Created in September, 2001, Casuarina is one of the top groups of Rio de Ja… Read Full Bio ↴Created in September, 2001, Casuarina is one of the top groups of Rio de Janeiro`s new samba and choro scene. Formed by Daniel Montes (7 string guitar), Gabriel Azevedo (percussion and vocal), João Cavalcanti (percussion and vocal), João Fernando (mandolin and vocal)and Rafael Freire (cavaquinho and vocal), the group is part of a generation which, lacking the influence of the more traditional and representative part of Brazilian popular music, started by listening, searching, researching, and consuming the sambas that one day gave Brazilian music its own identity, the same sambas that for long were becoming exponentially disregarded.

This new generation of musicians, producers, and admirers of the samba and the chorinho brought back the taste of the Brazilian people to the rhythms. New monothematic groups and, inspired on the work of genius composers, started to present set lists that were already part of our subconscious, with new arrangements and production. Rio`s neighborhood, Lapa, a meeting place for bohemians within the first half of the twentieth century, was once again the place to be if one was looking for cold beers and long nights to the quality sound of songs by Cartola, Jacob do Bandolim, Chico Buarque, Nelson Cavaquinho, Ataulfo Alves, Ary Barroso, Zé Keti, Waldir Azevedo, Nei Lopes, and so many other creators, ancient, and modern artists.

Leading these group of “bambas”, Casuarina performed (and keeps performing) many important venues, not only on the neighborhood, but throughout Rio, like Ballroom, Carioca da Gema, Rio Scenarium, Fundição Progresso, Dama da Noite, and Circo Voador, disregarding great events like, projeto Roda de Samba and the 2003 and 2004 Carnavais, at Lapa – both promoted by the state of Rio – and also the 2004 edition of Samba no Trem, uniting the best there is on the genre to celebrate the Dia Nacional do Samba (national day of samba in Brazil), December 2nd. During their live performances, Casuarina already had very special guests like Arlindo Cruz, Wilson Moreira, Lenine, Walter Alfaiate, Noca da Portela, Délcio Carvalho, Luis Carlos da Vila, Marquinhos de Oswaldo Cruz, and not to mention the bateria da Portela and Imperatriz Leopoldinense.

Arco-Íris
Casuarina Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Além do arco - íris o mundo é mais belo
Tem tanto castelo suspenso no ar
Além do arco - íris o tempo é sem pressa
Pois nada começa
Nem pode acabar

Além do arco - íris até mesmo o sonho
Não fica tristonho de ser sonho só

Além do arco - íris a lua é mais cheia
E o som pela areia espalha ouro em pó

Além do arco - íris as nuvens não correm
Os rios só morrem nos braços do mar
Além do arco - íris não tem céu deserto
E o longe é mais perto
Que qualquer lugar

Além do arco -íris mais livre descalça
A vida é uma valsa falando de amor
E o próprio arco - íris a gente até acha
Que dorme na caixa de lápis de cor

Além do arco - íris até mesmo o sonho
Não fica tristonho de ser sonho só
Além do arco - íris a lua é mais cheia
E o som pela areia espalha ouro em pó

Além do arco - íris as nuvens não correm
Os rios só morrem nos braços do mar
Além do arco - íris não tem céu deserto
E o longe é mais perto
Que qualquer lugar

Além do arco -íris mais livre descalça
A vida é uma valsa falando de amor
E o próprio arco - íris a gente até acha

Que dorme na caixa de lápis de cor
Que dorme na caixa de lápis de cor

Overall Meaning

Casuarina's song "Arco-Íris" speaks about a world beyond the rainbow that is more beautiful and serene. The lyrics describe a world where there are castles suspended in the air, time has no pressure and nothing ever ends. In this world, even dreams are not sad just for being dreams and the moon is fuller, spreading golden powder on the sand. The clouds don't rush, rivers only die in the arms of the sea, the sky is not barren and faraway places feel closer than any other. The life in this world is described as a dance, free and barefoot, always talking about love. The rainbow itself is thought to sleep inside a pencil case, waiting to be awakened.

The song portrays a world that is beyond the present reality, inviting the listener to imagine an ideal world that is free from limitations and hardships. It speaks of a world where wishes come true, and anything is possible. The lyrics suggest that the colourful arc in the sky that we see when it rains, although real is not the only world that exists, and beyond it lies a more significant and more beautiful one.

Line by Line Meaning

Além do arco - íris o mundo é mais belo
Beyond the rainbow, the world is a more beautiful place.

Tem tanto castelo suspenso no ar
There are so many castles suspended in the air.

Além do arco - íris o tempo é sem pressa
Beyond the rainbow, time moves slowly and without haste.

Pois nada começa
Because nothing ever really starts.

Nem pode acabar
And nothing really ever ends.

Além do arco - íris até mesmo o sonho
Beyond the rainbow, even dreams aren't sad just because they're dreams.

Não fica tristonho de ser sonho só
They're not unhappy just because they're dreams.

Além do arco - íris a lua é mais cheia
Beyond the rainbow, the moon is fuller.

E o som pela areia espalha ouro em pó
And the sound on the sand spreads gold powder.

Além do arco - íris as nuvens não correm
Beyond the rainbow, the clouds don't move.

Os rios só morrem nos braços do mar
The rivers only die in the arms of the sea.