Fernanda Sampaio de Lacerda Abreu (born September 8, 1961 in Rio de Janeiro… Read Full Bio ↴Fernanda Sampaio de Lacerda Abreu (born September 8, 1961 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) better known as Fernanda Abreu is a Brazilian singer, songwriter and dancer.

She was classified by the press as the pioneer of dance pop music - with choreography and the use of electronic productions - in Brazil, betting on the genre in 1990, after seeing the international dimension of artists such as Madonna and Prince, adhering to choreographies, ranges of dance styles and samplers in her work. At the time she encountered resistance from producers, since rock was on the rise in Brazil, insisting that she could gain notoriety by making pop music by eternalizing, "There isn't [pop music market], but we will inaugurate it." For her musical style she was called "the mother of Brazilian pop" by newspapers. Fernanda is trained as a professional dancer by the Tatiana Leskova Ballet, having joined two dance companies before her musical career.

In 1982 she became known as the backing vocalist of the rock band Blitz, responsible for popularizing the Brazilian rock movement in the 1980s, in which she remained for three albums until 1986. In 1990 she began her solo career with the album SLA Radical Dance Disco Club, which brought a danceable pop sound, unheard of in Brazil, containing samplers of various artists in its tracks, such as "Lady Marmalade" by Labelle and "Vogue" by Madonna]. In 1992, her most successful track, "Rio 40 Graus" is released, considered by the press a milestone in Brazilian music for mixing hip hop, disco music and funk, genres still marginalized at the time, and talking about the chaotic side of Rio de Janeiro, placing Fernanda in the position of icon by taking the music of the periphery to the radios.

Speed Racer
Fernanda Abreu Lyrics

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Cada dia que passa
É mais um dia que passa
Pra onde o destino me leva
Eu não sei
Eu ando pela cidade
Speed Racer, pela cidade
Mach 5 cor de prata
Em alta velocidade

Em alta velocidade
De dentro do meu carro eu vejo
A chuva, o sol, o vento e as nuvens
Dando voltas na Lagoa e eu penso
A vida nem sempre é boa
A vida nem sempre é boa
Até por ruas mais estreitas
Ou por grandes avenidas
Cruzando viadutos e túneis
Passam-se dias e noites
Passam-se dias e noites
Rasgando o espaço
Eu sinto o sol
Batendo em minha cara
Eu tenho a força
Eu sou veloz

No Mach 5 em alta velocidade
Em alta velocidade

Overall Meaning

The song "Speed Racer" by Fernanda Abreu is a reflection on life and the fast-paced nature of modern society. The lyrics describe the daily routine of the singer as she drives through the city in her silver Mach 5 at high speed, watching the rain, sun, wind, and clouds pass by. She reflects on the fact that life is not always good and that the days and nights come and go quickly as she races through the narrow streets, large avenues, viaducts, and tunnels. Despite the challenges, she feels empowered and strong behind the wheel of her car, experiencing the rush of wind and sun on her face, the power of the engine, and the exhilaration of speed.

The metaphor of "Speed Racer" is symbolic of the contemporary lifestyle that values speed, efficiency, and productivity over reflection, rest, and connection. Through this song, Fernanda Abreu critiques the idea that constant motion and speed will lead to happiness, and instead suggests that we need to take time to slow down and appreciate the beauty of life. The lyrics ask us to consider the value of our daily routines and remind us to question whether we are truly living when we are always rushing around.

Line by Line Meaning

Cada dia que passa
Every passing day

É mais um dia que passa
Is just another day that goes by

Pra onde o destino me leva
Where destiny takes me

Eu não sei
I do not know

Eu ando pela cidade
I walk around the city

Speed Racer, pela cidade
Speed Racer, through the city

Mach 5 cor de prata
Silver Mach 5

Em alta velocidade
At high speed

De dentro do meu carro eu vejo
From inside my car I see

A chuva, o sol, o vento e as nuvens
The rain, the sun, the wind and the clouds

Dando voltas na Lagoa e eu penso
Turning around Lagoa and I think