Alceu Valenca was born in countryside Pernambuco, Northeast Brazil. He is considered the most successful artist in achieving an aesthetic balance between traditional northeastern Brazilian music and a broad range of electronic sounds and effects from pop music. One can find traces of maracatu, coco and "repentes de viola" (improvising fast-paced Brazilian folk music) in most of his songs. Alceu was able to utilize the electric guitar the electric bass, and lately even a synthesizer was added to his broad scope of musical instruments.
Because of that, Alceu was able to recreate Northeastern traditional music, like baiao, coco, toada, maracatu, frevo, caboclinhos, embolada and repentes: all sung with a sometimes rock sometimes alternative sounding music background. His music and his themes are intangible, universal and unlimited. However, his aesthetic basis is genuinely Brazilian Northeastern music.
Anjo de fogo
Alceu Valença Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Você me conhece e não pode me ver
Presente de grego, cavalo de Tróia
Sou cobra jibóia, Saci Pererê
Um anjo de fogo endemoniado
Que vai ao cinema, comete pecado
Um anjo caolho que olhou os dois lados
Dormiu no presente, sonhou no passado
Olhou pro futuro e me disse que não
Não!
The lyrics to Alceu Valença's song Anjo de fogo express a deep sense of identity and individuality. The first verse paints a picture of someone who is elusive, much like the wind that sweeps through the city. This person is known to others, yet remains invisible, perhaps because they are constantly in motion and never in one place for long.
The second verse continues the theme of ambiguity with references to Greek mythology with the "presente de grego" (Greek gift) and "cavalo de Tróia" (Trojan horse). The singer compares himself to the Jibóia snake, a Brazilian boa constrictor known for its quickness and agility. The mention of the Saci Pererê, a folklore character from Brazilian folklore who is known for his mischievous behavior, further adds to the sense of unpredictability and playfulness.
The chorus introduces the concept of an "endemoniado" (possessed) angel of fire, who is not conforming to traditional and expected behavior. This angel is committing sins such as going to the cinema, drinking beer, and spitting on the ground, which contrasts with traditional notions of angels as pure and unblemished beings. The final lines of the chorus say, "Olhou pro futuro e me disse que não, Não!" ("Looked at the future and told me no, No!") suggesting that this unorthodox behavior also carries with it a sense of rejection and isolation.
Overall, the song seems to be a celebration of individuality and a rejection of societal norms and expectations. The singer is proud of their unique identity, even if it means not fitting into society's preconceived notions of what is acceptable.
Line by Line Meaning
Eu sou como o vento que varre a cidade
I am like the wind that sweeps through the city, always moving and changing.
Você me conhece e não pode me ver
You know me, but you cannot fully see and understand me.
Presente de grego, cavalo de Tróia
I am a gift that may not be as good as it seems, like a Trojan horse that hides something unpleasant.
Sou cobra jibóia, Saci Pererê
I am like a snake, both alluring and dangerous, and also like a Saci Pererê, a mischievous mythological figure.
Um anjo de fogo endemoniado
I am like a fiery angel that is both blessed and cursed.
Que vai ao cinema, comete pecado
I do things that some may consider sinful, like going to the cinema.
Que bebe cerveja e cospe no chão
I drink alcohol and spit on the ground without caring about etiquette.
Um anjo caolho que olhou os dois lados
I am like a one-eyed angel who can see both sides of a situation.
Dormiu no presente, sonhou no passado
I have slept in the present but dreamt about the past, reflecting on memories.
Olhou pro futuro e me disse que não
I looked towards the future and it told me that I cannot have everything I want.
Não!
This represents a refusal or rejection of something.
Contributed by Claire R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Astralplane
Baixo virado na casa da porra! Que som! Que mestre!
Beatriz Ribeiro
muito difícil escolher uma só, mas acho que é minha preferida do álbum
Rosane Mascarello
Maria dos santos tbm me pega, mas esse disco é foda eleger uma. Ele é foda de ponta a ponta!
Abdias Herculano
Beatriz Ribeiro acho que é a minha preferida também
Laísa da Fraga
eu sou como o vento que varre a cidade você me conhece, não pode me ver.
presente de grego, cavalo de troia, sou cobra jiboia e saci pererê.
um anjo de fogo endemoniado que vai ao cinema, comete pecado, que bebe cerveja e cospe no chão.
um anjo caolho que olhou os dois lados, dormiu no presente sonhou com o passado olho pro futuro e me disse que NÃO.
Eis a poesia singela da psicodelia braveza¡
Velha Psicodélica
Alceu é foda! Que disco incrível :D
Marcos Luna
Que música, que linha de baixo maravilhoso.
José Mauricio Alvarenga
Música da floresta misteriosa,muito maneiro!!!Da vontade de dançar igual um saci!!!
thiandromeda
Parabens por postar estas perolas!!! Sou fã do Alceu por causa deste disco, infelizmente o unico que eu conheço!!!!!
Vinicius Nascimento
Album VIVO! de 1976, obra de arte.