Alcione was introduced to the traditional Brazilian music by her father. He was a military musician who worked as the conductor of the corps marching band. At the age of thirteen, she was already able to give vocal performance in college parties. At this same age, she began to study clarinet, and then learnt to play the trumpet.
At age 20 Alcione moved to Rio de Janeiro. There she worked at the city's TV Excelsior, and later went on tour in Argentina and Chile for four months. On returning to Brazil, she settled in São Paulo, working in nightclub and making appearances on television. In 1970, she started her two-year tour in Europe, performing as a vocalist and a trumpet artist.
In 1972, when back to Brazil, Alcione recorded her first single. The following year, she traveled to sing in Mexico and, in 1974, Portugal, where she recorded her first full-length album. In 1975 Alcione released her LP, A Voz do Samba, which achieved gold sales status and featured several hit tracks. The most successful songs were Não Deixe o Samba Morrer, written by Edson and Aloiso, and O Surdo, written by Totonho/Paulinho Resende.
In the late 1970s, Nazaré became well-known as a samba artist and achieved international recognition. She recorded Alerta Geral for Philips Records and, in 1978, released this album, the title of which was taken from a television show that Alcione had hosted on TV Globo for two years. Following its success, Alcione continued to release several other full-length albums in late 1970s and early 1980s, including her self-titled album.
In 1997, Alcione signed with Universal Records, subsequently releasing a label debut named Valeu, through Polygram the next year. This was followed by Celebração that same year, and Claridade---Uma Homenagem A Clara Nunes in 1999. In December 2002 Alcione was recognized for playing an important part in founding the Paraíso School of Samba in London, England. She also helped organizing and preparing the stage for a British version of the Carnival Brasil, Paraíso dos Orixás (Brazil, Paradise of the Gods). In 2003, her 2002 album, Ao Vivo, received the Best Samba/Pagode Album Award at fourth Latin Grammy Award ceremony.
She has interpreted several hits such as Não deixe o samba morrer, Lá vem você, Gostoso veneno and Ilha da maré.
On July 7, 2007 she performed at the Brazilian leg of Live Earth in Rio de Janeiro.
Black Is Beautiful
Alcione Lyrics
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Quantos brancos horríveis eu vi
Eu quero um homem de cor
Um deus negro do Congo ou daqui
Que se integre no meu sangue europeu
Black is beautiful, black is beautiful
Black beauty so peaceful
Hoje a noite amante negro eu vou
Vou enfeitar o meu corpo no seu
Eu quero este homem de cor
Um deus negro do congo ou daqui
Que se integre no meu sangue europeu
Black is beautiful, black is beautiful
Black beauty so peaceful
I want to a black I want to a beautiful
In Alcione's song "Black is Beautiful," the lyrics express a desire for a black man from Congo or from Brazil who can integrate with her European blood. She longs for the beautiful blackness that exists in the world that she has been deprived of until now. She loves the peaceful beauty of blackness, and she wants to be with a black man who fits her needs perfectly.
The opening lines of the song paint a picture of the streets of Rio where the singer saw many awful-looking white people. She is not interested in them, and she goes on to say that she wants a black god from Congo or from Brazil. She goes on to ‘integrate’ with this man of color, and she is not ashamed to declare her desire for him. She goes all the way to express the beauty and peacefulness of blackness – a concept that quite well resonates with the fight against racism and beauty standards.
Line by Line Meaning
Hoje cedo, na rua Do Ouvidor
Earlier today, in Do Ouvidor street
Quantos brancos horríveis eu vi
I saw so many horrible white people
Eu quero um homem de cor
I want a man of color
Um deus negro do Congo ou daqui
A black god from Congo or here
Que se integre no meu sangue europeu
One who will integrate into my European bloodline
Black is beautiful, black is beautiful
Black is beautiful, black is beautiful
Black beauty so peaceful
Black beauty is so peaceful
I want to a black I want to a beautiful
I want a black man, I want a beautiful man
Hoje a noite amante negro eu vou
Tonight I'll go see my black lover
Vou enfeitar o meu corpo no seu
I'll adorn my body with his
Eu quero este homem de cor
I want this man of color
Um deus negro do Congo ou daqui
A black god from Congo or here
Que se integre no meu sangue europeu
One who will integrate into my European bloodline
Black is beautiful, black is beautiful
Black is beautiful, black is beautiful
Black beauty so peaceful
Black beauty is so peaceful
I want to a black I want to a beautiful
I want a black man, I want a beautiful man
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MARCOS VALLE, MARCOS KOSTENBADER VALLE, PAULO SERGIO KOSTENBADER VALLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind