From 1972 until 1975, when this record was made, Santiago’s main gig was as ‘crooner’ in Ed Lincoln’s Orchestra. As Lincoln’s long time friend and cohort, it was obvious that Durval Ferreira, (in his capacity as Artistic Director at CID) would be one of the first to recognise the extraordinary talent of the young singer; thus Ferreira signed a deal with Santiago to make this album, supported by absolutely the best players and arrangers, and singing songs by Brazil’s best composers. ‘Emilio Santiago’ is one of the jewels in the crown of the CID catalogue. whatmusic.com is very proud to present Santiago’s classic, reissued in its original form for the first time.
Translation of the original liner notes:
Emilio Santiago, like Rio de Janeiro, arrived in this world ready formed. Ready and complete, which is something very important. You can count on one hand singers born with this total craft in the southern hemisphere. Total and complete, in the way of a footballer who can score with both feet. Emilio Santiago sings anything in any genre as if he loved everything. He sings anything like it is everything. In Emilio Santiago there are points balanced in space in the same way as there are in the royal palms in the Jardim Botanico. Everything that’s placed in front of Santiago is absorbed and becomes his. A record is a record. Merely a black plastic disc with a limited number of curves. But the infinite talent of Emilio Santiago needed to be confined and defined within this finite time and space dimension. And that’s where we have the difficulty – in condensing this man and his talent into a mere record. In between lost and drunken nights in the 706 club and, latterly, in the Preto 22, the directors of CID realised that this was exactly the right moment to capture Emilio Santiago for posterity. This record is the result of the Emilio sound of today. Which doesn’t mean the Emilio sound of tomorrow, or of another future record. Emilio is a singer of rare sophistication because of his incredible honesty. As an individual he’s as sophisticated as he is modest. Big, expansive gestures, but never over the top, he smiles with a thousand and one teeth – all his own – and admits that time really is on his side.
“I really could move into many different styles but I can only go for what I believe to be a kind of truth, for something which really feels right for me. It would be pretentious of me to suggest that with this record you have a full and complete picture of my whole being. But all of the directions in this music are mine and I love them as my own. The day that I create something that’s perfect will be the day that I’ve concluded a kind of cycle. And I’ll go back to becoming a lawyer. And that is something that’s as improbable as the musical world resuscitating Paderevsky, who between being President of Poland and being a musician, chose the latter. To sum up: I’m a guy who gives out small rays of light but who hits all the right notes. These are the things I know and feel for certain, come rain or come shine”.
The musicians on this album were:
João Donato; Jose Roberto Bertrami; Laércio de Freitas; Gilson Peranzetta; Dori Caymmi & Ivan Lins: Electric piano, keyboards and arrangements.
Durval Ferreira; Hélio Delmiro & Carlos Roberto Rocha: Guitars
Copinha; Danilo Caymmi & Celso Woltzenlögel: Flutes
Formiga & Marcío Montarroyos: Trumpets
Vitor Assis Brasil; Aurino & Zé Bodega: Saxes
Botello: Clarinet
Edson Maciel; Edmundo Maciel; João Luiz Maciel
& Jessé Sadock: Trombones
Orlandivo & Ariovaldo: Percussion
Mamão & Wilson das Neves: Drums
Jaime & Nair; Marcio Lott; Lucinha Lins; Jurema;
Marcos Valle: Chorus
Dori Caymmi: String arrangements
Novelli & Alex Malheiros: Bass
Aécio Flavio: arrangements
Tita: Acoustic Guitar
And the rhythm sections included Azimuth and Modo Livre
Remastered by Luigi Hoffer at Digital Mastering Solutions Rio de Janeiro November 2002
Special thanks to Harry Zuckerman & Durval Ferreira
