In 1989, aged 18, Moreno went to study music in France and it was in Paris where she both recorded her first single and first performed solo. Here she regularly played the Lionel Hampton Jazz Club beneath the Le Méridien Etoile hotel - one of the city’s most distinguished jazz venues. In 1991 at Paris’ Théâtre de La Ville she appeared onstage alongside her mother. Moreno remembers her time in Paris fondly and on her new album she pays tribute to Edith Piaf, “the French singer who thrilled me most”, with a wonderful cover of Mon Manege A Moi.
Aged 23 Moreno returned to Brazil in 1994 and launched straight into a career in music, guesting on the track Minha Gata Rita Lee on Joyce's CD Revendo Amigos. This followed guest appearances alongside other artists such as Nelson Ângelo and Robertinho Silva. Her first solo show in Brazil was in 1995 at the Au Bar in Rio in a tribute to the famous Brazilian singer Rita Lee. In 1996, Moreno opened for Paulinho Moska at the Garota de Ipanema park in Rio and recorded her eponymous debut CD.
In 1997 Moreno went to Japan where she appeared in the Gets Bossa Nova show in Tokyo, Japan. That same year she contributed a recording of "Só Danço Samba" for the tribute to Bossa Nova CD 40 Anos de Bossa Nova which solidified her standing as a Brazilian singer in her own right. Her third album Mutante was recorded in 1999, and picked up for worldwide distribution by UK based Timewarp Distribution, her name was brought to the attention of Brazilian music fans the world over.
2002 saw the release of Morena Bossa Nova (ybmusic, 2002) – her fourth CD where she experimented with electronic music to create an album with a contemporary take on bossa nova. It was recorded whilst Moreno was pregnant with producer Rodolfo Stroeter (the producer of Joyce’s most recent CDs Just a Little Bit Crazy and Rio Bahia). “Morena Bossa Nova” featured the Norwegian keyboard player Bugge Weseltoff as well as Teco Cardoso, Robertinho Silva & Nailor Proveta – all regular contributors to Joyce’s recent albums.
With Meu Samba Torto, Moreno felt the urge to strip things down and pay tribute to the musical heritage of the city she is from: “Bossa nova has always played a very important role in my life, and I decided to go for it with this CD and really search for the feeling of what it’s like to be a "carioca". Having listened to this music all my life I had no trouble of thinking of songs to cover and my mother Joyce, suggested some nice songs, as did Celso. I feel that the album has a 60's bossa nova feeling, which is great, but at the same time, the music that we have done is up to date and reflects a modern view through the roots of Brazilian music.”
Meu Samba Torto features a stellar line-up of Brazilian musicians including Moreno’s mother, the legendary Brazilian singer-songwriter Joyce, and the celebrated songwriter and guitarist Celso Fonseca. It’s Moreno’s most personal album yet and this is something she’s proud of: “The album has a certain level of spontaneity that I don’t think is very common these days. With the exception of the songs arranged by Joyce, the arrangements were all decided once we all arrived in the studio. Everything was recorded live and I was lucky to be blessed with the involvement of Celso Fonseca, Joyce, Tutty Moreno, Rodolfo Stroeter, Diego Figueiredo and Ricardo Mosca - all of them very creative and stylish musicians who helped create an end result of modern music yet steeped in tradition. The album was simply constructed around guitar/bass/drums and the idea was to bring a certain degree of intimacy between myself and the listener“.
Meu Samba Torto features two new compositions written especially for Moreno by Joyce (“Sabe Quem”), & Celso Fonseca (“Litorânea”). In fact with it’s "live" sound, Joyce’s influence runs through Meu Samba Torto. This was a challenge for Moreno: “I had never recorded a “live” album before yet as we began recording, I started to gain more and more self confidence.” According to Moreno though it’s not Joyce who is the most influential artist on Meu Samba Torto: “João Gilberto is the greatest influence on this album - he is the main root of the cd. I have been listening to him all my life, but during the process of creating this album, I dived deeply into his mood and I recorded many of the songs using João Gilberto's light - his inspiration was a gift to me.“
Vanguard of the new bossa nova movement Celso Fonseca plays guitar and sings on three songs on the new album, and the blend of his and Moreno’s voice create some of the albums highlights. There are interpretations of classic bossa nova tracks such as Moça Flor, originally recorded by the Tamba Trio, Vem Morena Vem, from Jorge Ben's debut album, and Morena Boca de Ouro, made famous by the one and only João Gilberto.
