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.
Pagando Pra Ver
Alcione Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
O teu reinado já passou
E quem mandou não manda mais
Você pichou seu próprio nome no cartaz
Meu bem eu já te quis também
Porém você nem me ligou
Eu era um bom remador
Perdeu o rumo e ficou á pé
Agora vem você querendo me intimidar
Quem não se deu o respeito
Perdeu o direito de poder moralizar
E quem procura uma sarna se coça
E quem fica na fossa tem segurar
Quem foi á roça perdeu a carroça
E não vai chorar
Paguei pra ver e com juros
E derrubei o muro
O amor que eu te dei, troquei por um maior
Felicidades e Adeus coló!.
In Alcione's song Pagando Pra Ver, the lyrics express a sense of empowerment and moving on from a past lover who has lost their control and influence. The singer addresses the past lover, stating "Nem vem porque agora já não tem" which translates to "Don't come now because you no longer have power." The singer also acknowledges that they had feelings for the past lover, but their attention was not reciprocated.
The lyrics suggest that the past lover had a sense of superiority and control over the relationship, but that power has been lost. The reference to "pichou seu próprio nome no cartaz" meaning "you vandalized your own name on the billboard" may be a metaphor for the past lover's downfall. The singer goes on to state that they have moved on and found a greater love, ending the song with "Felicidades e Adeus coló!" meaning "Happiness and goodbye my honey!"
Line by Line Meaning
Nem vem porque agora já não tem
Don't come now because you don't have any power anymore
O teu reinado já passou
Your reign is over
E quem mandou não manda mais
Who once had control doesn't have anymore
Você pichou seu próprio nome no cartaz
You ruined your own reputation
Meu bem eu já te quis também
I once loved you too
Porém você nem me ligou
But you never cared for me
Eu era um bom remador
I was a good fighter
Que remava contra maré
Fighting against the current
Perdeu o rumo e ficou á pé
Lost your bearings and ended up stranded
Agora vem você querendo me intimidar
Now you're trying to intimidate me
Quem não se deu o respeito
Those who don't respect themselves
Perdeu o direito de poder moralizar
Lost the right to preach morals to others
E quem procura uma sarna se coça
Those who search for trouble often find it
E quem fica na fossa tem segurar
Those who feel down must hold on tight
Quem foi á roça perdeu a carroça
Whoever goes to the country may lose their ride
E não vai chorar
And won't cry
Paguei pra ver e com juros
I paid to see and got interest
E derrubei o muro
And I broke down the wall
O amor que eu te dei, troquei por um maior
The love I gave you, I exchanged for a greater one
Felicidades e Adeus coló!
Goodbye and good luck!
Contributed by Gabriel E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.