Agenor de Miranda Araújo Neto, mostly recognized by his artistic name "Cazu… Read Full Bio ↴Agenor de Miranda Araújo Neto, mostly recognized by his artistic name "Cazuza", was born in April 4, 1958, in Rio De Janeiro. His father, João Araújo, was one of the founders of the label Som Livre and his mother was Lucinha Araújo. Since his youth, Cazuza used to keep in touch with music, because of his father's job, so that was one of the reasons that brought him to music. Cazuza started to be successful in Brazil as the lead-singer of the rock band Barão Vermelho, recording huge radio hits like "Bete Balanço" and "Pro Dia Nascer Feliz". With Barão Vermelho, he recorded 3 studio albums: "Barão Vermelho" (1982), "Barão Vermelho 2" (1983) and "Maior Abandonado" (1984). In 1985, the band performed at the first Rock In Rio and in that same year, he left the band to start a solo career.

His first solo record was "Exagerado" (1985) and it had big hits like "Exagerado" and "Codinome Beija-Flor".
He released his second album "Só Se For A Dois" in 1987 and it was in that year that he found out that he was HIV-positive.
Despite his disease, he became incredibly more creative and started writing lots of genius songs. In 1988 he released the great album "Ideologia". His most famous songs are in this album: "Ideologia", "Brasil", "Faz Parte do Meu Show".
Cazuza released one of his biggest hits in the promo-tour of "Ideologia", the song was called "O Tempo Não Pára" and a live album was released with this same name, containing his most successful hits from the solo career.
In February, 1989 Cazuza brought his sickness to the public eye and in August of the same year, he released "Burguesia", a double-record with many different partnerships.

Cazuza died in July 7, 1990 at 32. His music is still alive, though: his work has passed through generations and youngsters really appreciate his albums.

"The ignorant people are the happiest. They don't know when they're going to die, but I do. I know I have a scheduled meeting. People forget what they have to do, but I can't give myself this pleasure. I make everything fit in my next few days, all the ideas I would have, all the people I would meet, what I would still sing. I'm pregnant but I can't wait, the time doesn't stop and we go by running... But I'm here, trying to hold on to whatever I can. I'm weak. There's a whole world around us that we don't even notice. I'm skinny and small for my clothes. I feel like I am putting all my things together, concentrating. If I could, I'd put all of them into a bottle and I'd drink them all. I wonder what shall be left of me... but I, I can only insist." -- This text is a direct translation, so it may not have as much meaning as it does in its original language.

Vida Louca Vida
Cazuza Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Vida louca vida, vida breve
Já que eu não posso te levar
Quero que você me leve
Vida louca vida, vida imensa
Ninguém vai nos perdoar
Nosso crime não compensa
Se ninguém olha quando você passa
Você logo acha

Eu tô carente, eu sou manchete popular
Tô cansado de tanta babaquice, tanta caretice
Dessa eterna falta do que falar
Se ninguém olha quando você passa
Você logo acha
Que a vida voltou ao normal
Aquela vida sem sentido, volta sem perigo
É a mesma vida sempre igual
Se ninguém olha quando você passa
Você logo diz: "Palhaço!"
Você acha que não está legal
Corre todos os perigos, perde os sentidos
Você passa mal
Vida louca vida, vida breve
Já que eu não posso te levar
Quero que você me leve
Vida louca vida, vida imensa
Ninguém vai nos perdoar
Nosso crime não compensa
Não compensa, não
Se ninguém olha quando vocé passa
Você logo acha
Eu tô carente, eu sou manchete popular
Tô cansado de tanta babaquice, tanta caretice
Dessa eterna falta do que falar
Vida louca vida, vida breve
Já que eu não posso te levar
Quero que você me leve
Vida louca vida, vida imensa
Ninguém vai nos perdoar
Nosso crime não compensa
Vida louca vida, vida breve
Já que eu não posso te levar
Quero que você me leve
Vida louca vida, vida imensa

Ninguém vai nos perdoar
Nosso crime não compensa

Overall Meaning

Cazuza's song "Vida louca vida" is a reflection on the fleeting and unpredictable nature of life. The lyrics lament the fact that life is short and cannot be taken with us, but instead we need to let life take us where it will. The title translates to "Crazy life, brief life" and this is reinforced throughout the song as Cazuza sings "Já que eu não posso te levar / Quero que você me leve" meaning "Since I can't take you with me, I want you to take me". He longs for life to take control and lead him on an adventure.

The second half of the song sees a shift in focus from the individual to the world around us. Cazuza longs for a life where we can be seen and heard, where we can break free from the monotony of everyday existence. He criticizes those who are too preoccupied with tradition and rules to truly embrace life, singing "Tô cansado de tanta babaquice, tanta caretice / Dessa eterna falta do que falar" (I'm tired of so much nonsense, so much stuffiness / of this eternal lack of something to say). The lyrics suggest that the narrow-mindedness of society creates a world where nothing changes, where the same events and issues are repeated over and over again.

Line by Line Meaning

Vida louca vida, vida breve
Life is crazy and brief

Já que eu não posso te levar
Since I can't take you with me

Quero que você me leve
I want you to take me

Vida louca vida, vida imensa
Life is crazy and immense

Ninguém vai nos perdoar
No one will forgive us

Nosso crime não compensa
Our crime doesn't pay off

Se ninguém olha quando você passa
If no one looks when you pass by

Você logo acha
You soon realize

Eu tô carente, eu sou manchete popular
I'm needy, I'm a popular headline

Tô cansado de tanta babaquice, tanta caretice
I'm tired of so much foolishness, so much conservatism

Dessa eterna falta do que falar
Of this eternal need to talk about something