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.
Xamego
Elba Ramalho Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
O xamêgo faz sofrer
O xamêgo às vezes dói
Às vezes não
O xamêgo às vezes rói
O coração
Todo mundo quer saber
O que é o xamêgo
Se é mulato ou negro (2x)
Quem não sabe o que é xamêgo
Pede pra vovó
Que já tem setenta anos
E ainda quer xodó
E reclama noite e dia
Por viver tão só
E reclama noite e dia
Por viver tão só (2x)
Ai que xodó, que xamêgo
Que chorinho bom
Toca mais um bocadinho
Sem sair do tom
Meu comprade chegadinho
Ai que xamêgo bom
Ai que xamêgo bom
Ai que xamêgo bom
The lyrics to Elba Ramalho's song Xamego describe the contradictory and complex nature of the feeling of "xamêgo". The term "xamêgo" refers to a type of romantic affection or love, but it is not a simple or straightforward emotion. The first few lines of the song suggest that "xamêgo" can bring both pleasure and pain. It can be a source of joy and happiness, but it can also cause heartache and suffering. The song goes on to say that "xamêgo" can be unpredictable and inconsistent, sometimes hurting the heart and sometimes bringing it to life. The second verse highlights the mystery and ambiguity of this feeling. No one knows for sure what "xamêgo" is or where it comes from. It is a colorless, raceless emotion that defies easy definition.
Line by Line Meaning
O xamêgo dá prazer
Being close to someone you love brings pleasure
O xamêgo faz sofrer
Being away from someone you love brings pain
O xamêgo às vezes dói
Sometimes being close to someone you love can even be painful
Às vezes não
But sometimes it doesn't hurt at all
O xamêgo às vezes rói
O coração
Sometimes being away from someone you love can feel like your heart is being gnawed on
Todo mundo quer saber
O que é o xamêgo
Everyone wants to know what the feeling of love really is
Ninguém sabe se ele é branco
Se é mulato ou negro (2x)
No one can really describe what love looks like; it could be any color
Quem não sabe o que é xamêgo
Pede pra vovó
Que já tem setenta anos
E ainda quer xodó
If you don't understand what love is, ask your grandmother who's been alive for seventy years and still craves the feeling of having someone close
E reclama noite e dia
Por viver tão só (2x)
And she complains day and night about being alone
Ai que xodó, que xamêgo
Que chorinho bom
Oh, what a sweet, lovely feeling of love that brings us joy and happiness
Toca mais um bocadinho
Sem sair do tom
Play a little longer without changing the mood
Meu comprade chegadinho
Ai que xamêgo bom
Ai que xamêgo bom
Ai que xamêgo bom
My dear friend who's come close to me, what a lovely feeling of love we share
Writer(s): Miguel Lima, Luiz Gonzaga Copyright: Irmaos Vitale S.A. - Industria E Comercio
Contributed by Liam W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.