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
Sites: MusicBrainz & Discogs.
De Palavra Em Palavra
MPB-4 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
E muita calma pra pensar
Eu amei ai de mim muito mais do que devia amar
Sim fiz projetos pensei
Mas esse mundo é cheio de maldade e ilusão
Pra que trocar sim por não se o resultado é solidão
O amor o sorriso e a flor
O que ficou pra machucar meu coração
Pois é tantos versos eu fiz
Dizendo a todo mundo o que ninguém diz
Alimentei a ilusão de ser feliz
O amor é a coisa mais triste quando se desfaz
Dói no coração de quem sonhou demais
Eu vivo sonhando, ai que insensatez
Até você voltar outra vez
Eu tenho esse amor para dar
Agora o que é que eu vou fazer
Porque esse é o maior que você pode encontrar
Mas de conversa em conversa
Eu só quis dizer de palavra em palavra
João Gilberto um abraço a você
Oba-la-lá
The song "De Palavra Em Palavra" by MPB-4 is a melancholic and introspective reflection on love, disappointment, and the illusions of life. The lyrics describe a beautiful morning full of peace, which provides the time and space to think and reflect. The singer admits to having loved too much, more than they should have, and having made plans and dreams that were shattered by the harshness and deceitfulness of the world. The question arises: why say yes when it results in loneliness?
The second stanza refers to the things that remain after the breakup: the memories of love, the smiles, the flowers, the guitar playing, and the song of a bird (sabiá). But these things also hurt the heart of the person who dreamed too much. The singer admits to having written many verses that no one dared to say out loud, fueled by the illusion of being happy. However, the refrain emphasizes the sad truth: love is the saddest thing when it ends, and it hurts those who dreamed too much.
Overall, the song portrays a sense of resignation and acceptance of the pain that comes with love and life. The ending, with a greeting to João Gilberto, one of the pioneers of the Brazilian bossa nova, adds a touch of homage to the musical context of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Manhã tão bonita a manhã
A beautiful morning, peaceful and conducive for deep reflection.
E muita calma pra pensar
There is so much calmness which aids introspection.
Eu amei ai de mim muito mais do que devia amar
Sadly, I loved much more than I was supposed to love and now regret it.
Sim fiz projetos pensei
I made plans and pondered over them.
Mas esse mundo é cheio de maldade e ilusão
However, this world is full of evil and deceit.
Pra que trocar sim por não se o resultado é solidão
What is the use of rejecting positive opportunities and emotions when the outcome is loneliness?
O amor o sorriso e a flor
Love, smiles, and flowers.
Meu sabiá, meu violão
My mockingbird, my guitar.
O que ficou pra machucar meu coração
What remained only caused pain in my heart.
Pois é tantos versos eu fiz
I wrote so many verses.
Dizendo a todo mundo o que ninguém diz
Expressing what no one else dared to say.
Alimentei a ilusão de ser feliz
I fed the illusion of being happy.
O amor é a coisa mais triste quando se desfaz
Love is the saddest thing when it falls apart.
Dói no coração de quem sonhou demais
It hurts deeply for those who dreamed too much.
Eu vivo sonhando, ai que insensatez
I keep on dreaming, what foolishness.
Até você voltar outra vez
Until you come back again.
Eu tenho esse amor para dar
I have this love to give.
Agora o que é que eu vou fazer
What am I supposed to do now?
Porque esse é o maior que você pode encontrar
Because this is the greatest love you can find.
Mas de conversa em conversa
But from conversation to conversation.
Eu só quis dizer de palavra em palavra
I just wanted to express myself word by word.
João Gilberto um abraço a você
João Gilberto, a hug to you.
Oba-la-lá
Oba-la-la.
Contributed by Carter E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Catherine Castelo
Manhã tão bonita a manhã
E muita calma pra pensar
Eu amei ai de mim muito mais do que devia amar
Sim fiz projetos pensei
Mas esse mundo é cheio de maldade e ilusão
Pra que trocar sim por não se o resultado é solidão
O amor o sorriso e a flor
Meu sabiá, meu violão
O que ficou pra machucar meu coração
Pois é tantos versos eu fiz
Dizendo a todo mundo o que ninguém diz
Alimentei a ilusão de ser feliz
O amor é a coisa mais triste quando se desfaz
Dói no coração de quem sonhou demais
Eu vivo sonhando, ai que insensatez
Até você voltar outra vez
Eu tenho esse amor para dar
Agora o que é que eu vou fazer
Porque esse é o maior que você pode encontrar
Mas de conversa em conversa
Eu só quis dizer de palavra em palavra
João Gilberto um abraço a você
Oba-la-lá
Catherine Castelo
Esse álbum é fantástico demais.💖
Sublime!
Regina R
Maravilhosa!
Monalise
Coisa linda ❤️
Paulo Paiva
João Gilberto, um abraço em você.
Beso Cerqueira
Linda homenagem ao Pai da Bossa Nova!
Fernando Mattos
Uma das maiores obras da cultura brasileira. Marcou minha vida. Sei cantarolar as músicas na sequencia. Desde criança.