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.
Querelas Do Brasil
Joyce Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
O Brasil nunca foi ao Brazil
Tapir, jabuti, liana, alamandra, alialaúde
Piau, ururau, aqui, ataúde
Piá, carioca, porecramecrã
Jobim akarore Jobim-açu
Oh, oh, oh
Piriri, ratatá, karatê, olará
O Brazil não merece o Brasil
O Brazil ta matando o Brasil
Jereba, saci, caandrades
Cunhãs, ariranha, aranha
Sertões, Guimarães, bachianas, águas
E Marionaíma, ariraribóia,
Na aura das mãos do Jobim-açu
Oh, oh, oh
Jererê, sarará, cururu, olerê
Blablablá, bafafá, sururu, olará
Do Brasil, SoS ao Brasil
Do Brasil, SoS ao Brasil
Do Brasil, SoS ao Brasil
Tinhorão, urutu, sucuri
O Jobim, sabiá, bem-te-vi
Cabuçu, Cordovil, Caxambi, olerê
Madureira, Olaria e Bangu, Olará
Cascadura, Água Santa, Acari, Olerê
Ipanema e Nova Iguaçu, Olará
Do Brasil, SoS ao Brasil
Do Brasil, SoS ao Brasil
The lyrics of the song "Querelas Do Brasil" by Joyce reflects on the relationship between Brazil and its cultural heritage. The song starts with the intriguing lines "O Brazil não conhece o Brazil, O Brazil nunca foi ao Brazil" which translates to "Brazil doesn't know Brazil, Brazil has never been to Brazil." The lines mean that Brazil is losing touch with its cultural roots and that its people have not truly experienced their own heritage. The following lines feature various flora and fauna of Brazil such as "Tapir, jabuti, liana, alamandra, alialaúde" and "Piau, ururau, aqui, ataúde" to show the beauty and richness of Brazilian nature. The song then touches upon the cultural wealth of Brazil by mentioning "Sertões, Guimarães, bachianas, águas, E Marionaíma, ariraribóia," and Jobim-açu, a reference to the famous Brazilian musician Antonio Carlos Jobim.
Joyce then reveals the darker reality of Brazil with the lines "O Brazil não merece o Brasil, O Brazil ta matando o Brasil," which means "Brazil doesn't deserve Brazil, Brazil is killing Brazil." The song highlights how Brazil is destroying its natural resources and not preserving its cultural heritage, leading to a sense of loss and disconnection. The song concludes with a call for help, "SOS ao Brasil" which means "save our souls Brazil," emphasizing the need to preserve the country's history and culture before it's too late.
Line by Line Meaning
O Brazil não conhece o Brasil
Brazil does not truly understand itself
O Brasil nunca foi ao Brazil
Brazil has yet to fully explore and experience its own land
Tapir, jabuti, liana, alamandra, alialaúde
Various native flora and fauna, as well as cultural instruments of Brazil
Piau, ururau, aqui, ataúde
More references to Brazilian wildlife, accompanied by a mention of death with the word 'ataude'
Piá, carioca, porecramecrã
Words that describe different aspects of Brazilian culture and ways of life
Jobim akarore Jobim-açu
Refers to Brazilian musician Antonio Carlos Jobim and his indigenous heritage
Oh, oh, oh
A common musical refrain used throughout the song
Pererê, câmara, tororó, olererê
More words referencing Brazilian mythology and folklore, along with another musical refrain
Piriri, ratatá, karatê, olará
Further references to different aspects of Brazilian culture and some tongue-in-cheek wordplay
O Brazil não merece o Brasil
Brazil does not deserve its own diverse and beautiful country
O Brazil ta matando o Brasil
Brazil is destroying itself through various means such as environmental degradation and political corruption
Jereba, saci, caandrades
More references to Brazilian folklore and cultural figures
Cunhãs, ariranha, aranha
References to various aspects of Brazilian wildlife and culture
Sertões, Guimarães, bachianas, águas
References to Brazilian literature, music, and natural landscapes
E Marionaíma, ariraribóia,
More references to Brazilian mythology and indigenous history
Na aura das mãos do Jobim-açu
Implies that Antonio Carlos Jobim is a symbol of Brazil's diverse cultural heritage, which is still present today through the country's people and traditions
Jererê, sarará, cururu, olerê
Musical refrain paired with more references to various aspects of Brazilian culture
Blablablá, bafafá, sururu, olará
More wordplay and musical refrains
Do Brasil, SoS ao Brasil
A call to action, urging Brazil to recognize and appreciate its own beauty and diversity
Tinhorão, urutu, sucuri
References to different types of Brazilian snakes
O Jobim, sabiá, bem-te-vi
Refers to Antonio Carlos Jobim, as well as two species of Brazilian birds, which are known for their beautiful singing
Cabuçu, Cordovil, Caxambi, olerê
Names of different neighborhoods and areas within Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Madureira, Olaria e Bangu, Olará
More references to specific neighborhoods within Rio de Janeiro
Cascadura, Água Santa, Acari, Olerê
Additional neighborhood names in Rio de Janeiro
Ipanema e Nova Iguaçu, Olará
References to the famous neighborhood of Ipanema, as well as the city of Nova Iguacu, located outside of Rio de Janeiro
Contributed by Claire A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.