The son of a peasant and accordion player, he was attracted to the 8-bass accordion at an early age, although he started out by accompanying his father by playing the zabumba (a type of bass drum) and singing at parties and religious celebrations. He left home in 1930 to join the army, and toured Brazil with an army band until 1939. Gonzaga decided to remain in Rio de Janeiro with a recently purchased accordion. He performed in the streets and in bars, playing boleros, waltzes and tangos.
After noticing that the Northeastern immigrants missed the music from their hometowns, he started to give listeners the sort of music they craved to hear: xaxados, baiões, chamegos and cocos. At Ary Barroso’s talent show, Luiz Gonzaga played his chamego "Vira e Mexe" and was acclaimed by the audience and by the dreaded host, who gave him the highest score.
In 1943, he dressed up in typical Northeastern costumes for the first time to perform live, and got hyped. Later on, as well as playing popular tunes on the accordion, he began to sing his own material, and his skills as a songwriter were revealed.
Gonzaga's son, Luiz Gonzaga do Nascimento Júnior, known as Gonzaguinha, born 1945, was also a noted Brazilian singer and composer.
His greatest hit ever, "Asa Branca" (written with Humberto Teixeira), was recorded in 1947 and was covered countless times by many different artists. He worked on the radio until 1954, enjoying huge popularity. He is widely recognized for singlehandedly taking the baião style and the accordion to a wide audience. For a time RCA (now BMG), his recording label, was almost exclusively dedicated to printing his singles and albums. During the 60's, as the public taste shifted to bossa nova and iê-iê-iê, he found himself increasingly stranded from big city stages, so he toured the countryside, where his popularity never abated.
In the 70s and 80s, he slowly re-emerged, partly due to covers of his songs by famous artists like Geraldo Vandré, Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, his son Gonzaguinha and Milton Nascimento. Some of his greatest hits are "Vozes da Seca" ("Voices From Drought"), "Algodão" ("Cotton"), "A Dança da Moda" ("The Dance In Fashion"), "ABC do Sertão" ("The ABC of Sertão"), "Derramaro o Gai" ("They Spilt the Gas"), "A Letra I" ("The 'i' letter"), "Imbalança" ("Shake It"), "A Volta da Asa-Branca" ("The Return Of The Picazuro Pigeon"), "Cintura Fina" ("Slender Waist"), "O Xote das Meninas" ("The Girls' Schottische", written with Zé Dantas, and "Juazeiro", "Paraíba", "Mangaratiba", "Baião-de-Dois", "No Meu Pé de Serra" ("There In My Homeland"), "Assum Preto" ("Blue-back Grassquit"), "Légua Tirana" ("Tyrannical league"), "Qui Nem Jiló" ("Like Solanum gilo", written with Humberto Teixeira. Other successful collaborations resulted in "Tá Bom Demais" ("It's Very Good") (with Onildo de Almeida), "Danado de Bom" ("Very Good") (with João Silva), "Dezessete e Setecentos" ("Seventeen And Seven hundred") and "Cortando o Pano" ("Cutting Cloth") (both with Miguel Lima).
Gonzaga died of natural causes at the age of 76.
Festa
Luiz Gonzaga Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Me xingue de lá
É fígaro cá
É fígaro de lá
Beba vinho, coma pizza
Mais não deixe de pular
Quando em Nápoli eu cheguei
Namorei uma italiana
Numa festa napolitana
Uma perna pra cá
Outra pra lá
As mãos na cintura
Malícia no ar
A gente dança, não se cansa
Pede bis até suar
Dança velho, dança moço
E essas harmonias sempre a toca
The lyrics of Luiz Gonzaga's song "Festa" depict a joyful and lively celebration where people are encouraged to let loose and have a good time. The song speaks about different aspects of the party and the energetic atmosphere that surrounds it.
In the first two lines, "Me xingue de cá, Me xingue de lá," the singer invites others to call him from here and there, suggesting that he is ready to engage and participate enthusiastically in the celebration. The following lines, "É fígaro cá, É fígaro de lá," could refer to the famous character Figaro from the opera "The Barber of Seville," symbolizing the exuberant and playful spirit of the party.
