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
O que se cala
Elza Soares Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Minha voz uso pra dizer o que se cala
O meu país é meu lugar de fala
Mil nações moldaram minha cara
Minha voz uso pra dizer o que se cala
Ser feliz no vão, no triz, é força que me embala
O meu país é meu lugar de fala
Minha voz uso pra dizer o que se cala
Ser feliz no vão, no triz, é força que me embala
O meu país é meu lugar de fala
Pra que separar?
Pra que desunir?
Pra que só gritar?
Por que nunca ouvir?
Pra que enganar?
Pra que reprimir?
Por que humilhar e tanto mentir?
Pra que negar que ódio é o que te abala?
O meu país é meu lugar de fala
O meu país
Mil nações moldaram minha cara
Minha voz uso pra dizer o que se cala
Ser feliz no vão, no triz, é força que me embala
O meu país é meu lugar de fala
Pra que explorar?
Pra que destruir?
Por que obrigar?
Por que coagir?
Pra que abusar?
Pra que iludir?
E violentar, pra nos oprimir?
Pra que sujar o chão da própria sala?
Nosso país, nosso lugar de fala
O meu país é meu lugar de fala
Nosso país, nosso lugar de fala
Nosso país, nosso lugar de fala
The lyrics of Elza Soares's song "O Que Se Cala" convey a powerful message about the importance of speaking up and using one's voice to address silenced issues. The opening lines, "Mil nações moldaram minha cara, Minha voz uso pra dizer o que se cala" (A thousand nations shaped my face, I use my voice to say what is silenced), suggest that the singer's identity and experiences have been shaped by a multitude of cultures and her voice serves as a tool to express what is often left unspoken. The repetition of the line "O meu país é meu lugar de fala" (My country is my place to speak) further emphasizes her desire to assert her opinions and experiences within her homeland.
The song goes on to question why society separates, disunites, and fails to listen. Elza Soares highlights the themes of deception, repression, and humiliation, urging people to acknowledge the hatred that weighs them down. The repeated refrain "Pra que separar? Pra que desunir? Pra que só gritar? Por que nunca ouvir?" (Why separate? Why disunite? Why just scream? Why never listen?) prompts listeners to reflect on the destructive tendencies within society and challenges them to seek unity, understanding, and empathy instead.
The second part of the song addresses the issues of exploitation, destruction, coercion, and abuse. Elza Soares questions the motives behind these actions and calls for an end to the oppression that leads to violence and manipulation. She highlights the importance of creating a safe space within the country, stating "Nosso país, nosso lugar de fala" (Our country, our place to speak), which underscores the shared responsibility in creating a society where everyone's voice is valued and heard.
Overall, "O Que Se Cala" is an empowering anthem that encourages individuals to confront the silence and address the injustices present in society. It emphasizes the significance of using one's voice to advocate for change and emphasizes the need for unity and empathy.
Line by Line Meaning
Mil nações moldaram minha cara
My face has been shaped by a thousand nations
Minha voz uso pra dizer o que se cala
I use my voice to say what remains silent
O meu país é meu lugar de fala
My country is my place to speak
Ser feliz no vão, no triz, é força que me embala
To be happy in the void, in the triz, is the force that carries me
Pra que separar?
Why separate?
Pra que desunir?
Why divide?
Pra que só gritar?
Why just shout?
Por que nunca ouvir?
Why never listen?
Pra que enganar?
Why deceive?
Pra que reprimir?
Why suppress?
Por que humilhar e tanto mentir?
Why humiliate and lie so much?
Pra que negar que ódio é o que te abala?
Why deny that hatred is what troubles you?
Pra que explorar?
Why exploit?
Pra que destruir?
Why destroy?
Por que obrigar?
Why force?
Por que coagir?
Why coerce?
Pra que abusar?
Why abuse?
Pra que iludir?
Why deceive?
E violentar, pra nos oprimir?
And violate, to oppress us?
Pra que sujar o chão da própria sala?
Why dirty the floor of your own living room?
Nosso país, nosso lugar de fala
Our country, our place to speak
O meu país é meu lugar de fala
My country is my place to speak
Nosso país, nosso lugar de fala
Our country, our place to speak
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Douglas Germano
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind