Elba Maria Nunes Ramalho (born August 17, 1951 in Conceição, Paraíba, Brazi… Read Full Bio ↴Elba Maria Nunes Ramalho (born August 17, 1951 in Conceição, Paraíba, Brazil), best known as Elba Ramalho, is a Brazilian MPB singer, songwriter, performer, multi-instrumentalist and actress. Her musical style is characteristic for the traditional sounds of the Northeastern region of Brazil, such as baião, xote, xaxado, frevo, forró, and others.

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.

Noturna
Elba Ramalho Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Vindo de uma luz
Alguém tocou em mim
Fez o que bem quis
Tomou conta de mim

Cheia de emoção
Cantou com a minha própria voz

E fez essa canção pra nós
E partiu

Uma canção de amor
Que há muito não se faz
Uma canção, amor
Pra quem amou demais

Teve o poder
Teve a loucura e lucidez

Certeza de que dessa vez
Nos uniu

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Elba Ramalho's song "Noturna" depict a moment of intense emotion and connection. The song begins with the line "Coming from a light, someone touched me", suggesting an encounter with something otherworldly or transcendental. This touch takes control of the singer, doing whatever it pleases and taking over their being. It is an intimate experience that evokes a sense of vulnerability.

The following lines express that this experience is filled with emotion, as the singer sings with their own voice but guided by the touch. The song that is created is described as being for both of them, an expression of the shared connection. However, this being that touched the singer then departs, leaving them to contemplate the profound and powerful love that was shared in this encounter.

Through these lyrics, Elba Ramalho explores the transformative power of love and connection. It portrays a moment that goes beyond the ordinary, where the singer is taken over and guided by an otherworldly force. The song suggests that this experience of intense love and connection is rare, but leaves a lasting impact on the singer.

Line by Line Meaning

Vindo de uma luz
Emerging from a ray of light

Alguém tocou em mim
Someone touched me

Fez o que bem quis
Did as they pleased

Tomou conta de mim
Took control of me

Cheia de emoção
Full of emotion

Cantou com a minha própria voz
Sang with my own voice

E fez essa canção pra nós
And made this song for us

E partiu
And departed

Uma canção de amor
A love song

Que há muito não se faz
Which hasn't been done for a while

Uma canção, amor
A song, my love