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.
Sentinela
MPB4 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Do corpo desse meu irmão que já se vai
Revejo nessa hora tudo o que ocorreu
Memória não morrerá
Vulto negro em meu rumo vem
Mostrar a sua dor plantada nesse chão
Seu rosto brilha em reza, brilha em faca e flor
Histórias vem me contar
Longe, longe, ouço essa voz
Que o tempo não vai levar
Precisa gritar sua força ê irmão
Sobreviver, a morte inda não vai chegar
Se a gente na hora de unir os caminhos num só
Não fugir nem se desviar
Precisa amar sua amiga ê irmão
E relembrar que o mundo só vai se curvar
Quando o amor que em seu corpo já nasceu
Liberdade buscar na mulher que você encontar
Morte, vela, sentinela sou
Do corpo desse meu irmão que já se foi
Revejo nessa hora tudo que aprendi
Memória não morrerá
Longe, longe, ouço essa voz
Que o tempo não vai levar
The lyrics of "Sentinela" by MPB4 talk about the need to remember and honor those who have passed away, specifically a brother who is dying. The singer is the sentinel, keeping watch over his brother's body, and as he does so, memories flood back to him. He sees a black figure coming towards him, which he knows is his brother's spirit, showing him the pain that was planted on this earth. The brother's face shines with prayers, with a knife and flower, telling stories that need to be told.
The lyrics also talk about the need to survive, for his brother's spirit to continue to live on. The singer hears a voice in the distance, which he knows is his brother's voice, and he needs to heed it. The voice needs to shout its strength and power, so that it can survive, and so that it does not succumb to death. The singer then talks about how important it is to stay on course, to not veer off, to love his friends, and to remember that the world will only bend if it's united.
Finally, the lyrics talk about love that will never die, that remains in the singer's heart long after his brother has passed. The singer hears the voice of his brother calling him from afar, it's a voice that will never be taken by time. The song is a heartfelt tribute to the love and memories that remain even after death.
Line by Line Meaning
Morte, vela, sentinela sou
I am the death watcher, the candle bearer, the guardian of my brother's departing body
Do corpo desse meu irmão que já se vai
Of the body of my brother who is leaving
Revejo nessa hora tudo o que ocorreu
In this moment, I recall everything that happened
Memória não morrerá
Memory will not die
Vulto negro em meu rumo vem
A black figure comes towards me
Mostrar a sua dor plantada nesse chão
To show the pain planted in this ground
Seu rosto brilha em reza, brilha em faca e flor
His face shines with prayer, with knife and flower
Histórias vem me contar
He comes to tell me stories
Longe, longe, ouço essa voz
Far away, I hear that voice
Que o tempo não vai levar
That time will not take away
Precisa gritar sua força ê irmão
You need to shout your strength, my brother
Sobreviver, a morte inda não vai chegar
Survive, death has not come yet
Se a gente na hora de unir os caminhos num só
If we, when uniting our paths into one
Não fugir nem se desviar
Do not run away or stray
Precisa amar sua amiga ê irmão
You need to love your friend, my brother
E relembrar que o mundo só vai se curvar
And remember that the world will only bow down
Quando o amor que em seu corpo já nasceu
When the love that was born in your body
Liberdade buscar na mulher que você encontar
Seeks freedom in the woman you encounter
Morte, vela, sentinela sou
I am the death watcher, the candle bearer, the guardian of my brother's departing body
Do corpo desse meu irmão que já se foi
Of the body of my brother who has already gone
Revejo nessa hora tudo que aprendi
In this moment, I remember everything I learned
Memória não morrerá
Memory will not die
Longe, longe, ouço essa voz
Far away, I hear that voice
Que o tempo não vai levar
That time will not take away
Contributed by Aaron T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@cecilianaviskas6831
Os maiores representantes da MPB. Amo de paixão !! São indiscutivelmente muito bons !!
@sheylalemos9822
Muito atuais