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.
Ventos Do Norte
Elba Ramalho Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Eu sou Mateus e Bastião do Boi Bumbá
Sou o boneco do Mestre Vitalino
Dançando uma ciranda em Itamaracá
Eu sou um verso de Carlos Pena Filho
Num frevo de Capiba
Ao som da orquestra armorial
Sou Capibaribe
Sou mamulengo de São Bento do Una
Vindo no baque solto de um Maracatu
Eu sou um auto de Ariano Suassuna
No meio da Feira de Caruaru
Sou Frei Caneca do Pastoril do Faceta
Levando a flor da lira
Pra Nova Jerusalém
Sou Luis Gonzaga
E eu sou mangue também
Eu sou mameluco, sou de Casa Forte
Sou de Pernambuco, sou o Leão do Norte
Sou Macambira de Joaquim Cardoso
Banda de Pifo no meio do Carnaval
Na noite dos tambores silenciosos
Sou a calunga revelando o Carnaval
Sou a folia que desce lá de Olinda
O homem da meia-noite puxando esse cordão
Sou jangadeiro na festa de Jaboatão
Eu sou mameluco
"The Ventos do Norte" song by Elba Ramalho is a tribute to the northeastern folklore of Brazil, embodied by the lyrical persona who identifies herself as the heart of that culture. She refers to different characters and creations that represent the cultural richness and diversity of the region. The verses mention, among others, Mateus and Bastião, two mythical figures from the Boi Bumbá folk festival, the clay figurines made by Mestre Vitalino, a renowned artisan from the state of Pernambuco, and the mamulengo puppets from São Bento do Una. Moreover, the lyrics bring up significant literary and musical names from the northeast, like Carlos Pena Filho, Capiba, João Cabral, and Luiz Gonzaga, who have contributed to popularize the regional traditions and sounds.
The song also echoes the festive and joyous spirit of the northeastern culture, especially during the carnival celebrations in Olinda and Jaboatão, as well as the religious pilgrimage to Nova Jerusalém. The persona emphasizes her multiple identities and affiliations, ranging from the mestizo origins to the urban contexts of Casa Forte and Recife. By mentioning all these references, the song aims to celebrate the cultural heritage of the northeast and highlight the artistic and social value that it represents.
Line by Line Meaning
Sou o coração do folclore nordestino
I am the heart of the northeastern folklore and traditions.
Eu sou Mateus e Bastião do Boi Bumbá
I am both Mateus and Bastião, the characters from the Boi Bumbá festival.
Sou o boneco do Mestre Vitalino
I am the puppet crafted by Mestre Vitalino, a famous Brazilian artist.
Dançando uma ciranda em Itamaracá
I am dancing a traditional ciranda dance in the city of Itamaracá.
Eu sou um verso de Carlos Pena Filho
I am a verse of the famous Brazilian poet Carlos Pena Filho.
Num frevo de Capiba
I am part of a frevo, a fast-paced Brazilian music style, composed by Capiba.
Ao som da orquestra armorial
I am listening to the innovative music orchestra created by Ariano Suassuna.
Sou Capibaribe
I am the Capibaribe river that flows through the state of Pernambuco.
Num livro de João Cabral
I am part of the literary work of the famous poet João Cabral de Melo Neto.
Sou mamulengo de São Bento do Una
I am a puppet from São Bento do Una used in a traditional form of theater called mamulengo.
Vindo no baque solto de um Maracatu
I am arriving with the loose beat of a Maracatu, a traditional music style from Pernambuco.
Eu sou um auto de Ariano Suassuna
I am one of the plays written by the famous Brazilian playwright Ariano Suassuna.
No meio da Feira de Caruaru
I am in the middle of the famous open-air market located in the city of Caruaru.
Sou Frei Caneca do Pastoril do Faceta
I am Friar Caneca, a character from the play called Pastoril do Faceta.
Levando a flor da lira
I am carrying the symbol of the lyre, a traditional musical instrument used in Brazilian folklore.
Pra Nova Jerusalém
I am heading to the city of Nova Jerusalém, where the Passion of Christ play takes place every year.
Sou Luis Gonzaga
I am the legendary Brazilian musician and singer known as the king of baião.
E eu sou mangue também
I am also the unique ecosystem of mangroves found in the northeastern coast of Brazil.
Sou mameluco, sou de Casa Forte
I am a mix of indigenous and European heritage, born and raised in the neighborhood of Casa Forte in Recife.
Sou de Pernambuco, sou o Leão do Norte
I am from the state of Pernambuco and I am proud to be called the Lion of the North.
Sou Macambira de Joaquim Cardoso
I am a small cactus plant, native to the dry areas of northeastern Brazil, named after Joaquim Cardoso.
Banda de Pifo no meio do Carnaval
I am part of a band playing the pífano, a bamboo flute, in the middle of the Carnaval parade.
Na noite dos tambores silenciosos
I am in the night of the silent drums, a traditional African-Brazilian ceremony held in the city of Recife.
Sou a calunga revelando o Carnaval
I am the calunga, a wooden doll used in religious rituals, revealing the secrets of the Carnaval.
Sou a folia que desce lá de Olinda
I am the joy and celebration descending from the historic town of Olinda.
O homem da meia-noite puxando esse cordão
I am the Midnight Man, a traditional character that leads the Carnaval parade in Olinda.
Sou jangadeiro na festa de Jaboatão
I am a fisherman from Jaboatão, participating in the local festival.
Eu sou mameluco
I am a person of mixed heritage and culture.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Oswaldo Lenine Maced Pimentel, Paulo Cesar Francisc Pinheiro
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Maly Rocha
LETRA:
Bem vinda não sei de onde
Não sei como apareceu
Se foi dos ventos do Norte
Ou da maré que cresceu
Toquei o seu lindo rosto
E logo me apaixonei
Amei com bastante gosto
Tomei o posto de rei
É como se eu tivesse
Toda a força de uma prece a me rodear
É como se eu tivesse
Toda a força de uma prece a me rodear
O meu amor foi tão grande
Que eu nem pude atinar
Toda maré, todo vento
Como vem torna a voltar
Assim se foi meu amor
Deixando como lembrança
A barra de sua saia
Jogada na areia branca
É como se eu tivesse
Toda a força de uma prece pra não chorar
É como se eu tivesse
Toda a força de uma prece pra não chorar
Renato medeiros
Qualidade e bom gosto, dois ícones da MPB!!!
Jose Candido
Me desculpe os outros qe gravaram, mas elba ficou perfeita🙌🙏
LAURO B.LAMENZA
Minha música favorita na voz da Elba, pena que não está disponível nos aplicativos de música. Pelo menos eu ainda não vi. Parabéns Elba 😘
Isabela Gonçalves
Lindo demais!
Henrique Leoni
Um grande primor...