Veloso is the fifth of the seven children born to José Telles Veloso ("Seu Zezinho") and Claudionor Vianna Telles Veloso ("Dona Canô"). His younger sister Maria Bethânia, another popular and renowned artist in Brazil, preceded him to fame as a singer in the mid-1960s. He began his career around 1965 singing bossa nova and he has cited his greatest musical influences from his early period as João Gilberto and Dorival Caymmi. (João Gilberto would say later about Caetano's contribution that it added an intellectual dimension to brazilian popular music.) But with such musical collaborators Gilberto Gil, Gal Costa, Tom Zé, Chico Buarque, and Os Mutantes, and greatly influenced by the later work of The Beatles, developed tropicalismo, which fused Brazilian pop with rock and roll and avant garde art music resulting in a more international, psychedelic, and socially aware sound. Veloso's politically active stance, unapologetically leftist, earned him the enmity of Brazil's military dictatorship which ruled until 1985; his songs were frequently censored, and some were banned. Veloso was also alienated from the socialist left in Brazil becasue of his acceptance and integration of non-nationalist influences (like rock and roll) in his music. Veloso and Gilberto Gil spent several months in jail for "anti-government activity" in 1968 and eventually exiled themselves to London. Caetano Veloso's work upon his return in 1972 was often characterized by frequent appropriations not only of international styles, but of half-forgotten Brazilian folkloric styles and rhythms as well. In particular, his celebration of the Afro-Brazilian culture of Bahia can be seen as the precursor of such Afro-centric groups as Timbalada.
In the 1980s, Veloso's popularity outside Brazil grew, especially in Israel, Portugal, France and Africa. By 2004, he was one of the most respected and prolific international pop stars, with more than fifty recordings available, including songs in soundtracks of movies such as Pedro Almodovar's Hable con Ella (Talk to Her), and Frida. In 2002 Veloso published an account of his early years and the Tropicalia movement, Tropical Truth: A Story of Music and Revolution in Brazil.
His first all-English CD was A Foreign Sound (2004), which covers Nirvana's "Come as You Are" and compositions from the Great American Songbook. Five of the six songs on his third eponymous album, released in 1971, were also in English.
Aboio
Caetano Veloso Lyrics
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Pensa o que é e será e foi
Pensa no boi
Enigmática máscara boi
Tem piedade
Megacidade
Conta teus meninos
A felicidade intensa
Que se perde e encontra em ti
Luz dilui-se e adensa-se
Pensa-te
The lyrics to Caetano Veloso's song "Aboio" invite us to reflect on the vastness and complexity of urban life. The opening line, "Urba imensa" (immense city), sets the stage for contemplating what has been, what will be, and what currently exists. As the song progresses, the focus shifts to the enigmatic mask of the cow, a symbol that represents both the human and animal nature. The line "Tem piedade, Megacidade" (Have mercy, Megacity) conveys a plea for compassion amidst the overwhelming urban landscape.
The song then takes a turn towards a more introspective and poetic realm. Caetano Veloso sings about counting one's children and singing with their bells, symbolizing the celebration of the intense happiness that can be both lost and found within oneself. The light and darkness intertwine, as expressed by the line "Luz dilui-se e adensa-se" (Light dilutes and thickens). Finally, the lyrics end with the invitation to reflect upon oneself and think deeply about one's own existence.
Overall, "Aboio" presents a contemplative perspective on urban life, inviting the listener to reflect on the complexities, joys, and sorrows that can be found within the cityscape. It raises questions about the nature of humanity, the search for meaning, and the constant flux of emotions and experiences in a bustling environment.
Line by Line Meaning
Urba imensa
Vast urban area
Pensa o que é e será e foi
Contemplate what is, will be, and has been
Pensa no boi
Think about the bull
Enigmática máscara boi
Mysterious bull mask
Tem piedade
Have mercy
Megacidade
Megacity
Conta teus meninos
Tell about your children
Canta com teus sinos
Sing with your bells
A felicidade intensa
The intense happiness
Que se perde e encontra em ti
That gets lost and found in you
Luz dilui-se e adensa-se
Light becomes diluted and denser
Pensa-te
Reflect on yourself
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Caetano Emmanuel Viana Telles Veloso
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind