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.
Fina Estampa
Caetano Veloso Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tendida como una cinta con sus lados de arrebol
Arrebol de los geranios y sonrisas con rubor
Arrebol de los claveles y las mejillas en flor
Perfumada de magnolia rociada de mañanita
La veredita sonrie cuando tu pie la acaricia
Y la cuculi se ríe y la ventana se agita
Fina estampa caballero
Caballero de fina estampa
Un lucero que sonriera bajo um sombrero
No sonriera más hermoso
Ni más luciera caballero
En tu andar andar reluce la acera al andar andar
Te lleva hacia los zaguanes y a los patios encantados
Te lleva hacia las plazuelas y a los amores soñados
Veredita que se arrulla con tafetanes bordados
Tacón de chapin de seda y justes almidonados
Es un caminito alegre con luz de luna o de sol
Que he de recorrer cantando por si te puede alcanzar
Fina estampa caballero quien te pudiera guardar
Fina estampa caballero
Caballero de fina estampa
Un lucero que sonriera bajo um sombrero
No sonriera más hermoso
Ni más luciera caballero
En tu andar andar reluce la acera al andar andar
The lyrics to Caetano Veloso's song Fina Estampa depict a charming and picturesque street bathed in the light of either the moon or the sun. The street is described as being strewn with the colors of a sunset - reds and pinks, with the beauty of the garden blooms and people's blushing cheeks. The street is also filled with the scent of magnolias as the morning dew gently sprinkles them.
As the singer describes the street, he imagines the elegant and refined figure of a gentleman walking down it. This man is dubbed "Fina Estampa," meaning a "fine stamp" or an elegant and distinguished gentleman. He is surrounded by an air of mystery and refinement, reminding us of a "lucero" or a bright star that glows under a hat.
The singer longs to follow Fina Estampa as he walks down this picturesque street, taking in the sights and smells mentioned in the song. He longs to be close to this man with impeccable taste and elegance whose footsteps twinkle on the pavement.
Line by Line Meaning
Una veredita alegre con luz de luna o de sol
A joyful little path, that's illuminated either by moonlight or sunlight
Tendida como una cinta con sus lados de arrebol
Stretched out like a ribbon, with its sides glowing red
Arrebol de los geranios y sonrisas con rubor
The red glow of the geraniums and blushing smiles
Arrebol de los claveles y las mejillas en flor
The red glow of the carnations and the blooming cheeks
Perfumada de magnolia rociada de mañanita
The scent of magnolias, sprinkled with morning dew
La veredita sonrie cuando tu pie la acaricia
The little path smiles when your foot caresses it
Y la cuculi se ríe y la ventana se agita
The cuckoo bird laughs and the window shakes,
Cuando por esa vereda tu fina estampa pasea
When your distinguished figure strolls down that path
Fina estampa caballero
Distinguished figure, gentleman
Caballero de fina estampa
Gentleman of distinguished figure
Un lucero que sonriera bajo um sombrero
A star that would smile under a hat
No sonriera más hermoso
Would not smile more beautifully
Ni más luciera caballero
Nor would he look more dashing, like a gentleman
En tu andar andar reluce la acera al andar andar
The pavement shines with each step you take
Te lleva hacia los zaguanes y a los patios encantados
It takes you to the entrance halls and enchanted courtyards
Te lleva hacia las plazuelas y a los amores soñados
It takes you to the little squares and the loves you've dreamed of
Veredita que se arrulla con tafetanes bordados
Little path that's cradled by embroidered taffeta
Tacón de chapin de seda y justes almidonados
Silken shoe-heel and starched stockings
Es un caminito alegre con luz de luna o de sol
It's a joyful little path, illuminated either by moonlight or sunlight
Que he de recorrer cantando por si te puede alcanzar
That I'll traverse, singing, in case it can reach you
Fina estampa caballero quien te pudiera guardar
Distinguished figure, gentleman, oh, if only someone could keep you safe
Contributed by Savannah D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@caolin847
Marvilloso Caetano. Sin palabras. Magnífico.
@newmommy413
Que voz mas pura. Nunca he escuchado de él. Que lindo!
@olgadizacomo5697
Eres un lujo Caetano.
@supergoodmovie1
Caricias para el alma! Gracias Caetano!
@damntenderness
Probablemente la mejor interpretación de esta canción
@Yvovideo
Hermosa la letra de la gran Chabuca Granda , bella interpretación de Caetano.
@hostalquitocultural8429
El ya es fina estampa, caballero adorable¡¡¡
@taniabrito3843
grande artista Caetano...