos bosques têm mais vida”,
“Nossa vida” no teu seio “mais amores”.

Ó Pátria amada,
Idolatrada,
Salve! Salve!

Brasil, de amor eterno seja símbolo
O lábaro que ostentas estrelado,
E diga o verde-louro desta flâmula
- Paz no futuro e glória no passado.

Mas, se ergues da justiça a clava forte,
Verás que um filho teu não foge à luta,
Nem teme, quem te adora, a própria morte.

Terra adorada
Entre outras mil,
És tu, Brasil,
Ó Pátria amada!

Dos filhos deste
solo és mãe gentil,
Pátria amada, Brasil!

After reading both versions, you can listen to the anthem and see the lyrics in both Portuguese and English!

Forró in the Dark

Posted by Rachel No Comments

Jul 20 2011

Even if you can’t travel to Brazil, there are plenty of opportunities to experience Brazilian culture abroad, thanks in part to Brazilian expats and gringos dedicated to celebrating Brazil’s heritage. Forró in the Dark is one such example. The musical group, made up of Brazilians living in New York, started a band in 2002 by playing a jam session at a Manhattan club. They soon become a hit, and have recorded two albums since then, including guest artists like Bebel Gilberto and David Byrne.

Forró in the Dark combines traditional forró with American musical influences like rock and jazz, and mix Portuguese and English in their songs. Like Chris mentioned back in 2007, they took a classic forró song, Asa Branca, and made it into something entirely different, but still incredibly fun:

Here’s another song, called Forrowest, that uses the traditional sounds of the Northeast:

And one of their newer songs, ‪Saudades de Manezinho Araujo‬:

And finally, a funny homage to Brazil’s most famous cocktail:

PS: If you are in the New York area, Forró in the Dark will be giving a free performance at City Winery next week.

Não Trocaria um Sorvete de Flocos por Você

Posted by polyana 1 Comment

Jul 13 2011

This adorable video from an independent band from the outskirts of São Paulo City, has somewhat viralized in Brazil in the past week. It’s almost a breakup song amongst little kids! Check it out

Here’s the video & the lyrics in Portuguese!

Você disse que me ama
Pensa que engana o meu pobre coração
Tá saindo com um banana
Com saudade da minha cama
Esperando o meu perdão
uuuh
Fica dizendo que me quer
Mas prefere um mané apaixonado por você
Tatuagem com meu nome
Ainda tem meu telefone
Assim não vai me esquecer

Por isso eu não…
Trocaria um sorvete de flocos por você
ie

Você ficava só de meia
Eu te chamava de sereia
Parecia tão legal
Um casal apaixonado
Fica mesmo transtornado
É uma coisa tão normal
uuuh
Eu tirava sua blusa
Você minha bermuda e falava de amor
Me chamava de canalha
Destruía minha guitarra e dizia acabou

Por isso eu não…
Trocaria um sorvete de flocos por você
ie

*um banana – a loser

*sorvete de flocos – vanilla ice cream with chocolate shavings

Eduardo e Mônica

Posted by Rachel 1 Comment

Jun 12 2011

Today is Valentine’s Day in Brazil, known as Dia dos Namorados. In celebration of the holiday, we’re going to take a look at a commercial that has gone viral online and that uses a classic love story from one of Brazil’s most famous bands, Legião Urbana.

The song, called Eduardo e Mônica, tells the story of a couple, how they met, and about their lives together.

Vivo, the telecommunications company, took the song and made it into a very creative video, using the lyrics written 25 years ago to adapt a more technologically modern take on the song:

Here’s the making of video, where some of the people involved talk about making the commercial:

Listening Comprehension:

1. What does it actually mean to “trocar telefone?”

2. What is Monica studying?

3. What did Eduardo think was weird about Monica on their second date?

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