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.
Essa Menina
Alceu Valença Lyrics
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Ela é doidinha forró por forró
Essa menina
É doidinha por forró
Essa menina
Ela é doidinha por forró
E no forró
Ninguém segura essa menina
Essa menina não tem que segure ela
Quando dá uma banguela
Na ladeira do forró
Empinadinha, que dengosa criatura
Ela dá nó na cintura
Feito cabra de cipó
Eu quero ver
O cabra bom dançarino
Com ela não bater pino
Quando dançar um forró
Se remexendo balançando as cadeiras
Faz temer a cumeeira
E do chão levanta pó
The song "Essa Menina" by Alceu Valença is about a girl who loves to dance forró, a popular genre of music and dance in Brazil. She is described as being "doidinha" or crazy for it, and no one can hold her back when she's on the dance floor. The song goes on to describe her as a skilled dancer, effortlessly moving her body to the beat of the music, causing the crowd to get wild with excitement.
The lyrics suggest that this girl is a free spirit, unencumbered by societal norms or expectations. When she's dancing, she is in her element, completely uninhibited and living in the moment. Her style of dancing is so infectious that even the best dancers struggle to keep up with her, which is a testament to her natural talent and energy.
Overall, "Essa Menina" is a celebration of the joy and freedom that comes with dancing forró. It's a reminder to let loose, have fun, and allow yourself to fully immerse in the experience of the music and dance.
Line by Line Meaning
Essa menina
Referring to a particular girl
Ela é doidinha forró por forró
She is crazy about forró music
Essa menina
Referring to the same girl mentioned earlier
É doidinha por forró
She is really passionate about forró music
Essa menina
Referring to the same girl mentioned earlier
Ela é doidinha por forró
She is really enthusiastic about forró music
E no forró
When it comes to forró music
Ninguém segura essa menina
No one can keep up with her energy and passion for dancing
Essa menina não tem que segure ela
You don't have to hold her down
Quando dá uma banguela
When she smiles openly
Na ladeira do forró
In a place where forró music is played
Empinadinha, que dengosa criatura
With her hips lifted and a playful aura about her
Ela dá nó na cintura
She can twist her waist in a way that is impressive
Feito cabra de cipó
Like a playful goat
Eu quero ver
I want to witness
O cabra bom dançarino
A skilled male dancer
Com ela não bater pino
Someone who can keep up with her rhythm and pace
Quando dançar um forró
While dancing forró music
Se remexendo balançando as cadeiras
Moving their body and shaking their hips
Faz temer a cumeeira
Making everyone feel like the roof might come off
E do chão levanta pó
And causing dust to rise from the ground
Contributed by Kaylee C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.