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.
tu
Gal Costa Lyrics
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Teu sorriso uma promessa louca
Teus lábios duas jóias de coral
No engaste sensual de sua boca
O mais lindo luar: tu
A grandeza do mar: tu
Só te quero a ti
Só te sinto a ti
És minha vida, querida.
The lyrics of Gal Costa's song "Tu" are a beautiful expression of love and devotion to a special someone. The first line, "Teu olhar é um sonho azul" translates to "Your gaze is a blue dream", which suggests that the person being described has a captivating, dreamy quality about them. The next line, "Teu sorriso uma promessa louca" means "Your smile is a crazy promise", indicating that this person has something exciting and unpredictable about them. The following line, "Teus lábios duas jóias de coral" ("Your lips are two coral jewels") emphasizes the beauty and sensuality of the person's mouth.
The final two lines of the first verse, "No engaste sensual de sua boca / O mais lindo luar: tu" ("In the sensual setting of your mouth / The most beautiful moonlight: you"), continue the theme of sensuality and suggest that being with this person is like basking in the glow of a beautiful moonlit night. The chorus reiterates the singer's devotion to this person, saying "Só te quero a ti / Só te sinto a ti / Só palpito por ti / És minha vida, querida" ("I only want you / I only feel you / I only beat for you / You are my life, my dear").
Overall, Gal Costa's "Tu" is a gorgeous ode to a beloved partner that expresses intense feelings of love and desire while highlighting the person's alluring qualities.
Line by Line Meaning
Teu olhar é um sonho azul
Your gaze is like a blue dream
Teu sorriso uma promessa louca
Your smile is a wild promise
Teus lábios duas jóias de coral
Your lips are like two coral jewels
No engaste sensual de sua boca
Set in the sensual embrace of your mouth
O mais lindo luar: tu
You are the most beautiful moonlight
A grandeza do mar: tu
You are the vastness of the sea
Só te quero a ti
I only want you
Só te sinto a ti
I only feel you
Só palpito por ti
My heart beats only for you
És minha vida, querida.
You are my life, my dear.
Contributed by Jayce T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.