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.
Memórias do Mar
Maria Bethânia Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Vai e volta volta e meia vem e vai
A água do mar na beira do cais
Vai e volta volta e meia vem e vai
Quem um dia foi marinheiro audaz
Relembra histórias
Velhos marinheiros do mar da Bahia
O mundo é o mar
Maré de lembranças
Lembranças de tantas voltas que o mundo dá
Tempestades e ventos
Tufões violentos
E arrebentação
Hoje é calmaria
Que dorme dentro do coração
Velhos marinheiros do mar da Bahia
O mundo é aqui
Maré mansa e morna
De Plataforma ou de Peri-Peri
Velhos marinheiros do mar da Bahia
O mundo é o mar
Maré de lembranças
Lembranças de tantas voltas que o mundo dá
The lyrics of Maria Bethânia's song "Memórias do Mar" talks about the sea and the memories it holds for those who have experienced it. The repetition of "A água do mar na beira do cais vai e volta volta e meia vem e vai" (The sea water on the pier goes and comes, goes and comes every once in a while) creates a rhythm that can be associated with the constant movement of the waves. The song refers to brave sailors who remember stories of their experiences on the sea that are now gone with the passing of time like the waves that never come back. The lines "Velhos marinheiros do mar da Bahia, o mundo é o mar, maré de lembranças, lembranças de tantas voltas que o mundo dá" (Old sailors of the sea of Bahia, the sea is the world, a tide of memories, memories of many turns that the world gives) talk about how the sea can create lasting memories for people.
The song also talks about the different weather conditions that sailors may face while out at sea such as storms, strong winds, and violent tides. However, the calmness that the sea can provide is something that stays with the sailors even after they've left the sea, "hoje é calmaria que dorme dentro do coração" (today is calmness that sleeps within the heart). The sea is portrayed as a global presence that connects different parts of the world, "Velhos marinheiros do mar da Bahia, o mundo é aqui, maré mansa e morna, de Plataforma ou de Peri-Peri" (Old sailors of the sea of Bahia, the world is here, a calm and gentle tide, from Plataforma or Peri-Peri).
Line by Line Meaning
A água do mar na beira do cais
Vai e volta volta e meia vem e vai
The ocean water by the pier
Comes and goes in unpredictable intervals
A água do mar na beira do cais
Vai e volta volta e meia vem e vai
The ocean water by the pier
Comes and goes in unpredictable intervals
Quem um dia foi marinheiro audaz
Relembra histórias
Que feito ondas não voltam mais
Those who were once bold sailors
Recall stories that are like waves - they will never return
Velhos marinheiros do mar da Bahia
O mundo é o mar
Maré de lembranças
Lembranças de tantas voltas que o mundo dá
Old sailors of Bahia's sea
The world is the sea
A tide of memories
Memories of the many turns the world takes
Tempestades e ventos
Tufões violentos
E arrebentação
Hoje é calmaria
Que dorme dentro do coração
Storms and winds
Violent typhoons
And crashing waves
Today there is calm
That sleeps within the heart
Velhos marinheiros do mar da Bahia
O mundo é aqui
Maré mansa e morna
De Plataforma ou de Peri-Peri
Old sailors of Bahia's sea
The world is here
A gentle and mild tide
From Plataforma or Peri-Peri
Velhos marinheiros do mar da Bahia
O mundo é o mar
Maré de lembranças
Lembranças de tantas voltas que o mundo dá
Old sailors of Bahia's sea
The world is the sea
A tide of memories
Memories of the many turns the world takes
Contributed by Harper L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Olivia Carvalho
Velhos marinheiros do mar da Bahia
O mundo é o mar
Maré de lembranças
Lembranças de tantas voltas que o mundo dá
Tempestades e ventos
Tufões violentos
E arrebentação
Hoje é calmaria
Que dorme dentro do coração
Velhos marinheiros do mar da Bahia
O mundo é aqui
Maré mansa e morna
De Plataforma ou de Peri-Peri
Velhos marinheiros do mar da Bahia
Laura Beatriz Rocha
Gente só eu que choro ouvindo essa música? Que coisa mais linda! Que mulher cheia de axé, que transmite paz e harmonia através das suas canções... ❤
Thiago Guimaraes
Maravilhosa neh rsrs
Laura Beatriz Rocha
Sim!!!
Maristela Diniz
Eu tbm....ela me toca muito.
Vinícius Thimotheo Fernandes
Essa música movimenta uma energia de antepassado muito forte que só senti na Bahia... Amo;)
silvania ferreira da silva
Ela entra no palco e vem iluminando
Uma verdadeira Deusa !
Olivia Carvalho
Velhos marinheiros do mar da Bahia
O mundo é o mar
Maré de lembranças
Lembranças de tantas voltas que o mundo dá
Tempestades e ventos
Tufões violentos
E arrebentação
Hoje é calmaria
Que dorme dentro do coração
Velhos marinheiros do mar da Bahia
O mundo é aqui
Maré mansa e morna
De Plataforma ou de Peri-Peri
Velhos marinheiros do mar da Bahia
nandosmacedo
Meu Deus como eu amo essa mulher. Minha vida ficou tão melhor depois que descobri esse álbum/DVD em 2016. 😍
Daiane Cunha
Belíssima canção!
Belíssima interpretação!
E ficamos nós com a maré de lembranças que nos constituem como sujeitos no mundo!
Igor Cristiano Oliveira
Linda demais essa música! A cantora tem a poesia no seu corpo!