When she was twelve, her father gave her a guitar since he was worried about her being shy. Popular musician and composer Patricio Teixeira and classical guitarist Solon Ayala were her teachers. While still a teenager, she met a number of singers and composers who took part of Bossa Nova's musical revolution, in late 50s and early 60s, including Roberto Menescal, Carlos Lyra, Ronaldo Bôscoli, João Gilberto and Antônio Carlos Jobim.
By 1963, after singing as an amateur for a few years, she became a professional and toured with Sergio Mendes. In the mid-1960s, the institution of military dictatorship in Brazil led her to sing increasingly political lyrics. Her show "Opinião" reflected her political beliefs and she had largely switched to political music by this point. In 1964, she even spoke against bossa nova as a movement, calling it "alienating". In 1968, being part of the Tropicália movement, she appeared on the album Tropicália: ou Panis et Circenses, performing "Lindonéia."
She later left Brazil for Paris and in the 1970s abandoned music to focus on her family. She returned to music later and when she discovered, in 1979, that she had an inoperable brain tumor she increased her productivity as much as possible. She died in 1989, leaving a great legacy behind her succesful years of career.
Malvadeza Durão
Nara Leão Lyrics
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Eu tive dó, eu tive dó
Quatro velas acesas em cima de uma mesa
E uma subscrição para ser enterrado
Morreu Malvadeza Durão
Valente, mas muito considerado
Muitos sambas, grandes batucadas
O morro estava em festa quando alguém caiu
Com a mão no coração, sorriu
Morreu Malvadeza Durão
E o criminoso ninguém viu.
The lyrics of Nara Leão's song "Malvadeza Durão" paint a portrait of a criminal who has passed away. The first verse describes "Mais um malandro fechou o paletó" which translates to "Another swindler closed his jacket". This line implies that the Malvadeza Durão was known to be a swindler or a con man. The following line "Eu tive dó, eu tive dó" translates to "I felt sorry, I felt sorry". This could potentially suggest that even though he was a criminal, he was still a human being deserving of some level of compassion.
The second verse details the funeral proceedings of Malvadeza Durão. "Quatro velas acesas em cima de uma mesa" or "Four candles lit on a table" is a traditional symbol of a funeral vigil. The line "E uma subscrição para ser enterrado" or "And a subscription to be buried" could imply that Malvadeza Durão, being a criminal, did not have the means to provide for a proper burial and therefore had to rely on donations from others. The final line of the second verse "Valente, mas muito considerado" translates to "Brave, but highly regarded". This line could mean that despite his criminal activities, he was respected by his community.
The chorus paints an image of the funeral ceremony being held under the stars and moon, with many sambas and batucadas (types of Brazilian music) playing. The verse "O morro estava em festa quando alguém caiu / Com a mão no coração, sorriu" describes how the community was celebrating, possibly unaware of the death of Malvadeza Durão, who died with a smile on his face. The final line "E o criminoso ninguém viu" or "And the criminal was not seen" implies that even though Malvadeza Durão was a well-known criminal, no one witnessed his death or knew the circumstances behind it.
Overall, "Malvadeza Durão" is a complex portrayal of a criminal who is both respected and despised. The lyrics suggest that even though he may have led a life of crime, he was still a human being with emotions and deserved some level of compassion.
Line by Line Meaning
Mais um malandro fechou o paletó
Another crook has passed away
Eu tive dó, eu tive dó
I felt sorry, I felt sorry
Quatro velas acesas em cima de uma mesa
Four lit candles on a table
E uma subscrição para ser enterrado
And a subscription to be buried
Morreu Malvadeza Durão
Malvadeza Durão has died
Valente, mas muito considerado
Brave, but highly respected
Céu estrelado, lua prateada
Star-filled sky, silvery moon
Muitos sambas, grandes batucadas
Lots of sambas, great percussion
O morro estava em festa quando alguém caiu
The hill was celebrating when someone fell
Com a mão no coração, sorriu
With a hand on the heart, he smiled
E o criminoso ninguém viu.
And nobody saw the criminal.
Contributed by Kaelyn A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.