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.
Louvação à oxum
Maria Bethânia Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Quem sabe venha buscar-me em festa
Orarei a Oxum, que adoro Oxum
Sei que sim, xinguinxi comigo
Orarei a Oxum, que adoro Oxum
Sei que sim, xinguinxi comigo
Sem gota de sangue
Dona do oculto, a que sabe e cala
No puro frescor de sua morada
Oh, minha mãe, rainha dos rios
Água que faz crescer as crianças
Dona da brisa de lagos
Corpo divino sem osso nem sangue
Orarei a Oxum, que adoro Oxum
Sei que sim, xinguinxi comigo
Eu saúdo quem rompe na guerra
Senhora das águas que correm caladas
Oxum das águas de todo som
Água da aurora no mar agora
Bela mãe da grinalda de flores
Alegria da minha manhã
Orarei a Oxum, que adoro Oxum
Sei que sim, xinguinxi comigo
Orarei a Oxum, que adoro Oxum
Sei que sim, xinguinxi comigo
Ipondá que se oculta no escuro
De longe me chega a cintilação de seus cílios
Oxum é água que aparta a morte
Oxum melhora a cabeça ruim, a yê yê orarei!
Bendita onda que inunda a casa do traidor
Orarei a Oxum, que adoro Oxum
Sei que sim, xinguinxi comigo
Oxum que eu bendigo na boca do dia
Oxum que eu adoro
Rica de dons, riqueza dos rios
Oxum que chamei, que não chamei
Adê-okô, senhora das águas
The lyrics of Maria Bethânia's song "Louvação à Oxum" pay homage to the deity Oxum, a prominent figure in the Afro-Brazilian religion Candomblé. Oxum is associated with various aspects, including water, love, fertility, beauty, and wealth. The song expresses praise and devotion to Oxum, invoking her power and attributes.
The first verse declares the arrival of the singer, announcing to those in the house that they are coming. They speculate that perhaps they will be welcomed with celebration. The subsequent verses repeatedly state the intention to pray to and adore Oxum. The lyrics emphasize Oxum's healing abilities, her knowledge and secrecy, and her dwelling in pure freshness. She is praised as the queen of rivers, the bringer of growth to children, and the mistress of lakes' breezes. The lyrics also highlight Oxum's significance in war, as the lady of silently flowing waters and the embodiment of all sounds. Additionally, Oxum is mentioned as the water of dawn in the sea, the joy of the singer's morning.
The chorus reinforces the singer's commitment to praying and adoring Oxum, in the belief that Oxum will respond and connect with them. The verses continue to exalt Oxum, referring to her ability to separate death, improve troubled minds, and bless the house of the betrayer. The lyrics describe the luminosity of Oxum's hidden eyes and her power to dispel darkness. Finally, the song ends with further praise for Oxum as the one to whom the singer gives blessings, the one they adore, and the richness of rivers.
Overall, "Louvação à Oxum" is a lyrical expression of reverence and admiration for Oxum, highlighting her different attributes and roles in the spiritual and earthly realms.
Line by Line Meaning
Kerêô, declaro aos de casa que estou chegando
Kerêô, I announce to those at home that I am arriving
Quem sabe venha buscar-me em festa
Who knows, they may come to welcome me with a celebration
Orarei a Oxum, que adoro Oxum
I will pray to Oxum, whom I adore, Oxum
Sei que sim, xinguinxi comigo
I know she will, she will be with me
Oxum que cura com água fresca
Oxum who heals with fresh water
Sem gota de sangue
Without a drop of blood
Dona do oculto, a que sabe e cala
Mistress of the hidden, the one who knows and keeps silent
No puro frescor de sua morada
In the pure freshness of her dwelling
Oh, minha mãe, rainha dos rios
Oh, my mother, queen of the rivers
Água que faz crescer as crianças
Water that makes children grow
Dona da brisa de lagos
Mistress of the lake breeze
Corpo divino sem osso nem sangue
Divine body without bone or blood
Eu saúdo quem rompe na guerra
I salute those who break in the war
Senhora das águas que correm caladas
Lady of the silently flowing waters
Oxum das águas de todo som
Oxum of the waters of all sound
Água da aurora no mar agora
Water of the dawn in the sea now
Bela mãe da grinalda de flores
Beautiful mother of the flower wreath
Alegria da minha manhã
Joy of my morning
Ipondá que se oculta no escuro
Ipondá hiding in the dark
De longe me chega a cintilação de seus cílios
From afar, the flicker of her eyelashes reaches me
Oxum é água que aparta a morte
Oxum is the water that separates death
Oxum melhora a cabeça ruim, a yê yê orarei!
Oxum improves the troubled head, a yê yê I will pray!
Bendita onda que inunda a casa do traidor
Blessed wave that floods the house of the traitor
Oxum que eu bendigo na boca do dia
Oxum whom I bless at the break of day
Oxum que eu adoro
Oxum whom I adore
Rica de dons, riqueza dos rios
Rich in gifts, wealth of the rivers
Oxum que chamei, que não chamei
Oxum whom I called, whom I didn't call
Adê-okô, senhora das águas
Adê-okô, lady of the waters
Writer(s): Joao Roberto Caribe Mendes, Ordep Jose Trindade Serra
Contributed by Lily W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.