The youngest of the five children of José Fares, Lebanese immigrant to Brazil, and Dona Francisca, Fagner was born in Fortaleza, the capital of the state of Ceará, although his birth was recorded in Orós.
At the age of five years he won a youth competition at a local radio station. As a teen, he formed vocal and instrumental groups and began to compose his own music. In 1968 he won the Festival de Música Popular do Ceará (Popular Music Festival of Ceará) with his song "Nada Sou" (I am Nothing).
In 1971 he moved to the capital Brasília, taking first place in the Festival de Música Popular do Centro de Estudos Universitários de Brasília (Popular Music Festival of the University Studies Center of Brasília) with his piece "Mucuripe" (with collaborator Belchior), which was later recorded by artist Elis Regina, and became Fagner's first notable success as a composer. He won prizes in other categories with additional pieces, as well.
He has had a distinguished career as a performer, singer, songwriter and composer for over 3 decades, and is also known for his collaborations with other MPB artists such as Caetano Veloso, Roberta Miranda, Chico Buarque and others.
Mambo Da Cantareira
Fagner Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Vendo mesmo como é que dói
Trabalhar em madureira, viajar na cantareira
E morar em niterói
Ê, cantareira, ê, cantareira,
Ê, cantareira vou aprender a nadar
Ê, cantareira, ê, cantareira
De tanto viajar já tô ficando bambo
Já tô com o corpo mole de canseira
Por isso agora resolvi cantar o mambo
Vamos cantar o mambo cantareira
The lyrics to Fagner's song "Mambo Da Cantareira" describe the pain and exhaustion of working in Madureira, traveling to the Cantareira forest, and living in Niterói. The repeated phrase "só vendo como é que dói" (only seeing how it hurts) emphasizes the intense physical and emotional toll of this lifestyle. However, the chorus offers a glimmer of hope as the singer declares their intention to learn how to swim in the Cantareira, refusing to drown in the challenges that life throws their way.
There are several possible interpretations of these lyrics. One reading could focus on the contrast between the urban and rural settings mentioned in the song. Madureira is a working-class neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, while the Cantareira forest is a protected area on the outskirts of São Paulo. Niterói, meanwhile, is a separate city across the Guanabara Bay from Rio. The singer seems to be caught between these different worlds, struggling to find a sense of place and purpose. The mention of swimming could symbolize a desire to adapt and survive in these changing environments.
Another interpretation could center on the idea of resilience and perseverance. Despite the hardships described in the verses, the chorus offers a sense of determination and optimism. By learning how to swim in the Cantareira, the singer is committing to mastering a new skill and overcoming their fear of drowning. The use of the mambo rhythm, with its upbeat tempo and danceable groove, reinforces this sense of resilience and joy in the face of adversity.
Overall, "Mambo Da Cantareira" is a rich and poetic song that captures the complexities of life in Brazil, from the struggles of the working class to the beauty of the natural world.
Line by Line Meaning
Só vendo como é que dói só
Only by seeing how much it hurts, do I truly understand the pain.
Vendo mesmo como é que dói
Seeing for myself how much it hurts, is the only way to truly understand.
Trabalhar em madureira, viajar na cantareira
Working in Madureira, traveling to Cantareira.
E morar em niterói
And living in Niterói.
Ê, cantareira, ê, cantareira,
Oh, Cantareira, Oh, Cantareira,
Ê, cantareira vou aprender a nadar
Oh, Cantareira, I'm going to learn to swim.
Ê, cantareira, ê, cantareira
Oh, Cantareira, Oh, Cantareira,
É cantareira, eu não quero me afogar
It's Cantareira, I don't want to drown.
De tanto viajar já tô ficando bambo
I'm getting tired from traveling so much.
Já tô com o corpo mole de canseira
My body is already weak from exhaustion.
Por isso agora resolvi cantar o mambo
That's why I decided to sing the Mambo now.
Vamos cantar o mambo cantareira
Let's sing the Mambo, Cantareira.
Contributed by Mason Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Aretuza Carvalho
🌹Que ritmo delicioso!!! Mistura de tantos sons/estilos/ movimentos, derivados da música africana. Chegou à Cuba e se tornou o ritmo mais expressivo na Ilha.
A letra de Gordurinha (1960). Tem tudo a ver com a década. (lugares/simplicidade).
Fagner tem muito swing e a interpreta com graça e sensualidade 🎵🎶🎼👣
Carlinhos Oliveira
Melhor cantor e compositor do brazil
Mauro Nogueira
Fagner, saúde e vida longa, imortalidade já conquistou com sua arte,
sonia maria silverio
Amo as músicas do Fagner. São poesias para a minha vida.👏👏👏❤
Rosemary Silva
Essa música não é dele. É do Gordurinha.
Ana almeida Pimentel
Amo Fagner , amo todas as músicas dele. minha filha mora em Niterói/RJ, não me canso de ouvir essa música , nossa.
Maria Teresa Gambaroto
Coisa linda ... adoro desde sempre...voz maravilhosa 💕
Mauro Nogueira
Adoro Fagner
Miguel Francisco
É a triste sorte do trabalhador. Uma obra-prima do Gordurinha. Parabéns, Fagner!
Célia Mello
PARABÉNS tricolor pelo seus 70 anos um forte abraço