Versions

Maracatu
Alceu Valença Lyrics

Zabumba de bombos,
Estouro de bombas,
Batuques de ingonos,
Cantigas de banzo,
Rangir de ganzás...

- Loanda, Loanda, aonde estás?
Loanda, Loanda, aonde estás?

As luas crescentes

De espelhos luzentes,
Colares e pentes,
Queixares e dentes
De maracajás...

- Loanda, Loanda, aonde estás?
Loanda, Loanda, aonde estás?

A balsa do rio
Cai no corrupio
Faz passo macio,
Mas toma desvio
Que nunca sonhou...

- Loanda, Loanda, aonde estou?
Loanda, Loanda, aonde estou?

Contributed by Leo C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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Alceu Valença (born July 1, 1946 in São Bento do Una, Pernambuco, Brazil) is a Brazilian composer, writer, performer, actor, and poet.

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. Read Full BioAlceu Valença (born July 1, 1946 in São Bento do Una, Pernambuco, Brazil) is a Brazilian composer, writer, performer, actor, and poet.

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.