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.
Rodando A Baiana
Joyce Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Vem soltando os cachorros, botando a baiana pra rodar
Lá vem, e tem que respeitar
Quando roda a baiana, é que tem roupa suja pra lavar
Nossa alegria sambou na avenida, sumiu por aí
Entre reis e rainhas na sapucaí
Generais da banda, ladrões de casaca, estrelas, travestis
(rap da baiana):
_ abre alas pra ala de quem lava a roupa suja todo o dia
Vamo lá, rodando a baiana, todo o mundo
Swing the old black lady from bahia!
_hein?!
_swing the old black lady from bahia!
Ela tem colares de conta
E as sandálias prontas pra sambar com energia
Dignidade , nobreza , elegância ,
Ela, em última instância, é a mãe, é a tia
Lava o nosso bloco de sujo
Pega o dito cujo e põe de molho no tempero
Se o nosso coração é um pandeiro
A baiana é a moral do povo brasileiro!
The song "Rodando A Baiana" by Joyce is full of cultural references that reflect Brazilian traditions and lifestyle. The lyrics depict the arrival of the "baiana," who represents a woman from Bahia, characterized by her elegance, dignity, and nobility. However, her presence is not easy to handle, as she comes to shake things up and bring out the dirty laundry that needs to be washed.
The first stanza suggests that the "baiana" is a disruptive force, as she arrives "soltando os cachorros," which means causing trouble and uproar. However, she demands respect, as she knows how to bring out the unspoken truths that need to be addressed. The second stanza depicts the lively and colorful carnival in Rio de Janeiro, where people from all backgrounds come together to celebrate. The "garis," who are the street cleaners, are also mentioned, symbolizing the importance of cleaning up the city after the festivities.
The "rap da baiana" further highlights the role of the "baiana" as a symbol of Brazilian culture and tradition. She wears her "colares de conta," which are colorful bead necklaces, and is ready to dance with energy and enthusiasm. She is also depicted as a caretaker, who washes away the dirt and keeps things in order. The last line of the song identifies the "baiana" as the moral compass of the Brazilian people, representing their values of dignity, pride, and strength.
Line by Line Meaning
Lá vem, chegou pra perturbar
Here comes troublemaker, arriving to cause disturbance
Vem soltando os cachorros, botando a baiana pra rodar
Releasing the hounds, stirring up some trouble
Lá vem, e tem que respeitar
Here she comes, you'd better show respect
Quando roda a baiana, é que tem roupa suja pra lavar
When the black lady from Bahia starts dancing, it's time to air our dirty laundry
Nossa alegria sambou na avenida, sumiu por aí
Our joy danced on the avenue and disappeared
Entre reis e rainhas na sapucaí
Amongst kings and queens on the Sapucaí
Generais da banda, ladrões de casaca, estrelas, travestis
Band generals, thieves in formal wear, stars, and transvestites
E varrendo tudo, lá vem os garis
And sweeping it all up, here come the street sweepers
Abre alas pra ala de quem lava a roupa suja todo o dia
Make way for the group that airs out their laundry every day
Vamo lá, rodando a baiana, todo o mundo
Let's go, everyone dance with the black lady from Bahia
Swing the old black lady from bahia!
Swing with the old black lady from Bahia!
Ela tem colares de conta
She wears beaded necklaces
E as sandálias prontas pra sambar com energia
And her sandals are ready for some energetic samba dancing
Dignidade, nobreza, elegância
Dignity, nobility, elegance
Ela, em última instância, é a mãe, é a tia
Ultimately, she is the mother, she is the auntie
Lava o nosso bloco de sujo
She washes away our dirt
Pega o dito cujo e põe de molho no tempero
She takes the offending garment and soaks it in seasoning
Se o nosso coração é um pandeiro
If our hearts are like a pandeiro (a type of drum)
A baiana é a moral do povo brasileiro!
Then the black lady from Bahia is the moral center of the Brazilian people!
Contributed by Colin J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.