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.
Forró Lunar
Alceu Valença Lyrics
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Viver de amor e sonhar
Ouvir Dona Selma cantar
No Forró Lunar
Na lua meu São Jorge
Luta contra o dragão
Sua espada de ouro
Lua cheia renova
Nova e pura paixão
Meia-lua e estrela
Chapéu de Gonzagão
Luiz Lua Gonzaga
Brilha como um clarão
Nas noites de São Pedro
Muito mais no São João
São Luiz sanfoneiro
Daí-nos trabalho e pão
Festa, amor e saúde
Para toda a nação
The lyrics in Alceu Valença's "Forró Lunar" are full of imagery and metaphors that are deeply rooted in Brazilian culture. The song paints a picture of the magical atmosphere of a "forró" dance in Olinda, a small town in northeastern Brazil where traditional music, dance, and culture are celebrated all year round.
The singer in the song says he's heading to Olinda to live in a state of love and dreams, listening to Dona Selma singing at the "Forró Lunar" (Moon Forró). The "Forró Lunar" is a metaphor for the mystical energy that fills the air during the night of São João, a popular festivity that takes place in June in Brazil and that involves lots of music, dance, food, and joy.
The song also mentions some cultural references like São Jorge, the patron saint of Brazil, who fights against the dragon on the moon with his golden sword, while the crescent moon and star atop Luiz Gonzaga's hat shine brightly. Luiz Gonzaga, also known as "The King of Baião," was a legendary musician and composer from the northeast of Brazil, who helped popularize the forró genre music all around the country.
Overall, "Forró Lunar" celebrates the richness of cultural diversity in Brazil and how it's manifested in the traditional music and dance of the northeast region.
Line by Line Meaning
Eu vou pra Olinda
I am headed towards Olinda
Viver de amor e sonhar
To live in love and dream
Ouvir Dona Selma cantar
To listen to Dona Selma sing
No Forró Lunar
In the Lunar Forró
Na lua meu São Jorge
On the moon, my Saint George
Luta contra o dragão
Fights against the dragon
Sua espada de ouro
His sword of gold
Brilha na escuridão
Shines in the darkness
Lua cheia renova
Full moon renews
Nova e pura paixão
New and pure passion
Meia-lua e estrela
Half-moon and star
Chapéu de Gonzagão
Hat of Gonzagão
Luiz Lua Gonzaga
Luiz Lua Gonzaga
Brilha como um clarão
Shines like a bright light
Nas noites de São Pedro
On the nights of Saint Peter
Muito mais no São João
Even more on Saint John's day
São Luiz sanfoneiro
Saint Luiz accordionist
Daí-nos trabalho e pão
Bless us with work and bread
Festa, amor e saúde
Celebration, love and health
Para toda a nação
For the whole nation
Contributed by Thomas I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.