As a teenager, Sangalo started to sing and play acoustic guitar at events, festivals and presentations of the school where she studied. Her debut show happened in the Ondina Neighborhood, Salvador, in August 1992. With that show she won the Dorival Caymmi trophy, the Grammy of Bahian music.
In 1993, Sony decided to reform the axé group Banda Eva and she was chosen as the lead singer. With her charismatic image, their first album soon topped the Brazilian album chart. Her live album with the band, Banda Eva Ao Vivo, was their best-selling album, selling over a million copies in 1997. In 1999, she decided to start a solo career and released her first self-titled album. With lots of upbeat Bahian rhythms and axé, the album received gold and platinum certification. The following year she released another album, Beat Beleza, which also achieved platinum status.
In 2001 she released the album Festa. The title teack was very popular and the album got platinum certification. "Festa" was her biggest hit single up to that point and the video also received huge airplay. "Festa" ended up being the most popular song of 2001 in Brazil. In 2002, she released the compilation album Se Eu Não Te Amasse Tanto Assim, titled after one of her biggest number-one hits. The album, which features a duet with American singer Brian McKnight, didn't sell as much , but was still a hit. Following Se Eu Não Te Amasse Tanto Assim, she released Clube Carnavalesco Inocentes Em Progresso in 2003. It was the lowest-selling solo album of her career but it still managed to receive gold certification.
Her first solo live album MTV Ao Vivo Ivete Sangalo released in 2004, included her biggest hits, lots of them never released on an album before, and some Banda Eva hits. The album received diamond certification and was the second best-selling album of 2004.
Her 2005 album, As Supernovas, received triple platinum certification shortly after it's release. The album was less upbeat than the others and included some songs with a 70's touch, with the big influence of Brazilian singer Ed Motta. She also included the hit "Soy Loco Por Ti America", a Gilberto Gil song. "Quando a Chuva Passar" recently reached number two on the Brazilian singles chart and was notable for being nominated at the Latin Grammy Awards, an uncommon feature for a non-Spanish speaking singer.
On December 16, 2006, she performed in the biggest stadium in the world, Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro, where Paul McCartney, Rolling Stones, Kiss, The Police, and Madonna have also performed. She was the first Brazilian act to perform in this stadium since pop phenomenon Sandy & Junior in 2002.
Ivete has sold more than 7 million CD copies and more than 2.5 million DVD copies.
Muito Obrigado Axé
Ivete Sangalo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Odô, axé odô, axé odô, axé odô
Isso é pra te levar no ilê
Pra te lembrar do badauê
Pra te lembrar de lá
Isso é pra te levar no meu terreiro
Pra te levar no altar
Isso é pra te levar na fé
Deus é brasileiro
Muito obrigado axé
Ilumina o mirin orumilá
Na estrada que vem a cota
É um malê é um maleme
Quem tem santo é quem entende
Quanto mais pra quem tem ogum
Missão e paz
Quanto mais pra quem tem ideais e
Os orixás
Joga as armas prá lá
Joga, joga as armas pra lá
Joga as armas pra lá
Faz a festa
Joga as armas prá lá
Joga, joga as armas pra lá
Joga as armas pra lá
Faz um samba
Joga as armas prá lá
Joga, joga as armas pra lá
Joga as armas pra lá
Traz a orquestra
Joga as armas prá lá
Joga, joga as armas pra lá
Joga as armas pra lá
Faz a festa
The lyrics of Ivete Sangalo's song Muito Obrigado Axé express her gratitude towards the Afro-Brazilian religion of Candomblé and its influence in Brazilian culture. In the first verse, Ivete reminds the listener of the traditional Candomblé chants and rhythms, saying "Odô, Axé odô, Axé odô, Axé odô," which roughly translates to "praises to the energy that flows through everything." She then invites the listener to experience the traditions of Candomblé by taking them to the "ilê," a space within a community where Candomblé ceremonies are held. Ivete mentions "badauê," which is a term used in Candomblé for a state of trance that participants enter during ceremonies. The word is derived from the Yoruba language and means "oneness with the gods."
In the second verse, Ivete sings about taking the listener to her personal "terreiro,” which is a space for Candomblé initiates to practice their religion, and to the sacred space of the altar. She emphasizes that the purpose of the song is not only to invite the listener to experience Candomblé, but also to bring them closer to their faith, saying "isso é pra te levar na fé," which means "this is to bring you closer to faith." Ivete implies that the gods of Candomblé and the Christian God worshipped in Brazil are the same, saying "Deus é brasileiro," which translates to "God is Brazilian," and thanking "axé," the spiritual force of Candomblé, for bringing people together.
Line by Line Meaning
Odô, axé odô, axé odô, axé odô
This is a chant to invoke the power of axé, which is an energy that flows through music and dance.
Isso é pra te levar no ilê
Pra te lembrar do badauê
Pra te lembrar de lá
This is to take you to my community, to remind you of our traditions and where we come from.
Isso é pra te levar no meu terreiro
Pra te levar no candomblé
Pra te levar no altar
This is to take you to my sacred space, to experience the rituals of candomblé and connect with the divine.
Isso é pra te levar na fé
Deus é brasileiro
Muito obrigado axé
This is to take you on a journey of faith, to remind you that God is present in Brazil, and to express gratitude for the power of axé.
Ilumina o mirin orumilá
Na estrada que vem a cota
É um malê é um maleme
Quem tem santo é quem entende
Illuminate the young apprentice of Orumilá, who is on the path towards enlightenment. It's a journey of ups and downs, and only those who have a connection with the divine can truly understand.
Quanto mais pra quem tem ogum
Missão e paz
Quanto mais pra quem tem ideais e
Os orixás
The more you embrace the energy of Ogum, the warrior spirit, the more you will find a sense of purpose and peace. The same applies to those who embrace the ideals of the orixás, the divine forces of nature.
Joga as armas prá lá
Joga, joga as armas pra lá
Joga as armas pra lá
Faz a festa
Put your weapons down, let go of your worries and conflicts, and join the celebration. Dance and have fun, let the music heal your soul.
Contributed by Sadie T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.