Sister of the also popular and renowned singer and composer Caetano Veloso, she began her artistic career in 1963, appearing in the play "Boca de Ouro" by Nelson Rodrigues. A song about the play was written by Caetano Veloso, who opened the show singing a samba track by Ataulfo Alves. That year she met Gilberto Gil, Gal Costa, Tom Zé, Djalma Correa, Pitti, Alcivando Luz and Fernando Lona in Salvador, with whom she performed at the commemorations inaugurating the Vila Velha de Salvador theatre in 1964 in the shows "Nós por exemplo" and "Nova bossa velha, velha bossa nova". In 1964 she also appeared in "Mora na Filosofia", her first solo show, when she met Nara Leão. As 1965 she replaced the muse of bossa nova in the show at Teatro Opinião (Rio de Janeiro), sharing the stage with Zé Kéti and João do Vale. She stood out for her stirring interpretation of the song "Carcará". In 1965 she also recorded her first record, a single containing the tracks "Carcará" and "É de manhã", the first recording of Caetano Veloso’s composition. That same year she released a double single with the songs "Carcará", "No carnaval", "Mora na filosofia" and "Só eu sei", followed by her debut album "Maria Bethânia" and the record "Maria Bethânia canta Noel Rosa". That year she also performed in the show Arena canta Bahia, directed by Augusto Boal, alongside Gal, Gil, Caetano, Pitti and Tom Zé. Also under the direction of Boal, the same group performed the show Tempo de Guerra. In 1996 she shared the stage of Teatro Opinião with Vinícius de Moraes and Gilberto Gil, presenting the show "Pois é". In 1967 she released the album "Edu & Bethânia" with Edu Lobo. She appeared in the shows "Yes, nós temos Maria Bethânia" (Bolso theatre, Rio de Janeiro) and "Comigo me desavim" (Miguel Lemos theatre, Rio de Janeiro) and "Brasileiro profissão esperança", by Paulo Pontes, directed by Bibi Ferreira, at the Casa Grande theatre (Rio de Janeiro). In 1971 she recorded the album "A tua presença", which was praised by the select critics. In 1971 the show "Rosa dos ventos" premiered at Teatro da Praia (Rio de Janeiro), directed by Fauzi Arap and she released the album of the same name. In 1972 she appeared alongside Chico Buarque and Nara Leão in the film "Quando o carnaval chegar" by Cacá Diegues. After another trip to Europe, she launched the album "Drama - anjo exterminado" also that year. In 1973 the show Drama, luz da noite premiered at Teatro da Praia, directed by Antônio Bivar and Isabel Câmara, from which arose the record "Luz da noite". The following year she commemorated ten years in the music business with the show "A cena muda", directed by Fauzi Arap, at the Casa Grande Theatre (Rio de Janeiro). The show led to a live record of the same name. In 1975 she performed a lengthy season with Chico Buarque at the Canecão (Rio de Janeiro). In 1976 she recorded the album "Pássaro proibido" which earned her first gold record. Also that year she got together with Caetano, Gil and Gal, forming the group Os Doces Bárbaros. In 1977 she released the album "Pássaro da manhã", for which she received the second gold record of her career. That year she was considered one of the bestselling singers in Brazil, which opened new doors in the record industry. In 1978 she starred in the show "Maria Bethânia e Caetano Veloso ao vivo" alongside her brother. Also that year the album "Álibi" was released, which earned her third gold disk. In 1979 she recorded the album "Mel". She released a series of records in the following decades: "Alteza" (81), "Maria" (88), "Memória da pele" (89), "Olho d’água" (92), "As canções que você fez pra mim" (93), only recording records by Roberto and Erasmo Carlos Âmbar (96), "Imitação da vida" (97) and "A força que nunca seca" (99). In 1994 she performed alongside Caetano Veloso, Gal Costa and Gilberto Gil, in the show "Doces Bárbaros na Mangueira", reference to the tribute made to them by this samba school, with the theme "Atrás da verde e rosa só não vai quem já morreu". In 2000, she recorded limited-edition album "Cânticos, preces, súplicas à Senhora dos Jardins do Céu". In 2001, she recorded the