Although his songs celebrate the people of Bahia and he himself is enshrined in the popular Brazilian imagination as the archetypal Bahian, he moved to Rio de Janeiro to find fame in the 1930's and never moved back to Bahia.
He became a contemporary and sometimes rival of composer Ary Barroso and enjoyed a lifelong friendship with Bahian author Jorge Amado. Dorival Caymmi first achieved success in the late 1930s with Carmen Miranda, for whom he composed 'O Que é Que a Baiana Tem?'. He recorded for five decades, both singing solo with his own guitar accompaniment, and backed by bands and orchestras. In the 1960s many of his songs were covered by bossa nova pioneer João Gilberto, and he collaborated with Antonio Carlos Jobim. Among the many musicians heavily influenced by Dorival Caymmi are Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil.
Dorival Caymmi passed away at age 94 on August 16, 2008 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, of multiple organ failure. He is survived by three children, all of whom are in the prominent musicians: Nana, Danilo and Dori Caymmi.
Dora
Dorival Caymmi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dora, rainha cafuza de um maracatu
Te conheci no Recife
Dos rios cortados de pontes
Dos bairros, das fontes coloniais
Dora, chamei
Ò Dora! . . .Ò Dora!
Eu vim à cidade
Ò Dora ...
Agora no meu pensamento eu te vejo requebrando
Pra cá, ora prá lá
Meu bem! ...
Os clarins da banda militar, tocam para anunciar
Sua Dora, agora vai passar.
Venham ver o que é bom
Ò Dora, rainha do frevo e do maracatu
Ninguém requebra, nem dança, melhor que tu!
The lyrics to Dorival Caymmi's "Dora" are a stylized tribute to a woman who is considered a "rainha" or queen of two important musical traditions in northeastern Brazil: frevo and maracatu. The song initially describes the city of Recife, where the rivers are crossed by bridges and the neighborhoods are dotted with colonial fountains. When the singer calls out "Ò Dora!" it is clear that he has specifically come to the city to see her pass by. The second part of the song is an ode to Dora's dance moves, which are depicted as fluid and irresistible. The military band's trumpets announce her arrival, and everyone is invited to come and see her dance.
The lyrics of "Dora" are a celebration of Brazilian musical traditions and the joy that they bring. The song is a tribute to a specific woman, but it is also a celebration of the larger cultural context that she represents. The song's description of Recife as a city of rivers and bridges, with its colonial architecture and historical significance, is painted with the palette of Brazilian musical traditions. Similarly, Dora's dance moves are described in terms of the joy, energy, and abandon of frevo and maracatu, and it is this energy that the song ultimately celebrates. In this way, "Dora" can be seen as an embodiment of the vitality of Brazilian music and culture as a whole.
Line by Line Meaning
Dora, rainha do frevo e do maracatu
Dora is the queen of frevo and maracatu, known for her skillful dancing and energetic performances
Dora, rainha cafuza de um maracatu
Dora, with her mixed-race heritage, is a queen of maracatu, a traditional Afro-Brazilian music and dance form
Te conheci no Recife
I met you in Recife, a city in northeastern Brazil known for its cultural and musical traditions
Dos rios cortados de pontes
Recife is a city intersected by rivers crossed by bridges
Dos bairros, das fontes coloniais
The city is characterized by its neighborhoods and colonial fountains
Dora, chamei; Ò Dora! . . . Ò Dora!
I called out to Dora, repeatedly saying her name to get her attention
Eu vim à cidade / Pra ver você passar / Ò Dora ...
I came to the city specifically to see Dora dance and perform
Agora no meu pensamento eu te vejo requebrando / Pra cá, ora prá lá / Meu bem! ...
Now I can't help but imagine you dancing, moving side-to-side, my dear!
Os clarins da banda militar, tocam para anunciar / Sua Dora, agora vai passar.
The military band's trumpets sound the announcement that Dora is coming and will soon be passing by
Venham ver o que é bom / Ò Dora, rainha do frevo e do maracatu / Ninguém requebra, nem dança, melhor que tu!
Come and see for yourself what is good: Dora, the queen of frevo and maracatu, whose dancing and movements cannot be surpassed by anyone else
Writer(s): Dorival Sen Caymmi Copyright: Emi Robbins Catalog Inc.
Contributed by Avery D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@nenacosta2168
Três gênios da música braseira: Caymmi, Vinicius e Toquinho. Só poderia dar uma lindeza dessas...💞
@rosefado
Que gravação mais linda!
Salve Caymmi, Vinícius e Toquinho!
@eduardodearaujoguimaraes6176
Linda demais...meu Deus...tem gente que não podia morrer...
@sofiadaterra
Sou apaixonada. Viniciusssss🥰💜 Toquinhoooo💘
@gilbertsalinas4522
absolutely love the beautiful vocal harmonies, loved how well Toquino and Vincius vocals blend well together... when both their voices lock @ 1:57 pure
heaven ..such a great song and duo
@andrewa6786
the BEST duo
@mateussoaresneto4296
Ouvi muito esse álbum enquanto estudava com meu primo na federal.
@mirianalmeida502
Linda!!! Ô Dora.
@carvinesdios
OBRIGADO PELA MUSICA!
@marcianonunez264
Qué dupla!