Maria Rita began to sing professionally aged 24, even though she began to sing since she was 14. Her first CD, 'Maria Rita', launched her career, with the first cut on her first album, "A Festa (The Party)", written by Milton Nascimento, a Brazilian singer-songwriter. The CD was platinum and was a hit worldwide. After that album she became an international star. Her mother's career as a renowned singer had a major influence in Maria Rita's life as a singer; She was always conscious of being the single daughter of a great singer. Despite having her mother's vocal DNA, Maria Rita developed her own jazzy vocal style, influenced by singers, like among others, Ella Fitzgerald. She won the 2004 Latin Grammy Award for Best New Artist in the General Area. Her debut album, 'Maria Rita', won the Best MPB (Popular Brasilian Music) Album award of that year. Rita is pronounced "HEE-taaa".
Menino
Maria Rita Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Consente na tua morte
Talhada a ferro e fogo
Nas profundezas do corte
Que a bala riscou no peito
Quem cala morre contigo
Mais morto que estás agora
Batendo, avisando a hora
Que a raiva traçou
No incêndio repetindo
O brilho de teu cabelo
Quem grita vive contigo.
The lyrics of Maria Rita's song "Menino" speak to the consequences of remaining silent in the face of someone else's pain and suffering. The opening line, "Quem cala sobre teu corpo/ Consente na tua morte" translates to "Those who remain silent over your body/ Consent to your death." This line suggests that by not speaking up, by not standing up for someone who is being harmed or oppressed, we are complicit in their suffering and potentially even their death. This theme is reinforced throughout the rest of the song, with lines like "Quem cala morre contigo" ("Those who remain silent die with you"), which suggest that our silence can have real, tangible consequences.
As the song progresses, it also touches upon themes of anger and resistance. The line "Que a raiva traçou/ No incêndio repetindo/ O brilho de teu cabelo" translates to "The anger traced/ In the fire repeating/ The shine of your hair." This line, along with others like "Quem grita vive contigo" ("Those who shout live with you"), suggest that speaking up and fighting back against oppression can be a powerful act of resistance and solidarity.
Overall, "Menino" is a powerful and thought-provoking song that speaks to the importance of standing up for what's right, even when it's difficult or dangerous to do so.
Line by Line Meaning
Quem cala sobre teu corpo
Those who stay silent about the violence and injustice committed against you are complicit in your death.
Consente na tua morte
Their silence is giving permission for your killing to happen.
Talhada a ferro e fogo
You were brutally carved and wounded.
Nas profundezas do corte
The brutal violence of the attack runs deep.
Que a bala riscou no peito
Your death was caused by a bullet ripping through your chest.
Quem cala morre contigo
Those who remain silent will die together with you, since their inaction perpetuates and justifies this vicious cycle of violence.
Mais morto que estás agora
They are even more dead than you are now, because they have lost their humanity by not standing up for justice.
Relógio no chão da praça
The clock lying on the ground in the square.
Batendo, avisando a hora
Its ticking is a warning that time is running out for all of us to act against violence and injustice.
Que a raiva traçou
The anger and resentment have drawn a line in the sand.
No incêndio repetindo
And the fire keeps burning, reminding us of the devastation caused by inaction and unchecked rage.
O brilho de teu cabelo
Even in death, your beauty and light shine bright.
Quem grita vive contigo.
Those who speak out for justice will live on with you, because they fight to ensure that this kind of violence and suffering ends.
Contributed by Charlotte V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.