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.
Garota De Ipanema
Gal Costa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mais cheia de graça.
É ela a menina que vem e que passa,
seu doce balanço a caminho do mar.
Moça do corpo dourado do sol de Ipanema,
O seu balançado é mais que um poema,
É a coisa mais linda que eu já vi passar.
Ah, por que tudo é tão triste?
Ah, a beleza que existe,
A beleza que não é só minha,
Que também passa sozinha.
Ah, se ela soubesse
Que, quando ela passa,
O mundo inteirinho se enche de graça
E fica mais lindo por causa do amor,
Por causa do amor, por causa do amor...
Gal Costa's "Garota De Ipanema" is a Portuguese-language song that tells the story of a young woman who strolls along the beachside neighborhood of Ipanema in Brazil with a uniquely graceful and captivating demeanor. The opening stanza begins with "Olha que coisa mais linda" which translates to "Look what a beautiful thing," and immediately sets the tone for the song's overarching theme of beauty and admiration. The lyrics describe her underlying beauty, her sweet swaying movements, and her glistening sun-kissed complexion that blends seamlessly with the landscape of Ipanema.
The verses proceed with introspection on the part of the singer who is struck by a mix of amazement and melancholy at the girl's sight. As the girl makes her way out of the singer's view, he/she realizes that the beauty just witnessed will now be observed by others who may not appreciate it in the same way leading to the question, "Ah, por que estou tão sozinho? ("Ah, why am I so alone?") suggesting the singer's yearning for eternal companionship with the girl. The song concludes with the singer hoping that this "beautiful thing" that she embodies, and the love it represents, stays alive forever.
Overall, "Garota De Ipanema" is a heartfelt ode to the boundless beauty of youth and the fleeting nature of time. The lyrics offer a vivid snapshot of one of Brazil's most famous and quintessential spaces, while also illustrating the idea of appreciating beauty before it disappears.
Line by Line Meaning
Olha que coisa mais linda,
Look at this most beautiful thing,
Mais cheia de graça.
Most full of charm.
É ela a menina que vem e que passa,
She is the girl who comes and goes,
seu doce balanço a caminho do mar.
Her sweet sway on the way to the sea.
Moça do corpo dourado do sol de Ipanema,
A girl with a golden body from the Ipanema sun,
O seu balançado é mais que um poema,
Her swing is more than a poem,
É a coisa mais linda que eu já vi passar.
It is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen passing by.
Ah, por que estou tão sozinho?
Oh, why am I so lonely?
Ah, por que tudo é tão triste?
Oh, why is everything so sad?
Ah, a beleza que existe,
Oh, the beauty that exists,
A beleza que não é só minha,
The beauty that is not only mine,
Que também passa sozinha.
That also goes by alone.
Ah, se ela soubesse
Oh, if she only knew
Que, quando ela passa,
That when she passes by,
O mundo inteirinho se enche de graça
The whole world fills with charm,
E fica mais lindo por causa do amor,
And becomes more beautiful because of love,
Por causa do amor, por causa do amor...
Because of love, because of love...
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Antonio Carlos Brasileiro De A Jobim, Marcus Vinicius Da Cruz De M. Moraes
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@facundomanuelmessere7950
No puedo creerlo todavia; no se ha ido...nos sigue deleitando. Gal reina en nuestros corazones.
@joancarlos9453
asi es amigo ,,no se ha ido
@14TheDavid
Gal costa un día de domingo.
@axiomist4488
I discovered Brazilian music through her. She enchanted me with her voice from the first time I heard her sing. She'll always be my favorite Brazilian singer . RIP Gal, I love you .
@maxyt9342
Gal Costa es una diva de la canción brasileña. Creo sinceramente que es una de las mejores voces que ha dado Brasil. Con todo mi cariño y respeto una abrazo para mi querido Brasil desde Mexico.
@zerodrigues2898
Ahora ella canta en el cielo. Adios Gal Costa.
@francovolpe5306
bravissima bravissimi anche i musicisti
@elvimedina48
Es una delicia para el oído escucharla cantar a Gal Costa!! Es la cantante más representativa del Brasil!! Saludos desde CABA Argentina 🇦🇷
@randikarina1
Murió 😥
@zerodrigues2898
Ahora ella canta en el cielo. Adios Gal Costa.