album "Maricotinha", containing the tracks "Moça do sonho" (Edu Lobo and Chico Buarque), from the musical "Cambaio, Primavera" (Carlos Lyra and Vinícius de Moraes), "Quando você não está aqui" (Herbert Vianna and Paulo Sérgio Valle), "Antes que amanheça" (Chico César and Carlos Rennó) and "Se eu morresse de saudade" (Gilberto Gil), among others, in addition to the title track, by Dorival Caymmi. She released the record a special show at the Canecão (Rio de Janeiro). The show included appearances by Caetano Veloso, Carlos Lyra, Chico Buarque, Nana e Danilo Caymmi, Adriana Calcanhoto and Gilberto Gil, among other artists. Also in 2001, in commemoration of her 35 years in the music business, she returned to the Canecão in the show "Maricotinha", which led to the double album "Maricotinha ao vivo". On December 8 that same year, she performed before 100,000 people on Copacabana beach alongside Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil and Gal Costa in the show "Doces Bárbaros", which concluded the project Pão Music. In 2003 the show presented in 2001 at the Canecão was released on the DVD "Maricotinha ao vivo", directed by André Horta. In 2003 she was also nominated for the Multishow Award in the categories Best Show and Best Album for "Maricotinha ao vivo". Also that year she created her own label, Quitanda, in partnership with record company Biscoito Fino, inaugurated the company by releasing the album "Brasileirinho", containing songs about religion and Brazil, with guest appearances by Nana Caymmi, Miúcha, Denise Stoklos and Ferreira Gullar, in addition to the groups Tira Poeira and Uakti, and the album "Vozes da Purificação", the first song recorded by Dona Edith do Prato. In 2004 she received the Tim Award in the categories Best Singer, Best Record and best visual MPB project, the Rival BR Award in the category Best Album, and the Academia Brasileira de Letras Award in the category Best Singer, in addition to being nominated for the Latin Grammy. That same year she produced and appeared as a singer alongside other artists on the album "Namorando a Rosa", a tribute record to violinist Rosinha de Valença, released by her Quitanda label. In 2005 she released the album Que falta você me faz, recording works by Vincius de Moraes, in partnership with Tom Jobim, Chico Buarque, Carlos Lyra, Baden Powell, Toquinho, Adoniran Barbosa and Jards Macalé. That same year she appeared at Canecão (Rio de Janeiro) in the show "Tempo Tempo Tempo Tempo - Uma homenagem a Vinícius de Moraes". In 2005 she also received the Golden Music Dolphin Award from the Rio de Janeiro State Culture Council.
As Ayabás
Maria Bethânia Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Eu agora vou cantar para todas as moças
Eu agora vou bater para todas as moças
Eu agora vou dançar para todas as moças
Para todas Ayabás, para todas elas
Eu agora vou cantar para todas as moças
Eu agora vou bater para todas as moças
Eu agora vou dançar para todas as moças
Iansã comanda os ventos
E a força dos elementos
Na ponta do seu florim
É uma menina bonita
Quando o céu se precipita
Sempre o princípio e o fim
Iansã comanda os ventos
E a força dos elementos
Na ponta do seu florim
É uma menina bonita
Quando o céu se precipita
Sempre o princípio e o fim
Obá - Não tem homem que enfrente
Obá - A guerreira mais valente
Obá - Não sei se me deixo mudo
Obá - Numa mão, rédeas, escudo
Obá - Não sei se canto ou se não
Obá - A espada na outra mão
Obá - Não sei se canto ou se calo
Obá - De pé sobre o seu cavalo
Obá - De pé sobre o seu cavalo
Obá - De pé sobre o seu cavalo
Obá - De pé sobre o seu cavalo
Obá - De pé sobre o seu cavalo
Obá - De pé sobre o seu cavalo
Obá - De pé sobre o seu cavalo
Euá, Euá
É uma moça cismada
Que se esconde na mata
E não tem medo de nada
Euá, Euá
Não tem medo de nada
O chão, os bichos
As folhas, o céu
Euá, Euá
Virgem da mata virgem
Virgem da mata virgem
Dos lábios de mel
Euá, Euá
É uma moça cismada
Que se esconde na mata
E não tem medo de nada
Euá, Euá
Não tem medo de nada
O chão, os bichos
As folhas, o céu
Euá, Euá
Virgem da mata virgem
Virgem da mata virgem
Dos lábios de mel
Oxum... Oxum...
