In 1963, a trio formed by Rui Alexandre Faria (Rui, the lead vocalist), Aquiles Rique Reis (Aquiles), and Milton Lima dos Santos (Miltinho) in Niterói (Rio de Janeiro) started to perform at the Popular Center of Culture (CPC) of the National Student League (UNE). The CPC of Niterói was founded in Aquiles' home. At the same time, Magro (Antônio José Waghabi Filho) had a bossa nova group with Miltinho and a flutist, bassist, and drummer, called MPB-5. With Magro (the group's lifelong musical director) invited to join the original vocal trio, the quartet became known as Quarteto do CPC. With the extinction of the CPC (and of the UNE) after the military coup in 1964, the group adopted the name of MPB-4, playing in local bars and doing a double single with the first recording of Zé Kéti/Elton Medeiros' "Mascarada" with "Samba Bem" (Luís José) and other songs.
With all of them as college students, they took a period of vacations in 1965 to go to São Paulo, where they did their professional debut at the Pontifícia Universidade Católica's Theater (Tuca). They met producer Chico de Assis and were invited by him for a season with Quarteto em Cy (which was already professional), on the condition that they abandon other aspirations to devote themselves full-time to their group. Deciding for the music, they opened with Quarteto em Cy at the show No Samba Que Eu Vou, when they met Chico Buarque, also introduced to them by de Assis. From 1969 to 1974, Buarque was almost the fifth member of MPB-4 as all of his shows were with the quartet. Together they toured several countries and were deeply influential on the Brazilian youth. de Assis also introduced them to Manoel Carlos, who was one of the directors of the O Fino da Bossa TV Record show hosted by Elis Regina. MPB-4 participated right on the first show singing together with Regina, which was their definitive consecration.
Back in Rio, they participated in the show Contraponto, together with Quarteto em Cy, Oscar Castro-Neves, and Rosinha de Valença. At the Opinião theater, MPB-4 participated in the historic show O Samba Pede Passagem with Aracy de Almeida, Baden Powell, Ismael Silva, and others. The show was recorded live and released in June 1966 as O Samba Pede Passagem. Also in 1966, they released their first LP, which had the first recording for Buarque's "Olê Olá." Having participated in Nara Leão's show Quem Tem Medo de Nara Leão?, in the same year they defended "Canção de Não Cantar" (Sérgio Bittencourt) at the II Festival de Música Popular Brasileira (Festival of Brazilian Popular Music, FMPB, TV Record of São Paulo), which won fourth place. In the next year's edition of the same festival, the group was consecrated definitively with "Gabriela" (Maranhão) and "Roda Viva" (Buarque), achieving, respectively, sixth and third places. Also in 1967, they participated in the II FIC (International Song Festival, TV Globo, Rio) with "O Sim Pelo Não" (Alcivando Luz/Carlos Coquejo) and "Cantiga" (Nelson Motta/Dori Caymmi), which reached sixth and ninth places. In 1968, they opened a show shared with Buarque at the Teatro Toneleros, and also had a season in São Paulo. Three years later, they did the historic show Construção at the Canecão with Buarque, Jacques Klein, and the Orquestra Sinfônica Brasileira (Brazilian Symphony Orchestra) conducted by Isaac Karabtchevski. In the next year, MPB-4 toured Portugal and in 1973, Buenos Aires, Argentina, both with Buarque. In 1975, they participated, with Buarque, in the show República de Ugunga. In 1980, the group released, together with Quarteto em Cy, the children's LP Flicts/de Ziraldo e Sérgio Ricardo. Recording another children's LP in the next year with "O Pato" (Toquinho/Vinicius de Moraes), they had the song presented in the TV Globo musical A Arca de Noé. The LP Caminhos Livres (1983) had another of their hits with an Aldir Blanc song, "A Nível De..." (with João Bosco). In 1991, the quartet launched another of their themed albums, the CD Sambas da Minha Terra, dedicated to the works of Dorival Caymmi, Toquinho/Vinícius, Zé Kéti, and Ary Barroso, among others. Always doing shows and recording frequently, the group commemorated their 30-year career in 1995 with the show Arte de Cantar and the eponymous album. ~ Alvaro Neder, Rovi
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Cravo e Canela
MPB-4 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cigana quem temperou?
O cheiro do cravo
Cigana quem temperou?
Morena quem temperou?
A cor de canela
A lua morena
O ventre da noite
E o sol da manh chuva cigana
A dan dos rios
O mel do cacau
E o sol da manh he luna morena
The sound of the woods
The taste of the clove
Cinnamon stone
The rainy cigana
The dance of the rivers
The taste of the clove
Cinnamon stone
Fernando de Paula Junior
The lyrics of MPB-4's song Cravo e Canela refers to the essence of a woman's character and beauty which is attributed to the combination of mystical and natural elements that make her unique. The lyrics suggest that a gypsy and a dark-skinned woman have both contributed to the creation of the perfect blend of aroma and color that defines the woman. The fragrance of the clove, the color of cinnamon, the rhythm of the wind, and the beauty of the moon and night are all emblematic of the woman's essence. The lyrics further highlight the magical and spiritual connection between nature and the female form by associating the taste of clove and the color of cinnamon with the woman's beauty.
The song Cravo e Canela was first released in 1977 by the Brazilian vocal group MPB-4. The lyrics and melody of the song were composed by the Brazilian singer and songwriter, Milton Nascimento. The song belongs to the genre of Brazilian popular music (MPB) and is known for its romantic and nostalgic tone. The song's popularity has led to its cover by several artists, including Gal Costa, Maria Bethania, and Ney Matogrosso.
Line by Line Meaning
Morena quem temperou?
Who spiced up the brunette?
Cigana quem temperou?
Who spiced up the gypsy woman?
O cheiro do cravo
The smell of clove
Cigana quem temperou?
Who spiced up the gypsy woman?
Morena quem temperou?
Who spiced up the brunette?
A cor de canela
The color of cinnamon
A lua morena
The brown moon
A dan do vento
The dance of the wind
O ventre da noite
The belly of the night
E o sol da manh chuva cigana
And the morning sun, gypsy rain
A dan dos rios
The dance of the rivers
O mel do cacau
The honey from cocoa
E o sol da manh he luna morena
And the morning sun is the brown moon
The sound of the woods
The sound of the forest
The taste of the clove
The flavor of clove
Cinnamon stone
Cinnamon-colored rock
The rainy cigana
The gypsy woman of the rain
The dance of the rivers
The river's dance
The taste of the clove
The flavor of clove
Cinnamon stone
Cinnamon-colored rock
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: RONALDO BASTOS, MILTON NASCIMENTO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
MissDissenter
me gusta mucho!!!!!