Alcione (Alcione Nazaré, São Luís, Maranhão, November 21, 1947) also known … Read Full Bio ↴Alcione (Alcione Nazaré, São Luís, Maranhão, November 21, 1947) also known as Marrom (brownie) is one of the most successful female sambists in Brazil who first claimed international recognition in the late 1970s, and has had 19 gold records and two platinum records.

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.

Velho Barco
Alcione Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Eu já nem sei
Se foi um bem ou foi um mal
Se sonhei ou se vivi coisa real
O que sei é que valeu
Foi puro
Foi promessa de um porto seguro
Para o meu coração
Velho barco acostumado a velejar

Enfrentando tempestades nesse mar
Que no fundo só é mar
Pra quem sabe navegar

Quando o céu se desanuviou
Tentei juntar o que restou
Mas o barco se desfez
Foi então aí que eu aprendi
Que tudo aquilo que eu vivi

Só se vive uma vez
E nem sei se quem viveu fui eu

Overall Meaning

In Alcione's song "Velho Barco," the singer reflects on their past experiences in a relationship, questioning whether it was for the better or worse. They contemplate whether it was just a dream or if it was truly a tangible moment in their life. Regardless, the singer recognizes that it was worth it and held a promise of a safe haven for their heart. The "velho barco" (old boat) is a metaphor for the relationship, which endured through the storms of life. The sea represents life and its challenges, and the singer acknowledges that only those who know how to navigate it can truly understand its depths.

When the skies cleared, the singer tried to salvage what was left of the relationship, but it had already fallen apart. It was at this point that they learned that what they had experienced was a once-in-a-lifetime moment. The singer concludes by questioning whether it was even them who had lived through it all. This uncertainty implies that the experience was so profound that it was beyond the singer's comprehension.

Overall, the song speaks to the human experience of love and loss. It highlights the importance of cherishing the moments that we have when we have them, as they may only come once in a lifetime.

Line by Line Meaning

Eu já nem sei
I don't even know anymore

Se foi um bem ou foi um mal
If it was good or bad

Se sonhei ou se vivi coisa real
If it was a dream or reality

O que sei é que valeu
What I know is that it was worth it

Foi puro
It was pure

Foi promessa de um porto seguro
It was a promise of a safe harbor

Para o meu coração
For my heart

Velho barco acostumado a velejar
Old boat used to sailing

Enfrentando tempestades nesse mar
Facing storms on this sea

Que no fundo só é mar
That ultimately is just a sea

Pra quem sabe navegar
For those who know how to navigate