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.
Sonho de Arte
Fagner Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nós somos dele uma parte
E se a vida é só um sonho
Que seja um sonho de arte
Que tenha os lábios da moça
E a roupa de zuarte
A escuridão do poço
Quem parte, se está vazio
Pode de tudo encontrar
Pode suportar o frio
Pode rir pode chorar
Mas tem que tirar sorrindo
Os espinhos da aflição
Por que do sonho perdido
Se aprende a perdição
Quem aprende a perdição
Já nada tem a perder
Já não comete pecado
Se faz a terra tremer
Pode ver verdade e arte
No corpo de uma mulher
Sair sem rumo de tarde
E voltar quando quiser
In "Sonho de Arte," Fagner muses on the nature of existence. He begins with an acknowledgment that the world can be a dark and sinister place, suggesting that it may be representative of the demonic. However, he suggests that even in this dark world, individuals can find a sense of purpose and meaning through artistic expression. Fagner echoes the sentiment of many Romantic poets and painters, proposing that art can transcend the mundane and create a sense of majesty and transcendence. He argues that if life is nothing more than a dream, we should strive for it to be a dream of art, filled with all the beauty and passion that we can imagine.
Fagner expands on these themes by painting a picture of the idealized dream world he envisions. He describes a woman with red lips and clothing reminiscent of Zuarte (a Portuguese painter suggesting a visual reference to art). He then suggests that even the darkness of the world, represented by a well, can be made beautiful through art, and those who leave it behind must have the determination to leave it behind and start anew. He emphasizes the power of personal choice to face the world's trials and tribulations, suggesting that we must learn to smile through our pain and heartache. Fagner offers a sense of optimism that even when things seem their darkest, we can find hope through the beauty of creation.
Line by Line Meaning
Se este mundo é um demonio
Acknowledges the imperfections of the world we live in
Nós somos dele uma parte
Recognizes our connection to the world and its problems
E se a vida é só um sonho
Contemplates the transient nature of life
Que seja um sonho de arte
Aspires to make the most of life and create something beautiful
Que tenha os lábios da moça
Imagines a beautiful woman with full lips
E a roupa de zuarte
Pictures a person with unique and unconventional clothing
A escuridão do poço
Refers to the darkness and uncertainties of life
E a decisão de quem parte
Emphasizes the importance of making choices and taking action
Quem parte, se está vazio
Explores the idea that feeling empty can lead to new experiences
Pode de tudo encontrar
Encourages exploration and openness to new opportunities
Pode suportar o frio
Accepts the discomfort and hardships of life
Pode rir pode chorar
Recognizes the full range of emotions that make up the human experience
Mas tem que tirar sorrindo
Encourages facing challenges with positivity and a good attitude
Os espinhos da aflição
Refers to the obstacles and difficulties of life
Por que do sonho perdido
Questions why we should waste time on lost dreams
Se aprende a perdição
Recognizes that holding onto lost dreams can lead to negative outcomes
Quem aprende a perdição
Acknowledges those who have learned this lesson
Já nada tem a perder
Realizes that once everything is lost, there is nothing left to fear
Já não comete pecado
Believes that those who have reached this level of understanding are free from sin
Se faz a terra tremer
Expresses a sense of power and impact
Pode ver verdade e arte
Reminds us that art and beauty can be found in the truth of life
No corpo de uma mulher
Acknowledges the beauty and complexity of women
Sair sem rumo de tarde
Encourages spontaneous and aimless exploration
E voltar quando quiser
Holds onto the freedom to come and go as one pleases
Contributed by Cameron W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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