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.
Verde E Rosa
Alcione Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pra dormir no chão
Forrei com pétalas de rosas
Com folhas verdes da mangueira
Mandei cobrir meu barracão
De pés no chão
Cabeça erguida
Fui, peito aberto pra avenida
E o povo inteiro levantou
E se curvou à mais querida
Mangueira, minha estação primeira
O carnaval é do povo, é da Mangueira
Mas tem muita gente invejosa
Que diz que verde e rosa
É muito feio, não combina bem
Pois, quem fala desse jeito
Só fala por despeito
Das cores lindas que a Mangueira tem
Por que, maus observadores
Verde e rosa são as cores
Da rainha das flores
É, senhoras e senhores
A Mangueira tem as cores
Da rainha das flores
Mangueira, minha estação primeira
O carnaval é do povo, é da Mangueira
The lyrics of Alcione's song Verde E Rosa are about the pride and joy that comes with being a part of the Mangueira samba school, one of the most traditional and beloved samba schools of Rio de Janeiro. The opening lines describe how the singer has made their bed on the ground, covered it with rose petals and leaves from the mangueira tree, and has even had their house decorated in anticipation of the annual Carnival parade. They are determined to march with their head held high and their heart open to the public eye, representing the Mangueira samba school with all the love and respect it deserves. As the school's parade goes by, the people rise up and bow down to pay homage to the queen of the flowers, alluding to the school's emblematic colors of green and pink.
However, the song also addresses the envy and criticism that some people have towards the colors of the samba school. The singer dismisses such negative comments and defends the beauty of the Mangueira's green and pink, which represent the queen of flowers. The song is a powerful ode to loyalty and pride, recognizing the importance of tradition and community in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Fiz minha cama
I prepared my bed
Pra dormir no chão
To sleep on the ground
Forrei com pétalas de rosas
I covered it with rose petals
Com folhas verdes da mangueira
With green leaves from the mango tree
Mandei cobrir meu barracão
I had my shack covered
De pés no chão
With feet on the ground
Cabeça erguida
Head held high
Fui, peito aberto pra avenida
I went, chest open to the avenue
E a minha escola desfilou
And my school paraded
E o povo inteiro levantou
And the whole people stood up
E se curvou à mais querida
And bowed down to the most beloved
Mas tem muita gente invejosa
But there are many jealous people
Que diz que verde e rosa
Who say that green and pink
É muito feio, não combina bem
Are very ugly, don't match well
Pois, quem fala desse jeito
Because those who speak in this way
Só fala por despeito
Only speak out of spite
Das cores lindas que a Mangueira tem
Of the beautiful colors that Mangueira has
Por que, maus observadores
Because bad observers
Verde e rosa são as cores
Green and pink are the colors
Da rainha das flores
Of the queen of flowers
É, senhoras e senhores
Yes, ladies and gentlemen
A Mangueira tem as cores
Mangueira has the colors
Da rainha das flores
Of the queen of flowers
Mangueira, minha estação primeira
Mangueira, my first station
O carnaval é do povo, é da Mangueira
The carnival is for the people, it's for Mangueira
Contributed by Juliana R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Átila de Almeida Ribeiro
Um trio de primeira: Alcione, Leci e Silvo César.
Pedro Vila Nova
Lindo! Lindo! E A MANGUEIRA adorando Bethânia ano que vem, simplesmente FABULOSO, os Deuses nos auxiliarão pois uma deles é a Homenageada
Paulo Nunes
Hino de beleza, bom humor e orgulho... Vai na Mangueira, que vc vai entender!!!
Andre Moreira
São duas das melhores sambistas desse país!!!!!
Luiz Carlos Ramos Cruz
Tem que respeitar. Quero ver ser Cartola, há 50 anos atrás...# Mangueira hoje e sempre!!!
Rejane Annunciacao
Tamtas demandas, aki me renovo
Marrom e nossa Leci que isso véi 🌿✊🏿🌿🖤❤🔛🤩🍺🍺
S.R.S. Produções Musicais Ltda.
"VERDE E ROSA" - MÚSICA E LETRA DE SILVIO CESAR
Rejane Annunciacao
Toda hora eu venho aki pra recarregar o AXÉ 🌿
Renner Mohammed
Linda linda show verde e rosa
Failon Teixeira
Lindasss