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.
Raça
Milton Nascimento Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Que me incendeia o corpo de alegria
Lá vem a santa maldita euforia
Que me alucina, me joga e me rodopia
Lá vem o canto, o berro de fera
Lá vem a voz de qualquer primavera
Lá vem a unha rasgando a garganta
De onde vem essa coisa tão minha
Que me aquece e me faz carinho?
De onde vem essa coisa tão crua
Que me acorda e me põe no meio da rua?
É um lamento, um canto mais puro
Que me ilumina a casa escura
É minha força, é nossa energia
Que vem de longe prá nos fazer companhia
É Clementina cantando bonito
As aventuras do seu povo aflito
É Seu Francisco, boné e cachimbo
Me ensinando que a luta é mesmo comigo
Todas Marias, Maria Dominga
Atraca Vilma e Tia Hercília
É Monsueto e é Grande Otelo
Atraca, atraca que o Naná vem chegando
The song "Raça" by Brazilian artist Milton Nascimento is a tribute to the strength and resilience of Afro-Brazilian culture in the face of oppression and adversity. The lyrics describe a powerful force that fills the singer with joy and euphoria, even as it tears at their throat and makes them feel raw and exposed. The force is both personal and communal, represented by the voices and stories of legendary figures like singer Clementina de Jesus, musician Monsueto, and actor Grande Otelo, as well as the everyday struggle of people like Seu Francisco and Marias Dominga and Vilma.
The song's driving rhythm and soaring melodies create a sense of urgency and triumph, reflecting the determination and passion of the black Brazilian experience. The repeated refrain of "raça" (race) reinforces the idea that this force is not just an individual or cultural trait, but a defining characteristic that unites all Afro-Brazilians in their fight for survival and recognition.
Line by Line Meaning
Lá vem a força, lá vem a magia
Here comes the strength, here comes the magic
Que me incendeia o corpo de alegria
That sets my body on fire with happiness
Lá vem a santa maldita euforia
Here comes the blessed cursed euphoria
Que me alucina, me joga e me rodopia
That makes me delirious, tosses me and spins me around
Lá vem o canto, o berro de fera
Here comes the song, the wild animal roar
Lá vem a voz de qualquer primavera
Here comes the voice of any spring
Lá vem a unha rasgando a garganta
Here comes the fingernail scratching the throat
A fome, a fúria, o sangue que já se levanta
The hunger, the fury, the blood that is already rising
De onde vem essa coisa tão minha
Where does this thing that is so mine come from
Que me aquece e me faz carinho?
That warms me and caresses me?
De onde vem essa coisa tão crua
Where does this thing that is so raw come from
Que me acorda e me põe no meio da rua?
That wakes me up and puts me in the middle of the street?
É um lamento, um canto mais puro
It’s a lament, a purer song
Que me ilumina a casa escura
That illuminates my dark house
É minha força, é nossa energia
It’s my strength, it’s our energy
Que vem de longe prá nos fazer companhia
That comes from afar to keep us company
É Clementina cantando bonito
It’s Clementina singing beautifully
As aventuras do seu povo aflito
The adventures of her troubled people
É Seu Francisco, boné e cachimbo
It’s Seu Francisco, cap and pipe
Me ensinando que a luta é mesmo comigo
Teaching me that the fight is truly mine
Todas Marias, Maria Dominga
All the Marys, Maria Dominga
Atraca Vilma e Tia Hercília
Embracing Vilma and Tia Hercília
É Monsueto e é Grande Otelo
It’s Monsueto and it’s Grande Otelo
Atraca, atraca que o Naná vem chegando
Embrace, embrace because Naná is coming
Lyrics © Tratore, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Fernando Brant, Milton Nascimento
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@nataliatasso6431
QUE MÚSICA LINDA
EU TÔ VICIADA
EU TÔ CHORANDO
SANTO REMÉDIO!
@paulosamir
Hoje, 26 de outubro de 2022, esse gênio da música completa 80 anos. Vida longa Milton Essencial Nascimento.
42 foi mágico.
@jacilene96
E hoje, 25 de outubro de 2023 eu ouvindo
@nilcineydossantossilva7815
Poucas coisas me dão tanto orgulho de ser brasileiro!
Salve! Grande mestre!!!
@tinaflores5253
Vida & Obra pra mil anos de desdobramentos, pesquisas, mestrados, doutorados e pós dourados. Genuíno
@camilaevans9434
Essa puxa nossa força das entranhas!! Me enche de euforia!
@estercristinapereiraramos6017
❤❤❤ só amor pra esse cantor muito especial.
Toca no coração da gente
Toca na alma❤❤❤ saúde e paz!
@danuzaborgesgomes71
Lindeza de vida, sou mineira e falo uai, obrigada Bituca. Minas Gerais ama vc,riqueza de vida. Música linda,meu Deus.
@MarceloFernandez1967
Milton é amado até nas Ilhas Fiji.
@dom_pazzo87
Linda demaaais!!!! Salve Bituca!!