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.
Sorvete
Caetano Veloso Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Era nunca mais ser seu amigo
Nem inimigo
Nunca mais namorado
Apaixonado
E eu e eu e eu sou
E eu e eu e eu sou
Era soprar do olho esse cisco
Que eu já nem pisco
Não dar mais energia
Minha alegria
E eu e eu e eu dou
E eu e eu e eu dou
Feras lutam dentro da noite-normal
Todos os insetos, os do belo e os do mal
Anjos e demônios
O amor tomava conta de mim
Ela loura e negra, querubim e animal
Sobre os monstros da paixão, controle total
Burra, sábia, deusa, mulher, menino e mandarim
Mas se ela não quis meu sorvete
Por que gravá-la em vídeocassete
Jogar confete
Franquear minha guia
Ir à Bahia
E eu e eu e eu vou
E eu e eu e eu vou
In Caetano Veloso's song "Sorvete," the lyrics speak about the aftermath of a failed romantic relationship. The singer describes the pain and confusion of being rejected by his lover, who didn't even want to remain friends, enemies or lovers. He then reflects on the inner turmoil he experiences, with conflicting emotions and desires battling within him. The lyrics depict him as feeling pulled in different directions, torn between his desire for love and his fear of rejection.
The chorus speaks of the various forces that are apparently fighting for dominance within him, from "feras" (beasts) and "insetos" (insects) to "anjos e demônios" (angels and demons). The singer describes himself as being at the mercy of these opposing forces, with love seemingly taking over his entire being. The object of his desire is described as a beautiful and powerful force, with both angelic and animalistic qualities.
The final verse seems to suggest that even in light of being rejected, the singer is still willing to follow his beloved to Brazil (Bahia). He appears to be chasing the idea of love, even though he has been rejected by the individual who once held his heart. The lyrics reveal the complicated and powerful emotions that arise from romantic relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
No que ela fez isso comigo
She did something to me that made me not want to be her friend, enemy, or even boyfriend, despite being in love with her.
Era nunca mais ser seu amigo
It was a decision to never be her friend again.
Nem inimigo
Neither enemy.
Nunca mais namorado
Never again her boyfriend.
Apaixonado
Despite still being in love with her.
E eu e eu e eu sou
And I, and I, and I am.
No que ela não quis o meu risco
When she didn't want to take a chance with me.
Era soprar do olho esse cisco
It was like blowing away a speck of dust from the eye, insignificant.
Que eu já nem pisco
I don't even blink anymore.
Não dar mais energia
I won't give her more attention or energy.
Minha alegria
My happiness.
E eu e eu e eu dou
And I, and I, and I give.
Feras lutam dentro da noite-normal
Inside the normal night, there's a battle of wild beasts.
Todos os insetos, os do belo e os do mal
All the insects, both beautiful and malevolent.
Anjos e demônios
Angels and demons.
O amor tomava conta de mim
Love had taken control of me.
Ela loura e negra, querubim e animal
She was blonde and black, both angelic and animalistic.
Sobre os monstros da paixão, controle total
She had full control over the monsters of passion.
Burra, sábia, deusa, mulher, menino e mandarim
She had different qualities of being foolish, wise, goddess, woman, boy, and mandarin.
Mas se ela não quis meu sorvete
But if she didn't want my ice cream.
Por que gravá-la em vídeocassete
Why would I record her on a videotape?
Jogar confete
Throw confetti.
Franquear minha guia
Give her my guidance.
Ir à Bahia
Go to Bahia.
E eu e eu e eu vou
And I, and I, and I will go.
Contributed by Alaina C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.