In 1999, she was elected by BBC Radio London as the Brazilian singer of the millennium. The choice originated from the British radio project The Millennium Concerts, created to celebrate the arrival of the year 2000. In addition, Soares appears on the list of the 100 greatest voices of Brazilian music prepared by Rolling Stone Brazil magazine.
Soares lived in extreme poverty throughout her childhood and teen, getting married at 12 and having her first child at 13. Soares had her first audition in radio at Ary Barroso's novice show when she was 16, winning first place. She was then hired as a crooner by the Orquestra Garam de Bailes (led by conductor Joaquim Naegli). She worked in the orchestra until 1954, when she became pregnant. In 1955, she was invited to star together with Grande Otelo in the play Jour-Jou-Fru-Fru, which was a smash.
Three years later, Soares toured Argentina, returning in the next year when she was hired by Rádio Vera Cruz. Also in 1959, she recorded a 78 rpm with "Se Acaso Você Chegasse" (Lupício Rodrigues/Felisberto Martins), one of her biggest hits. In 1960, she went to São Paulo where she performed regularly in the show I Festival Nacional de Bossa Nova and recorded her first LP, Se Acaso Você Chegasse.
In 1962, she represented Brazil in Chile during the World Soccer Cup, where she met Garrincha, one of the most genial soccer players ever, and also a chronic alcoholic. With Garrincha, Soares had a very troubled marriage (and the untimely demise of their son Garrinchinha in 1986 in a car accident didn't help her in any way).
The peak of her career was in the '60s, with albums like O Máximo em Samba (1967), Elza Soares & Wilson das Neves (1968), Elza, Miltinho e Samba (a three-album series shared with Miltinho). In that decade she had several hits like "Boato," "Edmundo" (a version of "In the Mood"), "Beija-me," "Devagar Com a Louça," "Mulata Assanhada," "O Mundo Encantado de Monteiro Lobato," "Bahia de Todos os Deuses," "Palmas no Portão," and "Palhaçada."
Having recorded several albums with the hits "Só Danço Samba" (Tom Jobim/Vinícius de Moraes), "A Banca do Distinto" (Billy Blanco), "Pressentimento" (Elton Medeiros/Hermínio Bello de Carvalho), and "Princesa Isabel" (Sérgio Ricardo), she moved to Italy in 1969, where she performed at the Sistina theater (Rome), returning to Brazil in 1972. In the same year, she opened the show Elza Em Dia de Graça at the Opinião theater (Rio) and participated in the Brasil Export Show (Canecão).
In the '70s, she still had success with "Salve a Mocidade" (1974), and "Malandro" (1977, this song launched Jorge Aragão as a composer). But it wasn't enough to prevent her from facing huge economical adversities and at the same time, she was being systematically turned away by recording companies.
Trying unsuccessfully to develop a career abroad, she returned to Brazil in 1994, poor and depressed. Finally, she was rediscovered in the '80s by the younger generations of Brazilian rockers (Os Titãs, Lobão) and MPB artists like Caetano Veloso
Soares was awarded a Sharp Prize award as the Best Samba Singer of 1997. In November 1999, Soares participated in the show Desde Que o Samba é Samba (at Royal Albert Hall, London, England), together with Chico Buarque, Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, Gal Costa, and Virgínia Rodrigues.
In 2000, her life was depicted in the musical Crioula, which had several songs written specially for her by Chico Buarque, Chico César, Nei Lopes, and others. In 2000, she was appointed Singer of the Millennium by London's BBC. Soares continues to challenge her destiny, performing shows in every venue available.
Alvaro Neder, All Music Guide
Maria da Vila Matilde
Elza Soares Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Vou entregar teu nome e explicar meu endereço
Aqui você não entra mais
Eu digo que não te conheço
E jogo água fervendo se você se aventurar
Eu solto o cachorro
E, apontando pra você
Eu quero ver você pular, você correr
Na frente dos vizinhos
'Cê vai se arrepender de levantar a mão pra mim
Cadê meu celular? Eu vou ligar prum oito zero
Vou entregar teu nome e explicar meu endereço
Aqui você não entra mais
Eu digo que não te conheço
E jogo água fervendo se você se aventurar
Eu solto o cachorro
E, apontando pra você
Eu grito péguix guix guix guix
Eu quero ver você pular, você correr
Na frente dos vizinhos
'Cê vai se arrepender de levantar a mão pra mim
E quando o samango chegar
Eu mostro o roxo no meu braço
Entrego teu baralho teu bloco de pule teu dado chumbado
Ponho água no bule
Passo e ainda ofereço um cafezin'
'Cê vai se arrepender de levantar a mão pra mim
Cadê meu celular? Eu vou ligar prum oito zero
Vou entregar teu nome e explicar meu endereço
Aqui você não entra mais
Eu digo que não te conheço
E jogo água fervendo se você se aventurar
Eu solto o cachorro
E, apontando pra você
Eu grito péguix guix guix guix
Eu quero ver você pular, você correr
Na frente dos vizinhos
'Cê vai se arrepender de levantar a mão pra mim
E quando tua mãe ligar
Eu capricho no esculacho
Digo que é mimado que é cheio de dengo mal acostumado
Tem nada no quengo
Deita, vira e dorme rapidin'
'cê vai se arrepender de levantar a mão pra mim
'Cê vai se arrepender de levantar a mão pra mim
'Cê vai se arrepender de levantar a mão pra mim
'Cê vai se arrepender de levantar a mão pra mim
'Cê vai se arrepender de levantar a mão pra mim
Mão, cheia de dedo
Dedo, cheio de unha suja
E pra cima de mim? Pra cima de muá? Jamé, mané
'Cê vai se arrepender de levantar a mão pra mim
'Cê vai se arrepender de levantar a mão pra mim
'Cê vai se arrepender de levantar a mão pra mim
'Cê vai se arrepender de levantar a mão pra mim
'Cê vai se arrepender de levantar a mão pra mim
'Cê vai se arrepender de levantar a mão pra mim
'Cê vai se arrepender de levantar a mão pra mim
'Cê vai se arrepender de levantar a mão pra mim
'Cê vai se arrepender de levantar a mão pra mim
The lyrics of Elza Soares's song Maria da Vila Matilde depict a strong and independent woman who stands up against a man who has mistreated her. She sings about calling the police and giving them his name and address, warning him that he will regret ever raising a hand to her. She threatens him with hot water and sets her dog loose on him, making it clear that he is not welcome in her life or her home. She also talks about showing bruises on her arm to her friends and mother, exposing his violence and immaturity, and promising that he will regret ever crossing her. The song is a powerful anthem for women who refuse to be victims of abuse or discrimination, and instead choose to assert their power and autonomy.
