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.
Detached
Caetano Veloso Lyrics
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I don't have too much detachment
I just get in there
And I play scrabble
Don't want no pumpy dog "Uh uh"
I'm taken possesion
I'm too blond for y'all
I hit you as I fall
The lyrics to Caetano Veloso's "Detached" explore themes of detachment and control. The singer claims to have "just two points of contact," suggesting a limited ability to connect with others. However, the use of the word "detachment" implies that the singer may actually have a greater sense of control over their emotions and actions than they are letting on. The following line, "I just get in there and I play scrabble," further suggests that the singer is in control, actively choosing how to engage with the world around them.
The use of negative language, such as "Don't want no pumpy dog 'Uh uh'," highlights the singer's desire for autonomy and self-determination. They are "taken possession," asserting their dominance over their surroundings. The final line, "I hit you as I fall" could suggest a lack of control or a willingness to engage in reckless behavior, but it could also imply a sense of strategic thinking, an understanding of how to use one's fall to achieve a desired outcome.
Overall, the lyrics of "Detached" are highly introspective and suggest a desire for independence and control. The singer is not detached in the sense of being aloof or apathetic, but rather in the sense of being intentionally selective about their interactions with the world around them.
Line by Line Meaning
Just two points of contact
My interactions with others are limited and superficial
I don't have too much detachment
I am emotionally invested in my actions
I just get in there
I actively participate
And I play scrabble
I engage in activities that require strategy and intellect
Don't want no pumpy dog 'Uh uh'
I am not interested in superficial or insincere interactions
I'm taken possesion
I take ownership of my actions and decisions
I'm too blond for y'all
I am different from others and may not fit in with their expectations
I hit you as I fall
Even in moments of vulnerability or failure, I assert myself and make an impact
Contributed by Reagan E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.