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.
Esse cara
Caetano Veloso Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A mim e a tudo que eu quis
Com seus olhinhos infantis
Como os olhos de um bandido
Ele está na minha vida porque quer
Eu estou pra o que der e vier
Ele chega ao anoitecer
Quando vem a madrugada ele some
Eu sou apenas uma mulher
Ele está na minha vida porque quer
Eu estou pra o que der e vier
Ele chega ao anoitecer
Quando vem a madrugada ele some
Ele é quem quer, ele é o homem
Eu sou apenas uma mulher
In Caetano Veloso's song "Esse Cara," he sings about a man who has completely consumed him and everything he's ever wanted. The man's childish eyes are compared to those of a criminal, adding a layer of complexity to their relationship. The man is in Veloso's life because he wants to be, and Veloso is willing to endure anything for him. The man comes and goes as he pleases, disappearing into the night, and Veloso is left feeling like nothing more than a woman who's under his spell.
The lyrics of this song are open to interpretation, but one possible explanation is that Veloso is talking about a toxic relationship. Someone who is consuming him, taking away his happiness and freedom, and making him feel powerless. The man's eyes are described as those of a criminal, which could imply that this person is dangerous, and Veloso is aware of it but still feels like he can't resist him. The man comes and goes, leaving Veloso feeling alone and insecure.
Overall, "Esse Cara" is a complex, emotional song that captures the essence of a relationship that is both beautiful and destructive. It's a reminder that not all relationships are healthy and that sometimes we need to let go of people who consume us.
Line by Line Meaning
Ah! Que esse cara tem me consumido
This man has consumed me completely
A mim e a tudo que eu quis
Not only me, but everything I ever wanted
Com seus olhinhos infantis
With his innocent little eyes
Como os olhos de um bandido
Like the eyes of a criminal
Ele está na minha vida porque quer
He's in my life because he wants to be
Eu estou pra o que der e vier
I'm here for whatever comes our way
Ele chega ao anoitecer
He comes at nightfall
Quando vem a madrugada ele some
And when dawn comes, he disappears
Ele é quem quer, ele é o homem
He's the one who calls the shots, he's the man
Eu sou apenas uma mulher
I'm just a woman
Contributed by Alex N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Pedro H. Rocha

Ah! Que esse cara tem me consumido
A mim e a tudo que eu quis
Com seus olhinhos infantis
Como os olhos de um bandido
Ele está na minha vida porque quer
Eu estou pra o que der e vier
Ele chega ao anoitecer
Quando vem a madrugada ele some
Ele é quem quer
Ele é o homem
Eu sou apenas uma mulher
Hugo Moraes
Toda vez que vejo Chico, me impressiono com sua simplicidade. Gênio, filho de intelectuais, um dos maiores letristas do mundo. Parece que não sabe de sua genialidade. Vejo Chico como o cara gente boa, que tá sempre no bar tomando uma cachaça. O avesso de Caetano, vibrante, consciente de sua genialidade, nunca aceitou mediocridade. Chico é o mais calmo do azul. Caetano é o mais quente do vermelho. Ying e Yang. Côncavo e convexo. Seco e úmido. Outono e primavera. Se complementam. Ave Deuses da música brasileira.
Yara Denise
Hugo Moraes parabéns por descrever essas verdades.
Mayra Lydia Puccinelli Victor Rodrigues
Pqp! Arrasou!
Iasmin Rocha
Bonito isso
Ricky V.
Brilhante análise e analogia.
Mhya Croon
Chico totalmente canceriano pausado, Caetano totalmente leonino vibrante
João Capinan
Genialidade artística é assim. Tão simples, e tão difícil. Chico e Caetano, nossos maiores artistas vivos. Vida longa longa longa
João Machado
Complicar é fácil. Difícil mesmo é fazer o que é simples
tulla Luana da paz
Gil também
Top 10 Music
Djavan tambem