Elba Ramalho was born in the rural area of Conceição, in Vale do Piancó. In 1962, the family moved to the city of Campina Grande, also in Paraíba. Her father became the owner of the local theater. Daughter of a musician, she became interested in music still as a teenager.
In 1966, she participated, for the first time, in a performance on stage, in the Choir of the Fundação Artística e Cultural Manuel Bandeira, of which she was a member, with "Evocação do Recife". The Manuel Bandeira and Cecília Meireles Talking Choirs gained fame and started to be seen all over the Northeast, and Elba, who made her first presentation on stage together with them, soon became the highlight in the presentations. She starred in the poetic montages of Castro Alves, Thiago de Mello, Lindolfo Bell, Carlos Pena Filho and Figueiredo Agra. He participated in the montages of the plays "Ministro do Supremo" and "Diálogo das Carmelitas."
In 1968, while attending college of Economics and Sociology at the Federal University of Paraíba, she formed the ensemble As Brasas, in which she acted as drummer, which later became a theater group. However, Elba never stopped singing, and performed in several festivals throughout the Northeast.
In 1979, she released her first album, "Ave de Prata", and since then she has consolidated her position as one of the main Brazilian singers in activity. On her father's side, she is a cousin of fellow singer Zé Ramalho.
She has two Latin Grammys for her albums: Qual o Assunto Que Mais Lhe importa?, released in 2008, and Balaio de Amor, 2009, in the category Best Brazilian Roots Album: Regional and Tropical. In over 35 years of career, Elba Ramalho has sold more than 10 million albums. She received from the Art Critics Association of São Paulo the award "Best Show of the Year" on two occasions: in 1989 for the show Popular Brasileira and in 1996 for the show Leão do Norte.
Magalenha
Elba Ramalho Lyrics
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Hoje é um dia de sol, alegria de coió, é curtir o verao
Vem Magalenha rojão, traz a lenha pro fogão, vem fazer armação
Hoje é um dia de sol, alegria de coió, é curtir o verão
Te te te te te te te
Te te te te te te te
Vem Magalenha rojão, traz a senha pro fogão te te te coração
Hoje é um dia de sol, alegria de xodó, meu dever de verão
Vem Magalenha rojão, traz a senha pro fogão te te te coração
Hoje é um dia de sol, alegria de xodó, meu dever de verão
Te te te te te
Te te te te te
Te te te te te
Te te te te te
Calangulango, do calango da pretinha,
'Tô cantando essa mudinha pra senhora se lembrar,
Daquele tempo que vivia la na roça com uma filha
Na barriga e outra filha pra criar
Calangulango, do calango da pretinha,
'Tô cantando essa mudinha pra senhora se lembrar,
Daquele tempo que vivia la na roça com uma filha
Na barriga e outra filha pra criar
Calangulango, do calango da pretinha,
'Tô cantando essa mudinha pra senhora se lembrar,
Daquele tempo que vivia la na roça com uma filha
Na barriga e outra filha pra criar
Te te te te te
Te te te te te
Te te te te te
Vem Magalenha rojão, traz a senha pro fogão te te te coração
Hoje é um dia de sol, alegria de xodó, meu dever de verão
Vem Magalenha rojão, traz a senha pro fogão te te te coração
Hoje é um dia de sol, alegria de xodó, meu dever de verão
Te te te te te
Te te te te te
Te te te te te
Te te te te te
Te te te te te
Te te te te te
Te te te te te
Te te te te te
Te te te te te
The lyrics of Elba Ramalho's song "Magalenha" express the joy and excitement of summertime, particularly in the context of Brazilian culture. The singer of the song, Magalenha, is beckoned to come and bring wood to the stove in preparation for cooking, as well as to create a festive ambience. The repeated phrase "te te te te te" adds to the upbeat feel of the song, and the reference to "calangulango" and "calango da pretinha" speak to traditional Afro-Brazilian rhythms.
The lyrics also touch on themes of family and nostalgia, as the singer shares memories of someone who had to raise multiple daughters while living in a rural area. This sense of reminiscing and appreciating the past is further emphasized in the repetition of the lines "hoje é um dia de sol" and "meu dever de verão", which suggest a longing for the carefree nature of youth and the pleasures of summertime.
Overall, the lyrics of "Magalenha" celebrate the richness of Brazilian culture, both in its lively music and its connection to nature and family.
Line by Line Meaning
Vem Magalenha rojão, traz a lenha pro fogão, vem fazer armação
Come Magalenha, with firework and firewood, let's create a stir
Hoje é um dia de sol, alegria de coió, é curtir o verão
Today is a sunny day, full of joy and happiness, let's enjoy the summer
Vem Magalenha rojão, traz a senha pro fogão te te te coração
Come Magalenha, with firework, firewood and all your heart
Hoje é um dia de sol, alegria de xodó, meu dever de verão
Today is a sunny day, full of joy and love, my summer duty
Calangulango, do calango da pretinha, 'Tô cantando essa mudinha pra senhora se lembrar, Daquele tempo que vivia la na roça com uma filha Na barriga e outra filha pra criar
Calangulango, from the little black lizard, I'm singing this song to remind you of those days when you lived in the countryside with a daughter in your belly and another one to raise
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Sentric Music, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Carlinhos Brown
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind