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.
Meu Ébano
Alcione Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Não posso dar mole senão você créu
Me ganha na manha e baubau
Leva meu coração
É você é um ébano lábios de mel
Um príncipe negro feito a pincel
É só melanina cheirando à paixão
É, será que eu caí na sua rede ainda não sei
Sei não mas tô achando que já dancei!
Na tentação da sua cor
Pois é me pego toda hora querendo te ver
Olhando pras estrelas pensando em você
Negão, eu 'tô com medo
Que isso seja amor
Moleque levado sabor de pecado menino danado
Fiquei balançada
Confesso quase perco a fala
Com seu jeito de me cortejar
Que nem mestre-sala
Meu preto retinto malandro distinto
Será que é instinto
Mas quando te vejo enfeito meu beijo
Retoco o batom
A sensualidade da raça é um dom
É você, meu ébano é tudo de bom
É você um negão de tirar o chapéu
Não posso dar mole senão você créu
Me ganha na manha e baubau
Leva meu coração
É você é um ébano lábios de mel
Um príncipe negro feito a pincel
É só melanina cheirando à paixão
É, será que eu caí na sua rede ainda não sei
Sei não mas tô achando que já dancei
Na tentação da sua cor
Pois é me pego toda hora querendo te ver
Olhando pras estrelas pensando em você
Negão, eu 'tô com medo
Que isso seja amor
Moleque levado sabor de pecado menino danado
Fiquei balançada
Confesso quase perco a fala
Com seu jeito de me cortejar
Que nem mestre-sala
Meu preto retinto malandro distinto
Será que é instinto
Mas quando te vejo enfeito meu beijo
Retoco o batom
A sensualidade da raça é um dom
É você, meu ébano é tudo de bom (Ah moleque)
Moleque levado sabor de pecado menino danado
Fiquei balançada
Confesso quase perco a fala
Com seu jeito de me cortejar
Que nem mestre-sala
Meu preto retinto malandro distinto
Será que é instinto
Mas quando te vejo enfeito meu beijo
Retoco o batom
A sensualidade da raça é um dom
É você, meu ébano é tudo de bom
The lyrics to Alcione's song "Meu Ébano" describe the singer's love and physical attraction to a man who is a "príncipe negro" or "ebony prince." The song's lyrics express a strong admiration for the man's physical appearance and captivating charisma. The singer describes how she is constantly thinking of him and is afraid that she is falling in love with him. The chorus repeats the description of the man as an "ébano lábios de mel," or a honey-lipped ebony man.
The lyrics also have references to the man's seductive nature and how he easily wins the singer over with his charm. The lyrics mention how the singer is caught in his "rede," or net, implying that he has played her in some way. The song ends with a repetition of the chorus, emphasizing the singer's adoration for the "ébano," or dark-skinned man.
Overall, the lyrics to "Meu Ébano" paint a picture of a woman deeply entranced by a man's physical appearance and charismatic personality, despite her reservations about his intentions. The song celebrates the beauty, sensuality, and magnetism of black men, naming them as "princes" and expressing their irresistible allure.
Line by Line Meaning
É você um negão de tirar o chapéu
There's no denying your physical beauty, you're an incredibly attractive black man
Não posso dar mole senão você créu
I can't be too forward with you, I need to play my cards right or risk getting rejected
Me ganha na manha e baubau
You win me over with your smooth moves and charm
Leva meu coração
You've captured my heart
É você é um ébano lábios de mel
You have sweet, kissable lips and are a gorgeous black man
Um príncipe negro feito a pincel
You are so handsome it's like you were painted by an artist
É só melanina cheirando à paixão
There's an undeniable passion about you due to your skin color
É, será que eu caí na sua rede ainda não sei
I'm not sure if I've fallen for your tricks yet or not
Sei não mas tô achando que já dancei!
I'm starting to think I've fallen for you
Na tentação da sua cor
Your skin color is so tempting and attractive
Pois é me pego toda hora querendo te ver
I find myself constantly wanting to see you
Olhando pras estrelas pensando em você
I look at the stars and think about you
Negão, eu 'tô com medo
I'm scared of how much I might be falling for you
Que isso seja amor
I'm afraid this might be love
Moleque levado sabor de pecado menino danado
You're a mischievous and naughty young man
Fiquei balançada
You've got me shaken up and unsure of myself
Confesso quase perco a fala
I confess that I almost lose my words around you
Com seu jeito de me cortejar
You have a way of charming me and wooing me
Que nem mestre-sala
Like a master of ceremonies
Meu preto retinto malandro distinto
You are a unique and distinct black man
Será que é instinto
Maybe it's instinctual
Mas quando te vejo enfeito meu beijo
When I see you, I'm compelled to touch up my makeup before I kiss you
Retoco o batom
I touch up my lip color
A sensualidade da raça é um dom
The beauty and sensuality of your race is a gift
É você, meu ébano é tudo de bom
You, my black man, are absolutely wonderful.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Nelson De Morais Filho, Paulo Roberto Dos Santos Rezende
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind