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.
Havana-Me
Joyce Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Não esqueço teu povo em momento algum
Cubana-me
Me convida a dançar, quebra o meu jejum
Serena-me
Me lambuza de cana, tabaco e rum, havana-me
Havana-me
Cubana-me
Me carrega em teu ritmo sensual
Irmana-me
Nossa música tem sangue tropical, havana-me
Tira-me pra bailar,
Quero ouvir teu som caribenho
Por ti, mestiço, eu tenho amor
Me pega pelo quadril
Teu par ainda é o Brasil, havana-me
Havana-me
Acho mesmo que temos muito em comum
Cubana-me
É o povo, é a pele, esse batecum
Serena-me
Pelas mãos de Iansã, Iemanja, Oxun, abana-me
Tira-me pra bailar,
Quero ouvir teu som caribenho
Por ti, mestiço, eu tenho amor
Me pega pelo quadril
Teu par ainda é o Brasil, havana-me
Havana-me
Nossa força vem la da casa real
Cubana-me
Me 'havana' de amor num abraço igual
Irmana-me
Mostra que nossa raça é sentimental, havana-me
In the song "Havana-Me," Joyce expresses her love for Cuba and its people. The lyrics speak to the idea of embracing Cuban culture, music and lifestyle, which includes rum, tobacco, and salsa dancing. The first stanza highlights the beauty and uniqueness of Cuba, and how she never forgets the people there. She is invited to dance and is rejuvenated by the experience. The second stanza is about embracing the Cuban lifestyle and its culture while enjoying its tropical climate. The chorus stresses the connection between Brazil and Cuba, and how the two countries share a deep love of music and rhythm, and how these elements have transcendent roots in the blood and the soul.
Joyce’s use of the phrase “Havana-me” throughout the song is both a play on words (turning the name of the city into a verb) and a deeper expression of her desire to be transported to Cuba both figuratively and literally. The song speaks to the cultural connections between Brazil and Cuba, it is a celebration of the shared history and traditions between the two nations.
Line by Line Meaning
Havana-me
Embrace me in the spirit of Havana
Não esqueço teu povo em momento algum
I never forget your people, not for a moment
Cubana-me
Fill me with Cuban culture
Me convida a dançar, quebra o meu jejum
Invite me to dance and break my dry spell
Serena-me
Soothe me with rum, sugar cane, and tobacco
Me lambuza de cana, tabaco e rum, havana-me
Cover me in rum, sugar cane, and tobacco, Havana-style
Bota uma cubalibre, limão e sal
Make me a Cuba Libre with lime and salt
Me carrega em teu ritmo sensual
Carry me away with your sensual rhythm
Irmana-me
Unite me with your Cuban sisterhood
Nossa música tem sangue tropical, havana-me
Our music has a tropical beat, Havana-style
Tira-me pra bailar,
Take me to dance
Quero ouvir teu som caribenho
I want to hear your Caribbean sound
Por ti, mestiço, eu tenho amor
I love you, my mixed-race love
Me pega pelo quadril
Grab me by the hips
Teu par ainda é o Brasil, havana-me
But my heart still belongs to Brazil, Havana-style
Acho mesmo que temos muito em comum
I really think we have a lot in common
É o povo, é a pele, esse batecum
It's our people, our skin, and our cultural beat
Pelas mãos de Iansã, Iemanja, Oxun, abana-me
By the hands of Yoruba goddesses, soothe me
Nossa força vem la da casa real
Our strength comes from the royal palace
Me 'havana' de amor num abraço igual
Surround me with love in an equal embrace, Havana-style
Mostra que nossa raça é sentimental, havana-me
Show that our race is full of emotion, Havana-style
Contributed by Julia S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Florencio Morales
Tuve el privilegio de ver a Joyce el 1 de Febrero en el Blue Note de Río con Leila Pinheiro y Roberto Menescal como invitados...noche mágica y soñada!!!!
Gxyz222
Such emotion, such personality. She's the perfect sound for an evening out in the town, Havana me too!
Barbara Neuhauser
This is so magical🙏
Matt Wallace Drums
tutty is sssooo good
MysticPieces
@Gxyz222 thanks for stopping in my channell