When she was twelve, her father gave her a guitar since he was worried about her being shy. Popular musician and composer Patricio Teixeira and classical guitarist Solon Ayala were her teachers. While still a teenager, she met a number of singers and composers who took part of Bossa Nova's musical revolution, in late 50s and early 60s, including Roberto Menescal, Carlos Lyra, Ronaldo Bôscoli, João Gilberto and Antônio Carlos Jobim.
By 1963, after singing as an amateur for a few years, she became a professional and toured with Sergio Mendes. In the mid-1960s, the institution of military dictatorship in Brazil led her to sing increasingly political lyrics. Her show "Opinião" reflected her political beliefs and she had largely switched to political music by this point. In 1964, she even spoke against bossa nova as a movement, calling it "alienating". In 1968, being part of the Tropicália movement, she appeared on the album Tropicália: ou Panis et Circenses, performing "Lindonéia."
She later left Brazil for Paris and in the 1970s abandoned music to focus on her family. She returned to music later and when she discovered, in 1979, that she had an inoperable brain tumor she increased her productivity as much as possible. She died in 1989, leaving a great legacy behind her succesful years of career.
Opinião
Nara Leão Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Podem, até deixar-me sem comer
Que eu não mudo de opinião
Daqui do morro eu não saio, não
Daqui do morro eu não saio, não
Se não tem água
Eu furo um poço
Se não tem carne
Eu compro um osso
E ponho na sopa
E deixa andar
Deixa andar
Fale de mim quem quiser falar
Aqui eu não pago aluguel
Se eu morrer amanhã, seu doutor
Estou pertinho do céu
Podem me prender, podem me bater
Podem, até deixar-me sem comer
Que eu não mudo de opinião
Daqui do morro eu não saio, não
Daqui do morro eu não saio, não
Podem me prender, podem me bater
Podem, até deixar-me sem comer
Que eu não mudo de opinião
Que eu não mudo de opinião . . .
The lyrics of Nara Leão's song "Opinião" are a defiant declaration of resistance against oppression, poverty, and injustice. The singer asserts that no amount of physical or emotional abuse can change her beliefs or force her to abandon her home in the favela ("morro") where she lives. The lyrics are a powerful statement of dignity and resilience against the systemic marginalization and exploitation of poor communities in Brazil.
The song also communicates a message of self-sufficiency and resourcefulness. In the face of scarcity and deprivation, the singer proclaims that she can always find a way to survive and thrive. She will dig a well if there is no water, and make soup with just a bone if there is no meat. Her determination to "let it be" ("deixa andar") and keep moving forward is a reflection of the resilience of the Brazilian people, who have faced and overcome many challenges throughout their history.
Line by Line Meaning
Podem me prender, podem me bater
I am willing to endure physical pain and imprisonment for my beliefs
Podem, até deixar-me sem comer
I am willing to endure hunger for my beliefs
Que eu não mudo de opinião
I will not change my beliefs
Daqui do morro eu não saio, não
I refuse to leave my community despite any hardships or challenges
Se não tem água
If there is no water
Eu furo um poço
I will dig a well
Se não tem carne
If there is no meat
Eu compro um osso
I will buy a bone
E ponho na sopa
And put it in the soup
E deixa andar
And let things go as they may
Fale de mim quem quiser falar
Others can talk about me all they want
Aqui eu não pago aluguel
I don't pay rent here
Se eu morrer amanhã, seu doutor
If I die tomorrow, Doctor
Estou pertinho do céu
I am close to heaven
Que eu não mudo de opinião . . .
I will not change my beliefs
Contributed by Isabelle B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.