With his outlandish neo-Indian costumes and music that borrows from reggae, hip-hop, and Senegalese mbalax, Chico César serves notice that he's doing Brazilian popular music his way. He marries an elastic voice that croons and purrs one moment, yelps and yodels the next, to a dexterity on guitar that puts him in the league of tiptop instrumentalists.
Originally released on a small independent label in Brazil, the live, mostly solo recording Aos Vivos launched César's career, putting him in demand as both a performer and the composer of hit songs like "A Primeira Vista," which Daniela Mercury transformed into the theme song for a smash TV soap opera, and the reggae-styled "Mama Africa." His unique take on the accordion-driven forro melodies of northeastern Brazil evoke Congolese and Angolan pop on "Tambores" and "Duvida Cruel" when he sets them against his bouncy, circular guitar lines. This welcome reissue easily trumps César's concurrently released studio recording on the Putumayo label, Chico César, proving that the charisma of a singer-with-guitar concert can brandish more firepower than an amplified ensemble.
Dúvida Cruel
Chico César Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
No meu cérebro crepita
Uma dúvida martelo
Minha alma se agita aflita
Flagelo dor pesadelo
Pesadelo, pesadelo, pesadelo
No meu cérebro crepita
Uma dúvida martelo
Minha alma se agita aflita
Tragédia grega desdita
Flagelo dor pesadelo
Pesadelo, pesadelo
Arranca os meus cabelo
E como se fosse praga
Adaga no cotovelo
Golpeia meu cerebelo
O meu coração esmaga
Será que ela me ama
E tudo isso terá nexo
Ou será que não passará
Só de mesa fama sexo?
Será que terá nexo
Será que ela me ama
Ou será que não passará
Só de sexo mesa fama?
Será que ela me ama
E tudo isso terá nexo
Ou será que não passará
Só de mesa fama sexo?
Será que terá nexo
Será que ela me ama
Ou será que não passará
Só de sexo mesa fama?
Será
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Deixa de conversa mole Luzia
Deixa de conversa
Deixa de conversa mole Luzia
Deixa de conversa
Deixa de conversa mole Luzia
Deixa de conversa
Deixa de conversa mole Luzia
Deixa de conversa
No meu cérebro crepita
Uma dúvida martelo
Minha alma se agita aflita
Tragédia grega desdita
Flagelo dor pesadelo
Pesadelo, pesadelo, pesadelo
No meu cérebro crepita
Uma dúvida martelo
Minha alma se agita aflita
Tragédia grega desdita
Flagelo dor pesadelo
Pesadelo, pesadelo, pesadelo
Chico César's song "Dúvida Cruel" portrays a narrator grappling with intense doubt and uncertainty. The recurring phrase "no meu cérebro crepita, uma dúvida martelo" translates to "in my brain, doubt crackles like a hammer." This doubt is causing turmoil in the singer's soul, as they describe it as a Greek tragedy, a curse, and a nightmare. The repetition of the word "pesadelo" (nightmare) emphasizes the distress and torment they are experiencing.
The lyrics delve into the singer's internal struggle, questioning whether their loved one truly loves them or if their relationship is solely based on superficial interests such as fame and sex. They wonder if there is any meaningful connection between them or if it's all just a façade. This uncertainty is clearly causing great anguish for the singer, as expressed by lines such as "arranca os meus cabelo" (tearing out my own hair) and "golpeia meu cerebelo, o meu coração esmaga" (hits my cerebellum, crushes my heart).
The song's chorus repeats the question "será que ela me ama?" (does she love me?), emphasizing the central concern of the singer. The name "Luzia" is mentioned at the end, possibly representing the person they are addressing and asking to stop the "conversa mole" (loose talk).
Overall, "Dúvida Cruel" conveys the agony and torment of being caught in a state of doubt and uncertainty about a romantic relationship, as the singer desperately seeks clarity and assurance.
Line by Line Meaning
No meu cérebro crepita
In my brain, there is a crackling
Uma dúvida martelo
A hammering doubt
Minha alma se agita aflita
My soul stirs anxiously
Tragédia grega desdita
Greek tragedy, unfortunate
Flagelo dor pesadelo
Scourge, pain, nightmare
Pesadelo, pesadelo, pesadelo
Nightmare, nightmare, nightmare
Arranca os meus cabelo
It pulls out my hair
E como se fosse praga
And as if it were a curse
Adaga no cotovelo
Dagger in the elbow
Golpeia meu cerebelo
It strikes my cerebellum
O meu coração esmaga
Crushing my heart
Será que ela me ama
Is it possible, she loves me
E tudo isso terá nexo
And all of this will make sense
Ou será que não passará
Or will it not amount to
Só de mesa fama sexo?
Only table, fame, sex?
Será que terá nexo
Will it make sense?
Será que ela me ama
Is it possible, she loves me
Ou será que não passará
Or will it not amount to
Só de sexo mesa fama?
Only sex, table, fame?
Será que ela me ama
Is it possible, she loves me
E tudo isso terá nexo
And all of this will make sense
Ou será que não passará
Or will it not amount to
Só de mesa fama sexo?
Only table, fame, sex?
Será que terá nexo
Will it make sense?
Será que ela me ama
Is it possible, she loves me
Ou será que não passará
Or will it not amount to
Só de sexo mesa fama?
Only sex, table, fame?
Será
Will it be?
Deixa de conversa mole Luzia
Stop talking nonsense, Luzia
Deixa de conversa
Stop talking
Deixa de conversa mole Luzia
Stop talking nonsense, Luzia
Deixa de conversa
Stop talking
No meu cérebro crepita
In my brain, there is a crackling
Uma dúvida martelo
A hammering doubt
Minha alma se agita aflita
My soul stirs anxiously
Tragédia grega desdita
Greek tragedy, unfortunate
Flagelo dor pesadelo
Scourge, pain, nightmare
Pesadelo, pesadelo, pesadelo
Nightmare, nightmare, nightmare
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Francisco Cesar Goncalves
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sinc Audiovisual
Já tem uns dias que estou com essa música na cabeça... Essa levada do violão é coisa de chico... hehehe muito massa
Clara S
Chico série será o dono ♥️
Camila Medeiros
Porrrraaaaaa, te amo Chico!!!! Meu conterrâneo amado <3
PABLO Miguel
Grandes músicos!!!