Nascimento was born in Rio de Janeiro, and grew up in Três Pontas, Minas Gerais. His mother was the maid Maria do Carmo Nascimento. When he was just a few months old, the boy was adopted by the family for whom his mother had previously worked: the couple Josino Brito Campos (a banker, mathematics teacher and electronic technician) and Lília Silva Campos (a music teacher). He lived in the boroughs of Laranjeiras and Tijuca in Rio de Janeiro. When he was 18 months old, his biological mother died and he moved with his adoptive parents to the city of Três Pontas, in the State of Minas Gerais.
In the earlier stages of his career, Nascimento played in two samba groups, Evolussamba and Sambacana. In 1963 he moved to Belo Horizonte, and his friendship with the Borges brothers (Marilton, Márcio e Lô Borges) led to the Clube da Esquina ("corner club") movement. Other members included Beto Guedes, Toninho Horta, Wagner Tiso, and Flavio Venturini.
Nascimento is famous for his chime-clear falsetto and tonal range, as well for highly acclaimed songs such as "Canção da América" ("Song from America") and "Coração de Estudante" ("Student's Heart"). The lyrics of "Coração de Estudante" remembers the funeral of the student Edson Luís, killed by police officers in 1968. The song became the hymn for the diretas Já campaign in 1984 and it was also played in the funeral of the late president Tancredo Neves the next year, who died before assuming the presidency.
While his reputation within Brazil was firmly established with his Clube da Esquina works, Nascimento's international breakthrough came with his appearance on jazz saxophonist Wayne Shorter's 1974 album "Native Dancer". This led to widespread acclaim, and collaborations with American stars such as Paul Simon, James Taylor, and Pat Metheny.
Through his friendship with guitarist Warren Cuccurullo, Nascimento came to work with the pop-rock band Duran Duran in 1993. Nascimento co-wrote and performed (in the Portuguese language) the song "Breath After Breath", featured on the band's 1993 album "Duran Duran". He also performed with the band in concert when they toured in Brazil, in support of that album. Nascimento earned a Grammy award for "Best World Music Album" in 1998 for his album "Nascimento", and was also nominated in 1991 and 1995.
Portal Da Cor
Milton Nascimento Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pulmão da terra mãe
Portal da cor, futuro
Cada nascer do sol
Carinho, companheiro
É como se a paz
Cobrisse o mundo inteiro
Quero o sabor, o som
Quero tocar, visão
Cheiro de vida
E um mar de gerações
Procuro a resposta
Por que criar a dor?
Se quando estamos juntos
Temos sonho, força e amor
Gema da criação
Herdeiro do pintor
Dono da manhã
Do sim, do não
Coragem, companheiro
Pra que fechar a voz
Se a força do desejo
Pulsa em cada um de nós
Milton Nascimento's song "Portal Da Cor" is a jubilant tribute to nature, filled with vivid imagery and metaphors that celebrate life and the beauty of the natural world. The song opens with a greeting to nature, referred to as the lungs of the earth mother and the gateway to the future. The repetition of the phrase "Portal da cor" underscores the importance of the natural world as a source of inspiration, renewal, and hope.
The second verse speaks of the joy and comfort that comes from companionship and equates it to world peace. The lyrics acknowledge the elemental qualities of nature - earth, water, fire, and air - and also express a yearning for sensory experiences such as taste, sound, touch and smell. This desire extends beyond one's individual life span and into the future, into the vast ocean of generations to come.
The third verse is a prayer for answers to the question of why pain and suffering exist, especially when we have the power to dream and create together. The final verse speaks to the individual's unique place in the world as a precious gem of creation, inherited from the divine artist and the owner of one's destiny. The song ends with a call to courage, to not be silenced but to embrace the power of desire that pulses within each of us.
Line by Line Meaning
Bom dia, natureza
Good morning, nature
Pulmão da terra mãe
Lung of Mother Earth
Portal da cor, futuro
Gateway to color, future
Cada nascer do sol
Every sunrise
Carinho, companheiro
Affection, companion
É como se a paz
It's as if peace
Cobrisse o mundo inteiro
Covered the entire world
Terra, água, fogo e ar
Earth, water, fire and air
Quero o sabor, o som
I want the taste, the sound
Quero tocar, visão
I want to touch, sight
Cheiro de vida
Smell of life
E um mar de gerações
And a sea of generations
Procuro a resposta
I search for the answer
Por que criar a dor?
Why create pain?
Se quando estamos juntos
If when we're together
Temos sonho, força e amor
We have dreams, strength, and love
Gema da criação
Gem of creation
Herdeiro do pintor
Heir of the painter
Dono da manhã
Owner of the morning
Do sim, do não
Of yes, of no
Coragem, companheiro
Courage, companion
Pra que fechar a voz
Why close your voice
Se a força do desejo
If the strength of desire
Pulsa em cada um de nós
Pulses in each one of us
Contributed by Mackenzie M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
ghiovana maria
Bom dia natureza
pulmão da terra mãe
Portal da cor, futuro
Cada nascer do sol.
Carinho companheiro,
É como se a paz
Cobrisse o mundo inteiro
Terra, água, fogo e ar.
Quero o sabor do som
Quero tocar visão
Cheiro de vida e um mar de gerações .
Procuro a resposta
Porque criar a dor?
Se quando estamos juntos
Temos sonho, força e amor.
Gela da criação
Herdeiro do pintor
Dono do amanhã
Do sim do não .
Coragem companheiro
Pra que fechar a voz?
Se a força do desejo
Pulsa em cada um de nós.
Alberto Wagner
UMA DAS MAIS BELAS CANÇÕES QUE O MILTON CANTA. PREOCUPAÇÃO COM A TERRA MUITO ANTES DE VIRAR MODINHA....
Peter Hutch
No contrabaixo, um dos maiores baixistas da história: O saudoso NICO ASSUMPÇÂO!
Jacque Céu&Mar
Pena que não valorizamos esses grandes que fazem bela arte.
Victor Figueiredo
Grande Nico, com a contribuição do Ricardo Silveira na guitarra..maestro Arthur Verocai e Lobão vivemos uma das melhores Jam's.
Vagner Da Silva
O q é feito com Arte , será Eterno .
Simeão Mateus
Perfeito 👏
Anna Tullia
Que mensagem maravilhosa...Milton é de outro planeta, só pode!Tamanho entendimento <3
mcac2007
Que inspiração essa geração tinha, letras pra elevar o pensamento com sentimentos mais puros, ouvir isso deixa o dia melhor.
Vandi Lopes
Você é linda
Hilaro Martin
A produção dessa música é fantástica.