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.
Madrugada E Amor
Caetano Veloso Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Meu amor de cansaço
Caiu nos meus braços
Sorriu e dormiu
Sorriu e dormiu
Eu só queria
Que não amanhecesse o dia
Eu só queria amor
Amor e mais nada
The lyrics to Caetano Veloso's Madrugada E Amor evoke a beautiful sense of longing and desire for love. The song opens with the singer describing the arrival of the early morning and the dew that falls at this time. They then introduce their lover, who has fallen into their arms and fallen asleep. The simplicity of these first few lines creates an intimate and peaceful atmosphere, conveying a sense of calm and contentment. However, it is the singer's next longing that adds a layer of complexity to the song. They express a desire for the night to never end, for the dawn to not arrive, and for love to be the only thing that fills their world.
The lines "Eu só queria/ Que não amanhecesse o dia/ Que não chegasse a madrugada/ Eu só queria amor/ Amor e mais nada" express a deep desire for the night to never end – suggesting a fear of separation from their lover, and a longing to stay trapped in their embrace. This fear is further emphasized when the singer repeats the word "amor" twice, placing emphasis on it being the only thing they desire. The singer's desire for love and the fear of losing it intensify the intimacy of the song, creating a sense of urgency for the listener to cherish the love they have, and to hold on tight to their loved ones.
Overall, Madrugada E Amor by Caetano Veloso is a beautiful song that explores themes of love, intimacy, and longing. The simplicity of its lyrics highlights the singer's intense emotions, evoking a sense of peaceful contentment while also building a sense of urgency and fear about losing the love they have.
Line by Line Meaning
Madrugada chegou o sereno caiu
The dawn arrived and the dew settled
Meu amor de cansaço
My love is tired
Caiu nos meus braços
He/she fell into my arms
Sorriu e dormiu
He/she smiled and fell asleep
Eu só queria
I only wanted
Que não amanhecesse o dia
For the day to not break
Que não chegasse a madrugada
For the dawn to never come
Eu só queria amor
I only wanted love
Amor e mais nada
Love and nothing else
Contributed by Skyler M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.