Samba É Tudo
Clara Moreno Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mas não vai ao samba se benzer
Ninguém diz que o samba é pai
Se não quer ao samba obedecer
Ser sambista é muito mais
Do que ser notícia nos jornais de Sampa
Têm quem diz que o samba é mãe
Bamba faz que vai e não vai
Mas não diz que é dono do andor
Um homem de bem não cai
E não trai a quem lhe tem amor
Quando um capoeira cai
Ele pede ao samba proteção divina
Diz que tudo é samba
Samba é tudo o que Donga abençoou
Diz que tudo é samba
Samba é tudo o que Deus abençoou
O valor dá-se a quem tem
Ismael foi nosso professor
Samba raro é samba em paz
E quem faz não diz que tem valor
O bom samba é o que traz
Na cadência a doçe pulsação da Vila
Pra fazer um samba a mais
É preciso mais que pretensão
The lyrics of Clara Moreno's "Samba E Tudo" delve into the essence and significance of Samba, a genre of music and dance originated in Brazil. It argues that Samba is not just limited to being a mere mother or father figure but rather a way of life that requires obedience, dedication, and respect. The opening lines depict how some people merely claim to revere Samba as their mother but do not participate in its rituals or ceremonies. The next line refers to those who disobey the norms of this culture but still want to be recognized as a part of it.
The following lines shed light on the fact that being a sambista or a devotee of Samba requires more than just superficial fame or notoriety. The lyrics suggest that the true essence of Samba is found in the profound connection with the Vila, a neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, which is known for its strong Samba culture. The verse "o bom samba é o que traz na cadência a doce pulsação da Vila" highlights the significance and beauty of the rhythm and the sweet pulse of the Vila, which is found in the authentic Samba.
In conclusion, this song is an ode to the traditional and authentic form of Samba and emphasizes the dedication and respect it warrants from its participants. It suggests that true Samba is not just about performing Samba but understanding it as a way of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Tem quem diz que o samba é mãe
Some say that samba is like a mother figure
Mas não vai ao samba se benzer
But they don't go to samba to get blessed
Ninguém diz que o samba é pai
No one says that samba is like a father figure
Se não quer ao samba obedecer
If they don't want to obey samba
Ser sambista é muito mais
To be a samba musician is much more
Do que ser notícia nos jornais de Sampa
Than being in the news in São Paulo
Têm quem diz que o samba é mãe
Some say that samba is like a mother figure
Mas não cai na fonte do prazer
But they don't immerse themselves in the source of pleasure
Bamba faz que vai e não vai
The master makes it seem like they will come but might not
Mas não diz que é dono do andor
But they don't claim to own the throne
Um homem de bem não cai
A good man doesn't fall
E não trai a quem lhe tem amor
And doesn't betray those who love him
Quando um capoeira cai
When a capoeira fighter falls
Ele pede ao samba proteção divina
They ask samba for divine protection
Diz que tudo é samba
They say that everything is samba
Samba é tudo o que Donga abençoou
Samba is everything Donga blessed
Diz que tudo é samba
They say that everything is samba
Samba é tudo o que Deus abençoou
Samba is everything God blessed
O valor dá-se a quem tem
Value is given to those who have it
Ismael foi nosso professor
Ismael was our teacher
Samba raro é samba em paz
Rare samba is peaceful samba
E quem faz não diz que tem valor
And those who make it don't claim it has value
O bom samba é o que traz
The good samba is the one that brings
Na cadência a doçe pulsação da Vila
In the rhythm, the sweet heartbeat of the Vila
Pra fazer um samba a mais
To make one more samba
É preciso mais que pretensão
It takes more than just intentions
Writer(s): Celso Fonseca, Ronaldo Bastos
Contributed by Henry D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@crisportela616
Muito.bom!!! 👏👏👏 Dona Joyce deve estar orgulhosa!!!!😻
@eclairyeah
Holy shit, ive been looking everywhere for this. I remember hearing this as a kid, and i finally found it!
@henrikhupe7881
I love it when this happens :)
@WebMentorCR
Esto es demasiado. Como hace la gente de BRASIL para vivir con SEMEJANTE MUSICA? Yo me moriría!!!! Abrazos desde Costa Rica!!
@kzm25697
cooooooL!
@carambola08
Clara, Celso, Samba.... imbatíveis.
@SentoSe
Gostoso demais!