Gal became one of Brazil's foremost Tropicália counterculture movement singers during the late 1960s and early 70s, quickly earning the title as one of the best and most acclaimed singers in Brazil, following a very succesful career with many hits and prestige over the years. During Tropicália, she became a political activist, coming into conflict with Brazil's government when dissent in music was censored, and later coming to represent the movement all alone in her country when her fellow Tropicália members and friends were exhiled to London due to the heavy dictatorship that was going on at the time.
Fellow musician Caetano Veloso, introduced her to Gilberto Gil and Tom Zé in 1963 (and later Maria Bethânia), who managed to secure her a recording deal in São Paulo for her debut album Domingo with Caetano Veloso. A bit before recording her first album, "Father of Bossa Nova" João Gilberto, met her and after a couple of hours hearing Gracinha (as she was known at the time) sing for him as he was playing the acoustic guitar, he said: "Gracinha, you're Brazil's greatest female singer". In the following years, Gal would prove his statement right with a fruitful and rewarding career, and with the encouragement of João Gilberto himself; her biggest idol.
Gal has recorded songs composed by a number of Brazil's most popular songwriters such as Antônio Carlos Jobim, Jorge Ben Jor, Chico Buarque, Rita Lee and especially her close friends Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil. She was also a member of the supergroup Doces Bárbaros, active in 1976, 1994 and 2002.
Falsa Baiana
Gal Costa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Não samba, não mexe
Não bole nem nada
Não sabe deixar a mocidade louca
Baiana é aquela que entra no samba
De qualquer maneira
Que mexe, remexe
Dá nó nas cadeiras
Baiana que entra no samba, só fica parada
Não samba, não mexe
Não bole nem nada
Não sabe deixar a mocidade louca
Por ela, por ela, por ela
Baiana é aquela que entra no samba
De qualquer maneira
Que mexe, remexe
Dá nó nas cadeiras
Deixando a moçada com água na boca
A falsa baiana quando entra no samba
Ninguém se incomoda
Ninguém bate palma
Ninguém abre a roda
Ninguém grita "oba, oba
Salve a Bahia, Senhor do Bonfim"
Mas a gente gosta quando uma baiana
Samba direitinho, de cima embaixo
Revira os olhinhos
Dizendo "eu sou filha de São Salvador"
Baiana que entra no samba, só fica parada
Não samba, não mexe
Não sabe deixar a mocidade louca
Baiana é aquela que entra no samba
De qualquer maneira
Que mexe
Dá nó nas cadeiras
Com água na boca
A falsa baiana quando entra no samba
Ninguém se incomoda
Ninguém bate palma
Ninguém abre a roda
Ninguém grita "oba, oba
Salve a Bahia, Senhor do Bonfim"
Mas a gente gosta quando uma baiana
Samba direitinho, de cima embaixo
Revira os olhinhos
Dizendo "eu sou filha de São Salvador"
Isso não é baiana, baiana
Baiana
Do samba que mexe
Dá nó nas cadeiras
Deixando a moçada com água na boca
A falsa baiana quando entra no samba
Ninguém se incomoda
Ninguém bate palma
Ninguém abre a roda
Ninguém grita "oba
Salve a Bahia"
Mas a gente gosta quando uma baiana
Samba direitinho, de cima embaixo
Revira os olhinhos
Sou filha de São Salvador
Baiana é aquela
Baiana baiana baiana hey hey
Baiana baiana baiana
The lyrics to Gal Costa's song Falsa Baiana describe the difference between a true and a false Baiana in the context of samba dancing. A Baiana is a woman from the Bahia region of Brazil, known for its vibrant music and dance culture. The song describes that a true Baiana is one who enters the samba and dances with abandon, moving her body in a way that excites and entices those around her. In contrast, a false Baiana enters the samba but does not know how to dance, staying still and not moving her body in the same way.
The song celebrates the true Baiana and the joy that she brings to the samba. The lyrics describe how the true Baiana "mexe, remexe" (moves around), "dá nó nas cadeiras" (ties knots in the chairs), and leaves the "moçada com água na boca" (the young people with their mouths watering). In contrast, the false Baiana does not inspire anyone and goes unnoticed. The song emphasizes that the true Baiana is a source of pride and admiration for her home city of Salvador.
Overall, the song Falsa Baiana celebrates the joy of samba dancing and the importance of cultural authenticity. It recognizes the special qualities that make a true Baiana so captivating and highlights the disappointment and lack of recognition that comes with being a false Baiana.
Line by Line Meaning
Baiana que entra no samba, só fica parada
There are those who come to dance the samba and don't move, don't sway, and don't do anything. They don't know how to work up the crowd.
Não samba, não mexe
They don't even dance or move an inch.
Não bole nem nada
They don't even sway their hips, let alone do anything else that would catch people's attention.
Não sabe deixar a mocidade louca
They don't know how to excite the young people who are looking for a good time.
Baiana é aquela que entra no samba / De qualquer maneira / Que mexe, remexe / Dá nó nas cadeiras / Deixando a moçada com água na boca
On the other hand, a true baiana is one who joins in on the samba however she can, moves and shakes her body, ties the young people up in knots, and leaves them begging for more.
Por ela, por ela, por ela
For her, for her, for her. She's the one who knows how to put on a show.
A falsa baiana quando entra no samba / Ninguém se incomoda / Ninguém bate palma / Ninguém abre a roda / Ninguém grita “oba, oba / Salve a Bahia, Senhor do Bonfim”
But the false baiana who comes to the samba doesn't receive any attention. No one wishes her well, no one applauds her, no one opens up a circle for her to dance, and no one hails Bahia's patron saint, Lord of Bonfim.
Mas a gente gosta quando uma baiana / Samba direitinho, de cima embaixo / Revira os olhinhos / Dizendo “eu sou filha de São Salvador”
However, people love it when a true baiana dances right, from head to toe, rolls her eyes, and says, 'I'm a daughter of São Salvador.'
Isso não é baiana, baiana / Baiana / Do samba que mexe / Dá nó nas cadeiras / Deixando a moçada com água na boca
That's not a baiana, a real baiana dances and moves, ties the young people up in knots, and leaves them wanting more.
Baiana baiana baiana hey hey / Baiana baiana baiana
Baiana, baiana, baiana hey hey / Baiana, baiana, baiana
Lyrics © IRMAOS VITALE S.A. - INDUSTRIA E COMERCIO
Written by: Geraldo Theodoro Pereira
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Vandejer1
A maior cantora do Brasil...
@Accelot
Demais ...viva Gal !
@ReinaDido
Cómo me gusta esta versión... fue la primera que escuché y la única por muchísimos años, estaba en un LP que se llamaba Gal-A todo vapor, todavía recuerdo la boca de ella ocupando toda la portada del disco, gigantesca...