Joyce has in her baggage an extensive discography and about 400 recordings of her songs by some of the biggest names in Brazilian popular music, such as Gal Costa, Maria Bethânia, Elis Regina, Milton Nascimento, Ney Matogrosso, Edu Lobo, Emílio Santiago, Boca Livre, Mônica Salmaso, Leny Andrade, Nana Caymmi, Zizi Possi, Elizeth Cardoso, Simone and many others. Internationally, she has been recorded by big names like Annie Lennox, Wallace Roney, Omara Portuondo, Black Eyed Peas, David Sanchez, Jon Lucien, Claus Ogerman, Gerry Mulligan, Till Brönner, Flora Purim and others. Her compositions have been used in soundtracks for films (such as Robert Altman's "The Player" and "Legally Blonde"), animations (she participated in the soundtrack of the Japanese anime "Wolf's Rain" in partnership with Japanese composer Yoko Kanno), TV shows and theater performances.
She received 4 Latin Grammy nominations and has so far 34 individual CDs and 2 DVDs, besides compilations and participations. Currently, her work also follows an international path, with world tours every year and recordings of new albums in different countries, without ever losing her Brazilian-feminine identity. She performs annually on the Blue Note circuit in Japan, and in jazz festivals and tours in Europe, the United States, and Canada.
Delicadeza
Joyce Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Maldita em ambiente de gente normal
Plantando coisas belas num circo de horrores
Com flores e bombons no juízo final
Pintando aquarelas em terra de cego
Com pregos, paus e pedras e más intenções
Se por delicadeza eu oculto o meu ego
Me nego a ser princesa num reino de anões
Bordando sutilezas e finas malícias
Delícias num país que não tem paladar
O coração partido de tanta falácia
Que passa e a gente nem pode se desviar
Sonhando ainda um tempo menos suicida
Que diga pra que veio e que possa provar
Se por delicadeza eu perder minha vida
Saí mesmo à francesa, queira desculpar
This verse is about being discreet and subdued amongst eccentric people but being cursed and out of place in a normal environment. The singer is planting beautiful things in a circus of horrors, representing the difficulties and struggles of life. She uses flowers and candy as a way to sweeten the bitterness of reality. She paints watercolors in a land of the blind with bad intentions and tools. The last line of the first verse translates to, "If by delicacy, I hide my ego, I refuse to be a princess in a kingdom of dwarfs." This line implies that the singer is unwilling to diminish herself for the sake of others' comfort, and she refuses to compromise her dignity and identity.
The second verse tells a story of the singer embroidering finesse and subtle malice in a country that lacks taste. She has a broken heart from being exposed to so many lies and tricks, which people cannot avoid. She is dreaming of a time that is less suicidal (perhaps less likely to lead to ruin) and hopes to prove herself. The last line, "If by delicacy, I lose my life, I'll leave like a Frenchwoman, please excuse me," indicates that the singer will not allow herself to be taken advantage of or mistreated, and would rather exit the situation gracefully than suffer.
Overall, the song Delicadeza is about living authentically and uncompromisingly, even when it is difficult or uncomfortable. The imagery in the song is vivid and metaphoric, painting a picture of struggle and resilience.
Line by Line Meaning
Discreta em companhia de gente esquisita
I am quiet and reserved around strange people
Maldita em ambiente de gente normal
I feel cursed in a normal environment
Plantando coisas belas num circo de horrores
I am cultivating beauty in a world of chaos
Com flores e bombons no juízo final
I am bringing flowers and sweets to the end of the world
Pintando aquarelas em terra de cego
I am painting watercolors in a land without vision
Com pregos, paus e pedras e más intenções
Despite using harsh tools and negative motives
Se por delicadeza eu oculto o meu ego
If I hide my ego out of politeness
Me nego a ser princesa num reino de anões
I refuse to be a princess in a kingdom of dwarves
Bordando sutilezas e finas malícias
I am embroidering subtleties and subtle mischiefs
Delícias num país que não tem paladar
Creating delights in a dull country
O coração partido de tanta falácia
My heart has been broken by so many lies
Que passa e a gente nem pode se desviar
That come and go without us being able to avoid them
Sonhando ainda um tempo menos suicida
Still dreaming of a less suicidal time
Que diga pra que veio e que possa provar
Where the purpose is clear and the evidence is present
Se por delicadeza eu perder minha vida
If I lose my life out of kindness
Saí mesmo à francesa, queira desculpar
I will leave without causing a fuss, please forgive me
Contributed by Christian T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Gabriela Leiva
Joyce cuando vienes a Chileee, Valparaíso te espera...
Debinha Souza
"Discreta em companhia de gente esquisita Maldita em ambiente de gente normal"
Debinha Souza
Confesso que tanta falta de argumento já partiu meu coração um dia, mas saí à francesa, na "Delicadeza"
Sergio Roberto
Que bom nossa mpb,nossa bossa ,sou la das brenhas da Bahia mas nasci ouvindo a boa musica, Joao Gilberto , Caetano,Gil.Vinicius de Moraes ,Gal.Simone,Betania(meus conterrãneos) , mas fico feliz porque tem gente nova preparada para levar o bastão adiante, Maria Rita,Maria Gadú , creio que nosso País não acabará em funck .
Moacir Soledade
Claro que não amigo Sergio,e ainda temos Vanessa da Mata.
benthead
Joyce is the best and the sexiest !