© 2003 whatmusic.com
Nega
Emilio Santiago Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Segura no pé dessa nêga
E o asfalto precisa do pé dessa nêga
Pra sambar na avenida do seu coração
Nêga
Segura no pé dessa nêga (Nega)
E o asfalto precisa do pé dessa nêga (Nega)
Nêga
Seu gingado me devora
Nêga
Me consome, me apavora
Nêga
Minha ala é o teu sorriso
Nêga
Meu enredo é o teu olhar
Eu vou lhe dar uma sandália bordada
De amor e carinho e fazer do meu pranto
O teu vestido
Depois pedir pra fazer do meu corpo
O teu porta estandarte
Vencer o desfile do amor
Eu vou lhe dar uma sandália bordada
De amor e carinho e fazer do meu pranto
O teu vestido
Depois pedir pra fazer do meu corpo
O seu porta estandarte
Vencer o desfile do amor
Nêga (Nega)
Segura no pé dessa (nega)
E o asfalto precisa do pé dessa nêga (Nega)
Pra sambar na avenida do seu coração
Nêga (Nega)
Segura no pé dessa (nega)
E o asfalto precisa do pé dessa (nega)
Pra sambar na avenida do seu coração
Nêga
Seu gingado me devora
Nêga
Me consome, me apavora
Nêga
Minha ala é o teu sorriso
Nêga
Meu enredo é o teu olhar
Eu vou lhe dar uma sandália bordada
De amor e carinho e fazer do meu pranto
O teu vestido
Depois pedir pra fazer com meu corpo
O seu porta estandarte
Vencer o desfile do amor
Eu vou, eu vou, eu vou, eu
Eu vou lhe dar uma sandália bordada
De amor e carinho e fazer do meu pranto
O teu vestido
Depois pedir pra fazer do meu corpo
O seu porta estandarte
Vencer o desfile do amor
Eu vou, eu vou, eu vou, eu vou
Eu vou lhe dar, é
De amor e carinho e fazer do meu pranto
O teu vestido
Depois pedir pra fazer do meu corpo
O seu porta estandarte
Vencer o desfile do amor
Eu vou, eu vou, eu vou, eu vou...
The lyrics of Emílio Santiago's song "Nega" in English translate to "Hold onto the foot of this black woman, and the asphalt needs the foot of this black woman to samba on the avenue of your heart... Your swaying devours me, consumes and terrifies me. My section is your smile, my plot is your gaze." Santiago's lyrics express his admiration for the black woman and the way she moves, highlighting the importance of her presence in the samba world. He speaks of giving her a embroidered sandal of love and asking her to make his body her "porta estandarte" or standard-bearer, to win the parade of love.
The lyrics of "Nega" symbolize a love for black women not only in a romantic sense but also in a cultural sense. By emphasizing the importance of the black woman's foot in samba and expressing admiration for her swaying movements, Santiago is celebrating the African roots of Brazilian culture. The lyrics of the song also emphasize the idea of unity and partnership, as Santiago speaks of working together to win the parade of love.
Line by Line Meaning
Nêga
This is a term of endearment used to refer to a Black woman.
Segura no pé dessa nêga
Hold on to the feet of this Black woman as she dances, showing off her unique movements and rhythm.
E o asfalto precisa do pé dessa nêga, Pra sambar na avenida do seu coração
The Black woman's steps are necessary for a good samba on the street of the singer's heart.
Seu gingado me devora
The way this Black woman moves her body captivates and consumes the singer.
Me consome, me apavora
The intensity of his attraction to her is overwhelming and frightens him.
Minha ala é o teu sorriso, Meu enredo é o teu olhar
The singer's group of supporters is the Black woman's smile, and his story is told through the expression in her eyes.
Eu vou lhe dar uma sandália bordada, De amor e carinho e fazer do meu pranto O teu vestido
The singer will give the Black woman a precious and carefully crafted gift of love, and he wishes to turn his tears into her dress.
Depois pedir pra fazer do meu corpo O seu porta estandarte Vencer o desfile do amor
He then asks her to make his body her banner and together, win the parade of love.
Writer(s): Veve Calazans
Contributed by John V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.