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.
Manha De Carnaval
Caetano Veloso Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Na vida, uma nova canção
Cantando só teus olhos
Teu riso, tuas mãos
Pois há de haver um dia
Em que virás
Das cordas do meu violão
Vem uma voz
Falar dos beijos perdidos
Nos lábios teus
Canta o meu coração
Alegria voltou
Tão feliz a manhã
Deste amor
Manhã, tão bonita manhã
Na vida, uma nova canção
Cantando só teus olhos
Teu riso, tuas mãos
Pois há de haver um dia
Em que virás
Das cordas do meu violão
Que só teu amor procurou
Vem uma voz
Falar dos beijos perdidos
Nos lábios teus
Canta o meu coração
Alegria voltou
Tão feliz a manhã
Deste amor
Canta o meu coração
Alegria voltou
Tão feliz a manhã
Deste amor
Manhã De Carnaval is a classic Brazilian song that talks about new beginnings and love. The song begins by describing the beauty of the morning and comparing it to a new song being born in someone's life. The lyrics then focus on the subject's eyes, laughter, and hands, implying that they are the focus of the persona's attention. The persona then expresses his desire to be with the subject, hoping that one day they will come to him through the strings of his guitar.
The second verse talks about lost kisses on the subject's lips, which is a common theme in Brazilian love songs. The persona then concludes that his heart is singing with joy as the morning of their love has arrived. The repetition of the chorus reinforces the idea of a new day and a new beginning for the persona's love life. Overall, the lyrics portray optimism, passion, and hope for a new love, as well as a recognition of love's power to bring happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
Manhã, tão bonita manhã
The morning is so beautiful
Na vida, uma nova canção
In life, there is a new song
Cantando só teus olhos
Only singing about your eyes
Teu riso, tuas mãos
Your laughter, your hands
Pois há de haver um dia
For there will be a day
Em que virás
When you will come
Das cordas do meu violão
From the strings of my guitar
Que só teu amor procurou
That only your love sought
Vem uma voz
A voice comes
Falar dos beijos perdidos
To speak of lost kisses
Nos lábios teus
On your lips
Canta o meu coração
My heart sings
Alegria voltou
Joy has returned
Tão feliz a manhã
So happy is the morning
Deste amor
With this love
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Tratore, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Antonio Maria, Luiz Bonfa
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Vinicius Pereira dos Reis Siqueira
Caetano, uma ovellha desgarrada! "Diferentemente", um gênio! Te amo
Ernesto Pomareda
Bello