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.
Canto de Oxum
Maria Bethânia Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
voltarei para buscar os instantes
que não vivi junto do mar
Nhem-nhem-nhem
Nhem-nhem ô xorodô
Nhem-nhem-nhem
Nhem-nhem ô xorodô
Fé-fé xorodô
Oxum era rainha,
Na mão direita tinha
O seu espelho onde vivia á se mirar
Quanto nome tem a Rainha do Mar?
Quanto nome tem a Rainha do Mar?
Dandalunda, Janaína,
Marabô, Princesa de Aiocá,
Inaê, Sereia, Mucunã,
Maria, Dona Iemanjá.
Onde ela vive?
Onde ela mora?
Nas águas,
Na loca de pedra,
Num palácio encantado,
No fundo do mar.
O que ela gosta?
O que ela adora?
Perfume,
Flor, espelho e pente
Toda sorte de presente
Pra ela se enfeitar.
Como se saúda a Rainha do Mar?
Como se saúda a Rainha do Mar?
Alodê, Odofiaba,
Minha-mãe, Mãe-d'água,
Odoyá!
Qual é seu dia,
Nossa Senhora?
É dia dois de fevereiro
Quando na beira da praia
Eu vou me abençoar.
O que ela canta?
Por que ela chora?
Só canta cantiga bonita
Chora quando fica aflita
Se você chorar.
Quem é que já viu a Rainha do Mar?
Quem é que já viu a Rainha do Mar?
Pescador e marinheiro
que escuta a sereia cantar.
É com povo que é praieiro que Dona Iemanjá
quer se casar.
In Maria Bethânia's song "Canto de Oxum," the lyrics describe a longing to return to the moments that were not lived by the sea after death. The first two lines of the song translate to "When I die, I will come back to capture the moments that I did not live next to the sea." The following lines describe the beauty and power of the ocean, as well as the revered status of Oxum, the goddess of the sea in the Yoruba religion.
The chorus of the song is a repetition of "nem-nem-nem, nem-nem ô xorodô," followed by "it is the sea, it is the sea, faith-faith xorodô." This repetition of sounds and the use of the African word "xorodô" create a sense of rhythm and movement that reflects the movement of the sea.
The second half of the song details various aspects of Oxum, including her titles (Dandalunda, Janaina, etc.), where she lives (in the water, in a palace beneath the sea), and what she likes (perfumes, flowers, and mirrors). The song also asks how to greet the Queen of the Sea (Alodê, Odofiaba, etc.) and mentions her feast day on February 2nd.
Overall, the song celebrates the beauty and power of the ocean, as well as the spiritual significance of Oxum in Yoruba religion.
Line by Line Meaning
Quando eu morrer
voltarei para buscar os instantes
que não vivi junto do mar
When I die, I will return to search for the moments that I did not live by the sea
Nhem-nhem-nhem
Nhem-nhem ô xorodô
Nhem-nhem-nhem
Nhem-nhem ô xorodô
É o mar, é o mar
Fé-fé xorodô
Humming sound with the word 'mar', acknowledging the importance of the sea
Oxum era rainha,
Na mão direita tinha
O seu espelho onde vivia á se mirar
Oxum was a queen, who carried a mirror in her right hand to admire herself
Quanto nome tem a Rainha do Mar?
Dandalunda, Janaína,
Marabô, Princesa de Aiocá,
Inaê, Sereia, Mucunã,
Maria, Dona Iemanjá.
The Queen of the Sea has many names, including Dandalunda, Janaína, Marabô, Princess of Aiocá, Inaê, Sereia, Mucunã, Maria, and Dona Iemanjá
Onde ela vive?
Onde ela mora?
Nas águas,
Na loca de pedra,
Num palácio encantado,
No fundo do mar.
The Queen of the Sea lives and resides in the waters, in a cave made of stone, in an enchanted palace, and at the bottom of the sea
O que ela gosta?
O que ela adora?
Perfume,
Flor, espelho e pente
Toda sorte de presente
Pra ela se enfeitar.
She likes and loves perfume, flowers, mirrors, combs, and all sorts of gifts to embellish herself
Como se saúda a Rainha do Mar?
Alodê, Odofiaba,
Minha-mãe, Mãe-d'água,
Odoyá!
The Queen of the Sea is greeted as Alodê, Odofiaba, my mother, mother of water, and with the word 'Odoyá!'
Qual é seu dia,
Nossa Senhora?
É dia dois de fevereiro
Quando na beira da praia
Eu vou me abençoar.
Her day is February 2nd, when I go to the beach to bless myself
O que ela canta?
Por que ela chora?
Só canta cantiga bonita
Chora quando fica aflita
Se você chorar.
The Queen of the Sea only sings beautiful songs and cries when she is upset, but she will also cry if you cry
Quem é que já viu a Rainha do Mar?
Quem é que já viu a Rainha do Mar?
Pescador e marinheiro
que escuta a sereia cantar.
Fishermen and sailors who hear the mermaid sing have seen the Queen of the Sea
É com povo que é praieiro que Dona Iemanjá
quer se casar.
Dona Iemanjá wants to marry the locals who live by the beach
Contributed by Bentley D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.