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.
Os Argonautas
Elis Regina Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tanta tormenta, alegria
Meu coração não contenta
O dia, o marco, meu coração, o porto, não
Navegar é preciso, viver não é preciso
Navegar é preciso, viver não é preciso
Sorriso solto perdido
Horizonte, madrugada
O riso, o arco, da madrugada
O porto, nada
Navegar é preciso, viver não é preciso
Navegar é preciso, viver não é preciso
O barco, o automóvel brilhante
O trilho solto, o barulho
Do meu dente em tua veia
O sangue, o charco, barulho lento
O porto silêncio
Navegar é preciso, viver não é preciso
Navegar é preciso, viver não é preciso
Elis Regina's song Os Argonautas explores the theme of life as a journey, specifically through the metaphor of a boat sailing through rough waters. The first stanza describes the singer's heart as unable to withstand the many ups and downs, joys and sorrows of life. The line "navegar é preciso, viver não é preciso" (to sail is necessary, to live is not) is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the importance of taking risks and embarking on new experiences despite the uncertainty that comes with them. The second stanza speaks to the beauty and wonder of the journey, with an emphasis on the freedom and spontaneity that comes with it. The final stanza is a bit darker, with imagery of blood and decay, but ultimately leads to a peaceful silence at the "porto" or "port", perhaps a metaphor for the end of life's journey.
Overall, the song seems to be urging listeners to embrace the journey of life, and to not be afraid of the hardships and challenges that come with it. Through the metaphor of the boat, Regina explores the themes of risk-taking, freedom, and ultimately acceptance of the end of the journey.
Line by Line Meaning
O barco, meu coração não aguenta
My heart can't handle the boat
Tanta tormenta, alegria
So much turmoil, so much joy
Meu coração não contenta
My heart is not satisfied
O dia, o marco, meu coração, o porto, não
The day, the milestone, my heart, the port, none of them
Navegar é preciso, viver não é preciso
Navigating is necessary, living is not
O barco, noite no céu tão bonito
The boat, beautiful night sky
Sorriso solto perdido
A lost smile
Horizonte, madrugada
Horizon, dawn
O riso, o arco, da madrugada
The laughter, the arc of dawn
O porto, nada
The port, nothing
O barco, o automóvel brilhante
The boat, the shiny car
O trilho solto, o barulho
The loose rail, the noise
Do meu dente em tua veia
My tooth in your vein
O sangue, o charco, barulho lento
The blood, the puddle, slow noise
O porto silêncio
The port, silence
Navegar é preciso, viver não é preciso
Navigating is necessary, living is not
Contributed by Mateo F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.