Elis Regina Carvalho Costa (March 17, 1945, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul… Read Full Bio ↴Elis Regina Carvalho Costa (March 17, 1945, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil – January 19, 1982, São Paulo, Brazil), better known as Elis Regina, was a Brazilian singer and one of the biggest names of MPB. Known for her vocal competence, musicianship and stage presence, she was acclaimed both in Brazil and internationally.

In the '60s, Elis was a leader and a standard-bearer in defense of Brazilian popular music, heavily contributing to the formation of the MPB label, with commercial and ideological characteristics at the same time. She was the first major artist to emerge from music festivals in the 1960s and detached herself from the Bossa Nova aesthetic through the use of her vocal range and drama. Initially, her style was influenced by radio singers, especially Ângela Maria. After four unsuccessful studio albums — Viva a Brotolândia (1961), Poema de Amor (1962), Elis Regina (1963), O Bem do Amor (1963) — Elis was the biggest revelation of the TV Excelsior festival in 1965, when he sang "Arrastão" by Vinícius de Moraes and Edu Lobo. This feat would guarantee him the invitation to act on television and, shortly afterwards, the title of first star of Brazilian popular song, when he started to command, alongside Jair Rodrigues, one of the two most important Brazilian popular music programs, O Fino da bossa. In 1967, she married Ronaldo Bôscoli, then director of O Fino da Bossa. From 1972, Elis began a relationship with César Camargo Mariano, which would last until 1981, in one of the most successful partnerships in Brazilian Popular Music.

She sang many genres: MPB, bossa nova, samba, rock and jazz. Interpreting songs like "Madalena", "Águas de Março", "Atrás da Porta", "Como Nosso Pais", "O Bêbado e a Equilibrista" and "Querellas do Brasil", he recorded moments of happiness, love, sadness and patriotism. Throughout his career, he stood out for also singing songs by artists, still little known, such as Milton Nascimento, Ivan Lins, Belchior, Renato Teixeira, Aldir Blanc, João Bosco, helping to launch them and publicize their works. , boosting them in the Brazilian music scene. Among other partnerships, the duets she had with Jair Rodrigues, Tom Jobim and Rita Lee are famous. With her second husband, pianist César Camargo Mariano, she consecrated a long work of great creativity and musical consistency and, in technical terms, was considered the best brazilian singer. His most memorable artistic presence is perhaps registered on the albums Em Pleno Verão (1970), Elis (1972), Elis (1973), Elis & Tom (1974), Elis (1974), Falso Brilhante (1976), Transversal do Tempo (1978). ), Essa Mulher (1979), Saudade do Brasil (1980) and Elis (1980). She was the first person to inscribe her own voice as if it were an instrument, in the Order of Musicians of Brazil. In 2013, she was elected the best female voice in Brazilian music by Rolling Stone Magazine. Elis was also mentioned in the list of the greatest artists in Brazilian music, ranking 14th, being the best-placed woman. In November of the same year, a musical was premiered in honor of her Elis, the musical.

Elis Regina died prematurely at the age of 36, at the height of her career, causing strong commotion in the country and leaving a vast body of work in Brazilian popular music. Although there were controversies and disputes as to the cause of death, the tests showed that the cause was the consumption of cocaine associated with alcohol, which caused a cardiac arrest.

A Volta
Elis Regina Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Quero ouvir a tua voz
E quero que a canção seja você
E quero, em cada vez que espero
Desesperar, se não te ver
É triste a solidão
É longe o não te achar
É lindo é o teu perdão
Que festa é o teu voltar

Mas quero que você me fale
Que você me cale
Caso eu perguntar
Se o que te fez mas lindo ainda
Foi a tua pressa de voltar
Levanta e vem correndo
Me abraça e sem sofrer
Me beija longamente
O quanto a solidão precisa pra morrer
Levanta e vem correndo
Me me abraça e sem sofrer
Me beija longamente

O quanto a solidão precisa pra morrer
O quanto a solidão precisa pra morrer

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Elis Regina's song "A Volta" convey a deep longing for the return of a loved one. The singer expresses their desire to hear the voice of the person they have been missing and to have their presence embodied in music. The anticipation of seeing this person again is so strong that the singer is consumed by despair when they cannot be found. The feelings of loneliness are starkly contrasted by the joy and celebration that will accompany the loved one's return. The forgiveness and peace that come with the reunion are emphasized as reasons why this person's presence is so desperately needed in the singer's life.

The verse "Levanta e vem correndo/Me abraça e sem sofrer/Me beija longamente" captures the intensity of the singer's longing. The use of imperatives and the repetition of "me" underscore the need to feel physically connected to their loved one while driving home a sense of urgency. This longing is so strong that the singer suggests that it could be enough to "matar a solidão" or "kill the loneliness" that has been plaguing them. The final line repeats this sentiment, emphasizing that the mere presence of their loved one has the power to make the singer feel whole again.

Line by Line Meaning

Quero ouvir a tua voz
I want to hear your voice

E quero que a canção seja você
And I want the song to be you

E quero, em cada vez que espero
And I want, every time I wait,

Desesperar, se não te ver
To despair if I don't see you

É triste a solidão
Loneliness is sad

É longe o não te achar
It's far to not find you

É lindo é o teu perdão
Your forgiveness is beautiful

Que festa é o teu voltar
What a celebration it is when you come back

Mas quero que você me fale
But I want you to tell me

Que você me cale
To silence me

Caso eu perguntar
If I ask