The next lines, "Beba vinho, coma pizza, Mais não deixe de pular," encourage the attendees to indulge themselves by enjoying wine and pizza while also emphasizing the importance of dancing and jumping around in the celebration. This conveys the idea that the party is meant to be an immersive and active experience for everyone involved.
The lyrics then mention the singer's experience in Italy, specifically in Naples, where he "namorei uma italiana" (dated an Italian) and danced the tarantella at a Neapolitan party. The tarantella is a traditional Italian folk dance known for its fast-paced tempo and lively movements. This reference to the singer's interaction with Italian culture adds an international and multicultural element to the celebration depicted in the song.
The final lines of the lyrics, "Dança velho, dança moço, E essas harmonias sempre a toca," encourage people of all ages to dance and enjoy the harmonies played at the party. The emphasis on dancing, regardless of age, highlights the universal appeal and inclusiveness of the event. The phrase "essas harmonias sempre a toca" suggests that the music being played at the party is captivating and keeps everyone engaged and eager for more, requesting an encore until they break a sweat.
Overall, "Festa" portrays a vibrant and lively celebration where people are encouraged to dance, have fun, and appreciate the harmonious atmosphere created by the music. The song invites listeners to embrace the festive spirit and immerse themselves in the joyful energy of the occasion.
Line by Line Meaning
Me xingue de cá
Insult me from here
Me xingue de lá
Insult me from there
É fígaro cá
It's 'Figaro' here
É fígaro de lá
It's 'Figaro' there
Beba vinho, coma pizza
Drink wine, eat pizza
Mais não deixe de pular
But don't stop jumping
Quando em Nápoli eu cheguei
When I arrived in Naples
Namorei uma italiana
I dated an Italian woman
E dancei a tarantela
And danced the tarantella
Numa festa napolitana
At a Neapolitan party
Uma perna pra cá
One leg to the right
Outra pra lá
Another to the left
As mãos na cintura
Hands on the waist
Malícia no ar
Malice in the air
A gente dança, não se cansa
We dance, never get tired
Pede bis até suar
Encore request until we sweat
Dança velho, dança moço
Dance, old man, dance, young man
E essas harmonias sempre a toca
And these harmonies always play
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Ignacio De Oliveira
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@izabellima2668
Sol vermelho é bonito de se ver
Lua nova no alto, que beleza
Céu de azul dem limpinho, é natureza
Em visão que tem muito prazer
Mas o lindo prá mim é céu cinzento
Com clarão entoando o seu refrão Prenúncio que vem trazendo alento
Da chegada das chuvas no sertão
Ver a terra rachada amolecendo
A terra antes pobre enriquecendo
O milho pro céu apontando
O feijão pelo chão enramando
E depois pela safra que alegria
Ver o povo todinho no burgão
A negrada caindo na folia
Esquecendo da mágoas sem ludú
Belo é o Recife pegando fogo (bis)
Na pisada do maracatu
@brunamoura3671
Só quem é nordestino entende o quão lindo é um céu cinzento ❤️
@PapiroteMandala
Não tem melhor meu amigo, tá no sangue do nordestino essa sensação
@brincante1942
Isso é Pernambuco falando pra o mundo meu nordeste foda ❤❤❤😭😭😭🙏
@josecarlosdeoliveiraolivei4888
Nunca mais veremos tamanho talento... hão de vir muitos artistas... com talento, com certeza, mas nunca igual a Luiz Gonzaga... sabia chorar, sentir, traduzir a dor, o amor as agruras do seu povo... FANTÁSTICO...
@cleytonmendes4598
QUE SOM DO CARALHO!
@victoriamendes462
Entra ano, sai ano e essa música segue me arrepiando!
@veniciohenriquedesaoliveir7829
Que letra! Só sabe a importância da chuva quem passou por períodos de seca... Sertão saudoso!
@lourdesaraujo9411
Belo é o Recife pegando fogo na pisada do maracatu! Lindo! 👏👏👏👏👏👏
@admilsonalmeida6266
composição.fodastica de .Gonzaguinha.
@chegay4571
Isso é nosso pernambuco falando pra o mundo ❤❤❤❤