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.
Drume Negrita
Joyce Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Se le salen los pies de la cunita
Y la negra Merce
Ya no sabe que hacer
Tu drume, negrita
Que yo va compra nueva cunita
Que va tener capitel
Si tu drume yo te traigo un mamey muy colorado
Si tu drume yo te traigo un babalao
Que da pao pao
Tu drume negrita
Que yo va compra nueva cunita
Que va tener capitel
Que va tener cascabel
The lyrics of Joyce's song "Drume Negrita" describe a scene where a little black baby girl (negrita) is restless and her mother and her nanny, Negra Merce, are struggling to put her to sleep. The lyrics suggest that her feet keep coming out of the crib (cunita), which may be causing her discomfort. However, the singer reassures the child to sleep and promises to buy her a new crib with a canopy (capitel) and a jingling bell (cascabel) to entertain her. The second verse offers the little girl different gifts if she falls asleep, including a ripe mamey fruit, a babalao (a Santeria priest), and finally, he settles for a simple clap game (da pao pao).
The song is a lullaby, which in itself is a genre that celebrates tenderness, caring, and soothing sounds. In this context, it emphasizes the warmth of maternal love and empathy, rooted in the Afro-Caribbean culture. 'Negrita' is a term of endearment used to refer to someone who is of African descent, and the song's lyrics create a sense of intimacy and familiarity with the black child. The song intends to support the black child by aligning with her vulnerability and offering her comfort and love.
Line by Line Meaning
Mama la negrita
Mother of the little black girl
Se le salen los pies de la cunita
Her feet stick out of the crib
Y la negra Merce
And black Merce
Ya no sabe que hacer
Doesn't know what to do
Tu drume, negrita
Sleep, little black girl
Que yo va compra nueva cunita
I will buy a new crib for you
Que va tener capitel
That will have a canopy
Que va tener cascabel
That will have a bell
Si tu drume yo te traigo un mamey muy colorado
If you sleep, I will bring you a very ripe mamey fruit
Si tu drume yo te traigo un babalao
If you sleep, I will bring you a babalao
Que da pao pao
That makes a pao pao sound
Tu drume negrita
Sleep, little black girl
Que yo va compra nueva cunita
I will buy a new crib for you
Que va tener capitel
That will have a canopy
Que va tener cascabel
That will have a bell
Contributed by Penelope V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Joanna Pinheiro
Qualquer música, pode ser até a mais simples, mas passando pelo molho da Joyce, já se agiganda, acende e brilha!!
Andrea MegInox
Bela voz e bela canção!