Fireflies

If you are in Goiás for any amount of time, you will become familiar with a style of music called Sertanejo (pronounced: "sehr-tah-nay-zhoh"), which is the Brazilian cousin of Country and Tejano genres.

Paula Fernandes is the reigning queen of Sertanejo. Her voice is as amazing as she is beautiful. Her song Vagalumes (pronounced: "vah-gah-loo-meez") from her 2005 cd Canções do Vento Sul (Songs of the South Wind) is a magical song about fireflies... the night sky... and love of the woodlands under the stars.

Or something.

As a nature lover, night owl, and reluctant romantic, I find it intoxicating.

Below are the translated lyrics. Keep in mind that some things just don't translate directly, which can make for some pretty disjointed sentences. (...but then again, so do most of my blog posts.) Regardless, I'm sure you'll find this song enchanting. Youtube user Vlad Rio did such a great job on this video, how can you not?

Vagalumes brilhavam nas estrelas
tentavam como vê-las,
apaixonadamente
essa história começa quando um dia
sentir sua magia
pulsando em minha frente

alegria e medo se juntaram
dentro do meu peito
onde um coração
não sabia o que havia acontecido,
mas aquilo só podia ser paixão

amores que se acendem
ao céu azul se rendem
mistérios e perfumes
dos seres vagalumes
que fazem da noite
o seu sertão cercado de beleza e luzes...
hummm...
hummm...
hummm...

alegria e medo se juntaram
dentro do meu peito
onde um coração
não sabia o que havia acontecido,
mas, aquilo só podia ser paixão

amores que se acendem
ao céu azul se rendem
mistérios e perfumes
dos seres vagalumes
que fazem da noite
o seu sertão cercado de beleza e luzes...
hummm...
hummm...
hummm...

amores que se acendem
ao céu azul se rendem
mistérios e perfumes
dos seres vagalumes
que fazem da noite
o seu sertão cercado de beleza e luzes...
hummm...
hummm...
hummm...


Fireflies glowed among the stars
tried to see them,
passionately...
This story begins when one day
I felt their magic
pulsating in front of me...

Joy and fear joined together
inside my chest
wherein the heart
not knowing what had happened,
...but this could only be passion.

Lovers that light up
the blue sky surrender
mysteries and perfumes
of firefly beings...
They make the night,
their woodlands, surrounded by beauty and lights...
ooooo...
ooooo...
ooooo...

Joy and fear joined together
inside my chest
wherein the heart
not knowing what had happened,
...but this could only be passion.

Lovers that light up
the blue sky surrender
mysteries and perfumes
of firefly beings...
They make the night,
their woodlands, surrounded by beauty and lights ...
ooooo...
ooooo...
ooooo...

Lovers that light up
the blue sky surrender
mysteries and perfumes
of firefly beings...
They make the night,
their woodlands, surrounded by beauty and lights...
ooooo...
ooooo...
ooooo...

Lonely

Check out this beautiful song by Bebel Gilberto, a Brazilian American singer. Music runs in her family. Bebel is the daughter of two famous Brazilian singers, João Gilberto and Miúcha, and is the niece of famous Brazilian singer, guitarist, composer, writer, and poet, Chico Buarque.

Lonely is one of many great songs from her 2000 electronic bossa nova album, Tanto Tempo. Although she has been singing since she was 11 years old (performing with her mother at Carnegie Hall when she was only 13) she was 20 at her professional solo debut in 1986.

source

If you like this song, you will enjoy the other gorgeous melodies on the rest of her Tanto Tempo cd, such as August Day Song and Mais Feliz, as well as her 2004 self-titled album which features songs like Simplesmente and Cada Beijo.

Enjoy...

Foi você quem me ensinou
A ouvir
Foi você que soube achar isso em mim

Sem te ver
Não sei mais o que sentir
Só ouvindo aquele espaço ali

Lonely, Lonely

Todo dia te sinto
E fico pensando que você pode até me ouvir (2)

Lonely, Lonely, Lonely, Lonely.

_______________

It was you who taught me
To listen
It was you who knew how to find this in me

Without seeing you
I don't know what to feel anymore
Just listening to that space out there

Lonely, Lonely

Everyday I feel you
And keep thinking that you can even hear me, too (2)

Lonely, Lonely, Lonely, Lonely

Meu Destino - My Destiny

One of my favorite songs in Portuguese is actually by a group from Washington, D.C. You may have heard of them. Two DJs... Awesome sounds... They collaborate with artists from all over the world, resulting in songs with lyrics in varying languages...

Did I mention their mega awesomeness?

Thievery Corporation is the name. An ethereal beat (or 99) is the game. In this case, the vocals are provided by one Patrick dos Santos. Meu Destino [pronounced: "May-yo Des-chee-no"] is from their third album, The Richest Man in Babylon, which features several other personal favorites: Omid (Hope), Facing East, From Creation, and Exilio (Exile) - though I prefer the version from Babylon Rewound.

This video provides the lyrics in both Portuguese and English. Enjoy...

Graffiti in Goiânia - Cultural Icons

Graffiti is a telling glimpse into the youth culture. Here in Goiânia, there has been a surge in wall murals that are tributes to actors and singers. As entertainment becomes ever more globalized, the art depicting Brazilian artists is becoming noticeably outnumbered by that of international artists.

I ran across what appears to be a rendition of Marcelo Falcão, the lead singer of the Brazilian reggae/rock band named O Rappa [pronounced: "Oh Rah-pah"]. (At least, that's who the fogies I asked believe it is...) This mural is found on a stretch of road in the southwest neighborhood of Parque Anhangüera II.

O Rappa's song, "A Minha Alma," ("My Soul") is my favorite!

Check it out for yourself...




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