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.
Filá
Chico César Lyrics
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Com meu filá
Escuto logo Jimmy Cliff
Mas eu sei se é um anjo
Ou se é um patife que tira
Essa onda com o meu filá
Quando saio na rua
Com meu filá
Mas eu sei se é um anjo
Ou se é um patife que tira
Essa onda com o meu filá
Pra desfilar pra namorar
Pra impressionar a menina
Pra ir num tambor de mina
Sair pra dançar
Pra ver a filarmônica tocar
E na barca de Cabedelo
Guardar o cabelo entocar a crina
Ter sombra no sol cumprir a sina
Pingo no "i" sinalizar
Quando saio na rua
Com meu filá
Escuto logo Jimmy Cliff
Mas eu sei se é um anjo
Ou se é um patife que tira
Essa onda com o meu filá
Quando saio na rua
Com meu filá
Escuto logo Jimmy Cliff
Mas eu sei se é um anjo
Ou se é um patife que tira
Essa onda com o meu filá
Fui lá no pelô de filá novo
Pegar a menina no cursinho
Os brotos olhando pro neguinho
Perecia um rei no meio do povo
Esse filá é o sol é o orgulho da raça
No banco da praça na beira do mar
Entre a cabeça e o céu entre o homem e Deus
É minha coroa é o meu filá
Quando saio na rua
Com meu filá
Escuto logo Jimmy Cliff
Mas eu sei se é um anjo
Ou se é um patife que tira
Essa onda com o meu filá
Quando saio na rua
Com meu filá
Escuto logo Jimmy Cliff
Mas eu sei se é um anjo
Ou se é um patife que tira
Essa onda com o meu filá
Quando saio na rua
Com meu filá
Escuto logo Jimmy Cliff
Mas eu sei se é um anjo
Ou se é um patife que tira
Essa onda com o meu filá
Quando saio na rua
Com meu filá
Escuto logo Jimmy Cliff
Mas eu sei se é um anjo
Ou se é um patife que tira
Essa onda com o meu filá
The song "Filá" by Chico César tells the story of a man walking down the street with his Filá, which is a type of hat commonly worn by black Brazilian men. As he walks, he listens to Jimmy Cliff's music, but he is cautious because he doesn't know whether the people around him are angels or troublemakers who will try to take his hat. The man wears the Filá with pride, using it to impress women, dance at parties, and even to attend religious gatherings. He feels like a king amongst his people when he wears it in public, and the Filá is a symbol of his cultural heritage and identity.
The lyrics of "Filá" touch on themes of identity, pride in one's culture, and the struggle to maintain traditions in a changing world. The man who wears the Filá is proud of his African roots and uses the hat to connect with his community, but he also faces the challenge of navigating a society where people may judge him or try to take advantage of him because of the color of his skin. Through his music, Chico César celebrates the unique culture and traditions of Brazil's black community, while also acknowledging the challenges they face in a society still grappling with issues of racism and inequality.
Overall, the song's message is one of resilience and pride, urging listeners to hold onto their cultural identity and stand up against oppression while also celebrating the joys of music, dance, and community.
Line by Line Meaning
Quando saio na rua
Com meu filá
Escuto logo Jimmy Cliff
Mas eu sei se é um anjo
Ou se é um patife que tira
Essa onda com o meu filá
Whenever I go out into the streets with my filá (my cherished and respected instrument), I always listen to Jimmy Cliff’s music. However, I’m always unsure whether the person who is watching me and my filá is an angel or a scoundrel who wants to take advantage of me and my beloved instrument.
Pra desfilar pra namorar
Pra impressionar a menina
Pra ir num tambor de mina
Sair pra dançar
Pra ver a filarmônica tocar
E na barca de Cabedelo
Guardar o cabelo entocar a crina
Ter sombra no sol cumprir a sina
Pingo no "i" sinalizar
I use my filá to show off and impress my romantic interests, to dance at tambor de mina, to see filarmônica play, and to protect my hair from the sun when taking a boat ride to Cabedelo. It’s my way of completing my destiny, marking my spot in the world, and standing out from the rest.
Fui lá no pelô de filá novo
Pegar a menina no cursinho
Os brotos olhando pro neguinho
Perecia um rei no meio do povo
Esse filá é o sol é o orgulho da raça
No banco da praça na beira do mar
Entre a cabeça e o céu entre o homem e Deus
É minha coroa é o meu filá
When I went to Pelô to buy a new filá, I used it to pick up my girl from school. Everyone looked at me, and I felt like a king amongst the people. My filá is not just an instrument, it’s a source of pride for my race. It’s the thing that crowns me, connects me to God, and separates man from everything else in the world.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Francisco Cesar Goncalves
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind