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.
Da cor brasiileira
Maria Bethânia Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Se casa comigo, se rola e se deita
Me namora quando não devia
E quando eu queria me deixa na mesa
De quem falo me fala macio
E finge que entende o que nem escutou
Me adora e me quer tão somente
Esse homem que passa na rua
Que encontro na festa e me vira a cabeça
É aquele que me quer só sua
E ao mesmo tempo que eu seja mais uma
De quem falo ele é feio e bonito
Mais velho e menino, meu melhor amigo
É o homem da cor brasileira
A loucura e besteira que dorme comigo
The song "Da Cor Brasileira" by Maria Bethânia depicts the complexities of a romantic relationship with a man who is both alluring and frustrating. The opening lines suggest that the person she is referring to thinks of her as too conservative or "right-wing," but still pursues her for physical intimacy. She also mentions feeling conflicted about the timing of their relationship, as he pays attention to her when he shouldn't and ignores her when she wants him to stay.
The second verse suggests a sense of manipulation or false understanding in the relationship. The man speaks softly, pretending to understand what she's saying even when he doesn't listen, and only wants her for himself while believing lies. The chorus repeats the phrase "esse homem," meaning "this man," and describes the contradictory nature of his desire for her to be both only his and one of many women.
The final verse ties the song together by describing the man as both ugly and beautiful, both older and younger, and ultimately her best friend. She refers to him as the "man of Brazilian color" and acknowledges the craziness and foolishness of sleeping with him.
Overall, the lyrics of "Da Cor Brasileira" reveal the complicated emotions and dynamics that can exist within a romantic relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
De quem falo me acha direita
The person I speak of thinks I am conservative
Se casa comigo, se rola e se deita
If we get married, we can have an intimate relationship
Me namora quando não devia
They pursue me when they shouldn't
E quando eu queria me deixa na mesa
But when I want them, they leave me disappointed
De quem falo me fala macio
The person I speak of speaks to me sweetly
E finge que entende o que nem escutou
But they pretend to understand when they haven't really listened
Me adora e me quer tão somente
They adore me and want me only for themselves
Enquanto o que mente é o que acreditou
But what they believe to be true is actually a lie
Esse homem que passa na rua
The man passing by on the street
Que encontro na festa e me vira a cabeça
The one I met at the party who dazzled me
É aquele que me quer só sua
Is the one who only wants me for himself
E ao mesmo tempo que eu seja mais uma
While at the same time treating me like I'm just another one
De quem falo ele é feio e bonito
The person I speak of is ugly and beautiful
Mais velho e menino, meu melhor amigo
Older and childish, my best friend
É o homem da cor brasileira
He is the man with the Brazilian color
A loucura e besteira que dorme comigo
The madness and nonsense that sleeps with me
Contributed by Alaina A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@manoelcmedeirosmedeiros5637
Mel lembra minha juventude, muitos sonhos, anos 70, boas lembranças!!!🤩🥰💓
@celivalente7125
Adoro essa música 🎶 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
@emiliacorreia7333
Verdadeiro é o enfrenta a vida ❤️ Não Deixar ou ignorar Todos os rumores 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 Eu enfrentei Tudo isso ignorando Quem mé chamaava palhaça 😢😢😢
@jairodenazarelimalameira2656
Que música linda inesquecível, toca no sentimento, 👏👏👏👏
@luizantoniolopesdemoraes5432
Lindo cd , com músicas românticas
@joaocarlosfilhorj1933
Viva a música brasileira! 🎶
@AlcemirGomes
Esse homem que passa na rua
Que encontro na festa e me vira a cabeça
É aquele que me quer só sua
E ao mesmo tempo que eu seja mais uma
@reginasantana3045
Amo Bethânia. Deus! Acerta todas.❤
@marletefarias7190
A voz dessa mulher e maravilhosa, fica bem em qualquer música. adora Bethânia.
@edmilsonsacramentodossanto7661
Bethânia é luz!