Doce mãe dessa gente morena
Oxum... Oxum...
Água dourada, lagoa serena
Oxum... Oxum...
Beleza da força da beleza da força da beleza
Oxum... Oxum...
Oxum... Oxum...
Doce mãe dessa gente morena
Oxum... Oxum...
Água dourada, lagoa serena
Oxum... Oxum...
Beleza da força da beleza da força da beleza
Oxum... Oxum...
Oxum... Oxum...
The lyrics to Maria Bethânia's song As Ayabás are an ode to powerful women and spirits in Afro-Brazilian culture. The phrase "Ayabás" refers to female spirits in the Yoruba religion, which is a major root of Afro-Brazilian traditions. The song opens with the singer declaring that there is no other sound in the air so that everyone can hear her, and then she proceeds to sing, beat, and dance for all the women. She channels powerful spirits like Iansã, who commands the winds and elements, and Obá, an important female warrior. The lyrics also mention Euá, a mysterious and fearless woman who hides in the forest, and Oxum, a goddess associated with sweet waters like rivers and lakes. Overall, the song celebrates the strength and beauty of women and their connections to powerful spirits and nature.
Line by Line Meaning
Nenhum outro som no ar pra que todo mundo ouça
There's no other sound around so that everyone can listen
Eu agora vou cantar para todas as moças
Now I'm going to sing for all the girls
Eu agora vou bater para todas as moças
Now I'm going to drum for all the girls
Eu agora vou dançar para todas as moças
Now I'm going to dance for all the girls
Para todas Ayabás, para todas elas
For all the Ayabás, for all of them
Iansã comanda os ventos
Iansã commands the winds
E a força dos elementos
And the power of the elements
Na ponta do seu florim
At the tip of her wand
É uma menina bonita
She's a pretty girl
Quando o céu se precipita
When the sky rushes down
Sempre o princípio e o fim
Always the beginning and the end
Obá - Não tem homem que enfrente
Obá - No man can face her
Obá - A guerreira mais valente
Obá - The bravest warrior
Obá - Não sei se me deixo mudo
Obá - I don't know if I stay mute
Obá - Numa mão, rédeas, escudo
Obá - In one hand, reins, shield
Obá - Não sei se canto ou se não
Obá - I don't know if I sing or not
Obá - A espada na outra mão
Obá - The sword in the other hand
Obá - Não sei se canto ou se calo
Obá - I don't know if I sing or keep silent
Obá - De pé sobre o seu cavalo
Obá - Standing on her horse
Euá, Euá
Euá, Euá
É uma moça cismada
She's a pensive girl
Que se esconde na mata
Who hides in the forest
E não tem medo de nada
And isn't afraid of anything
Não tem medo de nada
Isn't afraid of anything
O chão, os bichos
The ground, the animals
As folhas, o céu
The leaves, the sky
Virgem da mata virgem
Virgin of the virgin forest
Virgem da mata virgem
Virgin of the virgin forest
Dos lábios de mel
With honey lips
Oxum... Oxum...
Oxum... Oxum...
Doce mãe dessa gente morena
Sweet mother of this brown-skinned people
Água dourada, lagoa serena
Golden water, serene lagoon
Beleza da força da beleza da força da beleza
Beauty of strength of beauty of strength of beauty
Oxum... Oxum...
Oxum... Oxum...
Writer(s): Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso
Contributed by Zoe H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.