The lyrics of Maria da Vila Matilde are inspired by Soares's personal experience of domestic violence at the hands of her former husband, the soccer star Garrincha. Soares was famously strong and resilient, and her music often reflects her commitment to social justice, especially when it comes to women's rights and empowerment. The song was released in 2002 as part of the album Do Cóccix Até O Pescoço, and it quickly became a hit in Brazil and beyond. The song's refrain, "Cê vai se arrepender de levantar a mão pra mim" (You will regret ever raising a hand to me), has become an iconic phrase that has been adopted by women's rights advocates and survivors of abuse around the world.
Overall, the lyrics of Maria da Vila Matilde are a poignant testament to the resilience and strength of women who refuse to be silenced or victimized. They draw on Soares's own experiences of abuse and mistreatment, and offer a powerful message of hope and empowerment for women everywhere.
Line by Line Meaning
Cadê meu celular? Eu vou ligar prum oito zero
Where's my phone? I'm going to dial an 0800 number
Vou entregar teu nome e explicar meu endereço
I'll give your name and explain my address
Aqui você não entra mais
You're not coming in here anymore
Eu digo que não te conheço
I'll say I don't know you
E jogo água fervendo se você se aventurar
And I'll throw boiling water if you dare to try
Eu solto o cachorro
I'll release the dog
E, apontando pra você
And, pointing to you
Eu grito péguix guix guix guix
I'll yell 'péguix guix guix guix'
Eu quero ver você pular, você correr
I want to see you jump, run
Na frente dos vizinhos
In front of the neighbors
'Cê vai se arrepender de levantar a mão pra mim
You'll regret raising your hand on me
E quando o samango chegar
And when Samango arrives
Eu mostro o roxo no meu braço
I'll show the bruise on my arm
Entrego teu baralho teu bloco de pule teu dado chumbado
I'll give your deck of cards, your pad of paper, your weighted die
Ponho água no bule
I'll put water in the teapot
Passo e ainda ofereço um cafezin'
I'll pour and even offer you some coffee
'Cê vai se arrepender de levantar a mão pra mim
You'll regret raising your hand on me
E quando tua mãe ligar
And when your mother calls
Eu capricho no esculacho
I'll really go hard on you
Digo que é mimado que é cheio de dengo mal acostumado
I'll say you're spoiled, full of bad habits
Tem nada no quengo
There's nothing in your head
Deita, vira e dorme rapidin'
Just lay down, turn around and sleep quickly
'Cê vai se arrepender de levantar a mão pra mim
You'll regret raising your hand against me
Mão, cheia de dedo
Hand, full of fingers
Dedo, cheio de unha suja
Fingers, full of dirty nails
E pra cima de mim? Pra cima de muá? Jamé, mané
And come at me? Come at me? No way, buddy
'Cê vai se arrepender de levantar a mão pra mim
You'll regret raising your hand against me
'Cê vai se arrepender de levantar a mão pra mim
You'll regret raising your hand against me
'Cê vai se arrepender de levantar a mão pra mim
You'll regret raising your hand against me
'Cê vai se arrepender de levantar a mão pra mim
You'll regret raising your hand against me
Lyrics © DUCHAMP, INC
Written by: Douglas Germano
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Maiara Severo
Escutando essa música pq criei coragem para denunciar meu agressor e não vou desistir!
Pedro Souza
vc é muito corajosa, parabéns!
Cump🔗
quero atualização, please
Maria Montenegro
Isso mesmo!! Não se cale
Clara Fernandes
Parabéns, você é muito forte
Maria clara Rocha Carvalho
Você conseguiu, e mais uma Vitória não é uma decisão fácil mais você fez. Muito obrigada por denunciar e dizer basta para essa situação, espero que hoje seja uma mulher forte e seguindo de cabeça erguida
Juliane Camargo
Vim porque ouvi essa música maravilhosa em "Bom Dia, Verônica"
Lucas Nunes Moraes
Eu tbm, que musica forte
Maria eduarda Alves de souza
Eu também
MissOliveira
essa música pode ser considerada o hino dessa série. se encaixa perfeitamente, dá até arrepio