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.
Mangueira Estação Primeira
Alcione Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mangueira estação primeira
A estação da primavera
Ô Mangueira
Que enfeita a passarela inteira
Oh vem que a multidão te espera
Não tens igual
Na bandeira tu pintaste a natureza
Que comove o coração de quem te ama
No carnaval
Com as cores verde e rosa da Mangueira
A avenida vira mata brasileira
E mostra a raíz do samba
Lá vem Mangueira, meu senhor
É um jardim em pleno asfalto
É rosa aberta
Verde e rosa, verso e prosa em teu louvor
Eu farei porque és a escola dos poetas
Mangueira é ...
A rainha do desfile principal
É por isso que ela reina na colina
Sobre o barro imperial
Salve a Mangueira
Que mantém-se original
E até no nome é a primeira
Acima do bem e do mal
Representa a última guerreira
Na tradição do carnaval
The lyrics to the song Mangueira Estação Primeira are an ode to the samba school Mangueira, who is known for its colorful and joyful carnival presentations. The lyrics depict Mangueira as the first station of spring, an entity that provides hope and beauty to a city that is often surrounded by harsher realities. The song describes the colors of Mangueira's flag as depicting nature's beauty and the heartwarming emotions it stirs within its admirers.
The lyrics also mention how Mangueira is a school of poets, and how it represents the pinnacle of Brazilian samba culture. The song portrays Mangueira as a queen that reigns over the city's carnival celebrations, and as a warrior who represents the last bastion of tradition and excellence. Overall, the song is a tribute to Mangueira's history, legacy, and cultural significance in Brazil.
Line by Line Meaning
Ô Mangueira
Oh Mangueira
Mangueira estação primeira
Mangueira is the first station
A estação da primavera
The station of spring
Que enfeita a passarela inteira
That decorates the entire catwalk
Oh vem que a multidão te espera
Oh come, the crowd awaits you
Não tens igual
You have no equal
Teu cenário é realmente uma beleza
Your setting is truly beautiful
Na bandeira tu pintaste a natureza
On the flag you painted nature
Que comove o coração de quem te ama
That touches the heart of those who love you
No carnaval
In the carnival
Com as cores verde e rosa da Mangueira
With the green and pink colors of Mangueira
A avenida vira mata brasileira
The avenue turns into Brazilian jungle
E mostra a raíz do samba
And shows the roots of samba
Lá vem Mangueira, meu senhor
Here comes Mangueira, my lord
É um jardim em pleno asfalto
It's a garden in the middle of the asphalt
É rosa aberta
It's an open rose
Verde e rosa, verso e prosa em teu louvor
Green and pink, verse and prose in your praise
Eu farei porque és a escola dos poetas
I will do it because you are the school of poets
Mangueira é ...
Mangueira is...
A rainha do desfile principal
The queen of the main parade
É por isso que ela reina na colina
That's why she reigns on the hill
Sobre o barro imperial
On the imperial mud
Salve a Mangueira
Hail Mangueira
Que mantém-se original
That remains original
E até no nome é a primeira
And even in the name is the first
Acima do bem e do mal
Above good and evil
Representa a última guerreira
Represents the last warrior
Na tradição do carnaval
In the tradition of carnival
Contributed by Isaiah R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.