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.
Minha Gata Rita Lee
Joyce Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Quando vocк chegou em casa, foi coisa tгo inesperada
Ali na porta abandonada a me pedir casa e comida
Magrinha, magrinha, arrepiada, com pelos vermelhos, olhos defome
Eu nгo podia mesmo te dar outro nome, Rita Lee
Ah, Rita Lee, por onde й que anda Rita Lee
Sem pai nem mгe, sem pedigree, imprevisнvel Rita Lee
Sem pai nem mгe, sem pedigree, irresistнvel Rita Lee
Entгo vocк foi adotada por todos nуs alegremente
Oscar morava jб com a gente e era igualmente um vira-lata
E apesar de serem cгo e gata jamais houve dois maiscompanheiros
Jamais dois amigos assim verdadeiros, nunca vi
...
Passava o tempo descuidada, sempre inventando brincadeiras
Saltos mortais de mil maneiras, deixando a gente distraнda
E assim ninguйm viu sua saнda, talvez sу o Oscar tenha notado
E a noite engoliu as tuas sete vidas, Rita Lee
Ah, Rita Lee, por onde й que anda Rita Lee
Sem pai nem mгe, sem pedigree, irresistнvel Rita Lee
Ah, Rita Lee, por onde й que anda Rita Lee
The lyrics of Joyce's song "Minha Gata Rita Lee" tell the story of a stray cat that showed up unexpectedly at the singer's home, looking for food and shelter. The cat, who was skinny and had red fur and hungry eyes, was named Rita Lee by the singer who couldn't think of any other name. The song goes on to describe how the cat was adopted by the singer and her family and became fast friends with their dog Oscar, despite being from different species.
As time passed, Rita Lee kept inventing new tricks and games to play with the family, always keeping them entertained and on their toes. But one day, she disappeared without a trace, leaving behind only memories of her seven unforgettable lives. The song pays homage to the cat's charm and unpredictability, highlighting her resilience and infectious spirit that won over everyone's hearts.
The song is named after the famous Brazilian singer and composer Rita Lee, who is known for her eclectic musical style and rebellious persona. However, the cat in the song is not actually named after the singer, but rather after a real-life cat that Joyce and her family had adopted. The song was a hit in Brazil when it was released in the 1980s and has since become a beloved classic, not only due to its catchy melody and playful lyrics but also because of its heartwarming ode to the bond between humans and animals.
Line by Line Meaning
Quando vocк chegou em casa, foi coisa tгo inesperada
When you arrived home, it was such an unexpected thing
Ali na porta abandonada a me pedir casa e comida
There, at the abandoned door, begging for a home and some food
Magrinha, magrinha, arrepiada, com pelos vermelhos, olhos de fome
Scrawny, scrawny, shivering, with red fur, and eyes full of hunger
Eu nгo podia mesmo te dar outro nome, Rita Lee
I really couldn't give you any other name but Rita Lee
Ah, Rita Lee, por onde й que anda Rita Lee
Oh, Rita Lee, where are you now, Rita Lee?
Sem pai nem mгe, sem pedigree, imprevisнvel Rita Lee
Without a father or mother, without a pedigree, unpredictable Rita Lee
Entгo vocк foi adotada por todos nуs alegremente
So you were adopted by all of us joyfully
Oscar morava jб com a gente e era igualmente um vira-lata
Oscar was already living with us, and he was equally a mongrel
E apesar de serem cгo e gata jamais houve dois maiscompanheiros
And despite being a dog and a cat, there were never two more companionable
Jamais dois amigos assim verdadeiros, nunca vi
I've never seen two friends as true as them
Passava o tempo descuidada, sempre inventando brincadeiras
She spent time carelessly, always coming up with playful things to do
Saltos mortais de mil maneiras, deixando a gente distraнda
Backflips in a thousand ways, leaving us distracted
E assim ninguйm viu sua saнda, talvez sу o Oscar tenha notado
And so, no one saw her leaving, perhaps only Oscar noticed
E a noite engoliu as tuas sete vidas, Rita Lee
And the night swallowed your seven lives, Rita Lee
Ah, Rita Lee, por onde й que anda Rita Lee
Oh, Rita Lee, where are you now, Rita Lee?
Sem pai nem mгe, sem pedigree, irresistнvel Rita Lee
Without a father or mother, without a pedigree, irresistible Rita Lee
Ah, Rita Lee, por onde й que anda Rita Lee
Oh, Rita Lee, where are you now, Rita Lee?
Contributed by Max T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.