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.
Sertão Azul
Fagner Lyrics
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Um vaqueiro aboiar
Pode ver na luarada
O céu inteiro azular
O vaqueiro aboiando
O sertão ficando azul
O luar se espalhando
Luar do sertão
Te vejo azul
Com o meu coração blue
Luar do sertão
Blue moon
Nuvens de algodão azul
The lyrics to Fagner's song Sertão Azul speak about the beauty of the Brazilian countryside as seen and heard in the early hours of the morning. The song begins with a description of a vaqueiro, or cowboy, who can be heard singing out his traditional song known as an aboiar. The tune of his voice carries through the night air and can be seen visually as the moon shines down upon the countryside, bathing everything in a beautiful blue hue. The imagery of the blue sky and moon reflects the emotional state of the singer's heart which is said to be "blue" or filled with melancholy.
The second verse continues to describe the beauty of the moonlit countryside, as the blue light filters down and illuminates everything in its path. The use of the word "azul" or "blue" is repeated throughout the song as a way to highlight the powerful emotions brought on by the beauty of the natural world. The lyrics convey a sense of longing and nostalgia for a simpler time, when the beauty of nature could still be truly appreciated.
Overall, the lyrics to Fagner's Sertão Azul are a beautiful ode to the natural beauty of the Brazilian countryside. The use of language is poetic and evocative, capturing the emotional power of the natural world.
Line by Line Meaning
Quem ouvir na madrugada
If someone listens in the early morning
Um vaqueiro aboiar
to the sound of a cowboy's whistle
Pode ver na luarada
they might see in the moonlight
O céu inteiro azular
the entire sky turning blue
O vaqueiro aboiando
With the cowboy's whistle
O sertão ficando azul
the countryside turning blue
O luar se espalhando
the moonlight spreading
Azulando a madrugada
turning the early morning blue
Luar do sertão
Moonlight of the countryside
Te vejo azul
I see you as blue
Com o meu coração blue
with my blue heart
Luar do sertão
Moonlight of the countryside
Blue moon
Blue moon
Nuvens de algodão azul
Clouds of blue cotton
Contributed by Ian F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.