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.
União Da Ilha Do Governador
Alcione Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
União da Ilha do governador
Quando o pavilhão da união
Gira no chão da passarela
A cidade explode de alegria
Foi a união da ilha que chegou
E o povo já se acostumou
Com a sua poesia e seu calor
E o brilho do seu resplendor
Parece que raiou o dia
Bandeira azul, vermelha e branca que vem lá
É o brilho de uma estrela atravessando o mar
Brilhou e a cidade iluminou
E com a luz do seu fulgor
É o carnaval que brilha
Brilhou e se o carnaval brilhou e se o povo se alegrou
Valeu pra ilha, valeu pra Ilha
Cavalo marinho no brasão
A lira de orféu da Conceição
E a á guia bonita da Portela, madrinha querida
Lá vem o estandarte da união
Chegando na barca da ilusão
E o seu ideal é alegrar a avenida
The song União Da Ilha do Governador is an ode to the samba school União da Ilha do Governador, one of the major samba schools in Rio de Janeiro. The lyrics speak of the school's pavilion, or flag, spinning on the carnival runway, and the city exploding with joy at the arrival of the school. The people have become accustomed to the school's cheerful melody, poetry, and heat, and the brilliance of their resplendence seems to have ushered in daylight. The school's flag, adorned in blue, red, and white, shines like a star crossing the sea, and its brilliance illuminates the city. It is said that if the carnival shines and the people rejoice, it is a success for the island.
The lyrics also reference the symbols of some of the other samba schools in Rio de Janeiro. The verse that mentions the seahorse in the coat of arms suggests the school is proud of its connection to the ocean, Ela is a goddess in the Candomblé religion and is another means of celebrating the African heritage of samba. The line about the eagle references Portela, another well-respected samba school in Rio. Meanwhile, the lira de orféu, which is a symbol of the City of Rio de Janeiro, shows that the song is also celebrating the city's heritage.
Line by Line Meaning
Ô, união da ilha, ô
Addressing the União da Ilha with a sense of awe and admiration.
União da Ilha do governador
Referring to the União da Ilha samba school from the Governor's Island neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro.
Quando o pavilhão da união
When the flag of the União da Ilha is raised.
Gira no chão da passarela
Spinning around the Sambadrome parade ground in a joyous display.
A cidade explode de alegria
The city is filled with an overwhelming, contagious happiness.
Foi a união da ilha que chegou
The arrival of the União da Ilha is the cause of the celebration.
E o povo já se acostumou
The people have become familiar and comfortable with the União da Ilha's vibe.
Com a sua alegre melodia
With the joyous melody of the União da Ilha's music.
Com a sua poesia e seu calor
With the lyrical poetry and the warmth of the União da Ilha's spirit.
E o brilho do seu resplendor
Shining bright with the radiance of their beauty and excellence.
Parece que raiou o dia
As if the day has dawned anew with the arrival of the União da Ilha.
Bandeira azul, vermelha e branca que vem lá
The blue, red, and white flag of the União da Ilha coming into view.
É o brilho de uma estrela atravessando o mar
The brightness of a star crossing the sea to light up the parade ground.
Brilhou e a cidade iluminou
The União da Ilha lit up the city with their brilliance.
E com a luz do seu fulgor
Filled with the light of their shine.
É o carnaval que brilha
It's the carnival that shines with the brilliance of the União da Ilha.
Brilhou e se o carnaval brilhou e se o povo se alegrou
The carnival shone bright, and the people were filled with joy.
Valeu pra ilha, valeu pra Ilha
Thanks to the União da Ilha for bringing joy to the island and to the world.
Cavalo marinho no brasão
The sea horse on the coat of arms.
A lira de orféu da Conceição
The lyre of Orfeu from the Conceição neighborhood.
E a á guia bonita da Portela, madrinha querida
And the beautiful eagle of Portela, a beloved godmother.
Lá vem o estandarte da união
Here comes the flag of the União da Ilha.
Chegando na barca da ilusão
Arriving on the ship of illusion.
E o seu ideal é alegrar a avenida
Their ideal is to bring happiness to the parade ground.
Lyrics © Sony/Atv Discos Music Publishing Llc,
Written by: MAURO DUARTE DE OLIVEIRA, PAULO CESAR FRANCISCO PINHEIRO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind