At the age of seven, Bebel made an appearance on her mother's first solo album Miúcha. At age nine, Bebel performed with her mother and jazz saxophonist Stan Getz at a jazz festival in New York's Carnegie Hall. Back in Brazil, Bebel performed and recorded for the soundtrack of the children's musical Os Saltimbancos, written by Sergio Bardotti and Chico Buarque. Later on Bebel joined an experimental theatrical group and was a member of the founding team of the performance space Circo Voador (Flying Circus) at Ipanema Beach. In this group she met singer/songwriter Cazuza, who became a close friend and soon a major rock star in Brazil during the 1980s.
Throughout the 1990s, Bebel collaborated with a variety of musical stars such as Arto Lindsay, Thievery Corporation, David Byrne, Towa Tei, Caetano Veloso and Chico Buarque. In 1996 Bebel was featured in the AIDS charity project Red Hot + Rio, produced by her close friend and collaborator Béco Dranoff. By the mid 1990s, Bebel also had successes as songwriter with the international dance hits "Technova" and "Batucada" in collaboration with producers Towa Tei and Arto Lindsay.
Bebel was featured on the soundtrack of Brad Anderson's film Next Stop Wonderland with Vinicius Cantuária and Mauro Refosco. In the late 1990s, Bebel moved to London where she began to develop the sound featured on her critically acclaimed debut album Tanto Tempo. During this period, she met Suba, the multi-talented Serbian producer living in São Paulo who ended up writing and producing several tracks on Tanto Tempo. While in London, she also worked with DJ/producer Amon Tobin, Dutch duo Arling & Cameron and singer Nina Miranda.
In 2000, Bebel's Tanto Tempo album was released on Ziriguiboom (Crammed Discs sub-label) and has sold over one million copies worldwide. The album was also nominated for two Latin Grammy Awards. Her second album, Bebel Gilberto (2004), was also released to great critical acclaim, receiving a MOBO Award in the UK and also a World Music Grammy nomination.
Also in 2006, Bebel started writing and producing the songs that would become part of her third album Momento, released in April 2007. On this album, Bebel collaborated with UK producer Guy Sigsworth, her friends Didi Gutman and Sabina Sciubba (from NY based band Brazilian Girls) and the Rio based Orquestra Imperial.
Gilberto's most recent album, All In One, was released in the US in September 2009 by jazz imprint Verve.
Nossa Senhora
Bebel Gilberto Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Abençoe meu violão
Com cachês e cordas novas
Que as rosas já estão na canção
Que as rosas já estão na canção
Nossa Senhora me deu a mão
Me deu a luz, me deu um gás
Nossa Senhora é demais
Nossa Senhora me deu a mão
Me deu a luz, me deu um gás
Nossa Senhora é demais
Como a Senhora é demais
Como a Senhora é demais
Nossa Senhora
Abençoe meu violão
Com cachês e cordas novas
Que as rosas já estão na canção
Nossa Senhora
Abençoe meu violão
Com cachês e cordas novas
E as rosas pra ela irão
Nossa Senhora é demais
Como a Senhora é demais
Nossa Senhora é demais
Como a Senhora é demais
É demais
Nossa Senhora é demais
Nossa Senhora é demais
Nossa Senhora é, demais
The lyrics to Bebel Gilberto's song "Nossa Senhora" are an ode to the Virgin Mary, asking for her blessings on the singer's guitar and music. The first verse talks about wanting new strings and great gigs. The second verse is a gratitude to the Virgin Mary for her help, light and energy. The chorus repeats the greatness of the Virgin Mary and ends with the singer saying, "She's too much."
The entirety of the song is a plea and gratitude to the Virgin Mary, considered by many to be a powerful and loving saint. The guitar, as a musical instrument, is a symbol of the singer's livelihood and creativity. The roses in the song are a symbol for her music and lyrics, in a nod to the saying that "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet." The repetition of "Nossa Senhora" at the end of the song is a reflection of the singer's deep reverence for the saint, thanking her for everything that she has done, and acknowledging the power of her presence in the singer's life.
Overall, "Nossa Senhora" is a beautiful and heartfelt song that showcases Bebel Gilberto's incredible voice and her ability to connect with her listeners on a deeper level.
Line by Line Meaning
Nossa Senhora
The singer addresses the Virgin Mary, asking for her blessing and guidance.
Abençoe meu violão
The singer asks the Virgin Mary to bless their guitar, symbolizing their musical talent and passion.
Com cachês e cordas novas
The singer requests financial success and new equipment to enhance their musical abilities.
Que as rosas já estão na canção
The artist acknowledges that their music is already infused with beauty and emotion, represented by the roses.
Nossa Senhora me deu a mão
The artist credits the Virgin Mary with providing them with guidance and support.
Me deu a luz, me deu um gás
The singer acknowledges the positive impact the Virgin Mary has had on their life, giving them inspiration and motivation.
Nossa Senhora é demais
The singer reiterates their admiration and gratitude towards the Virgin Mary, emphasizing her greatness.
Como a Senhora é demais
The artist emphasizes their awe and admiration towards the Virgin Mary.
E as rosas pra ela irão
The artist offers the roses to the Virgin Mary as a symbol of their appreciation and thanks.
É demais
The artist repeats their earlier assertion of the Virgin Mary's greatness.
Nossa Senhora é demais
The singer repeats their appreciation for the Virgin Mary's guidance and impact on their life.
Nossa Senhora é, demais
The artist concludes by praising the Virgin Mary's greatness.
Contributed by Matthew W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.