Nara Lofego Leão (January 19, 1942, Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil — June … Read Full Bio ↴Nara Lofego Leão (January 19, 1942, Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil — June 7, 1989, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), best known as Nara Leão, was a diverse MPB singer, acoustic guitarist and occasional actress and songwriter, associated with many genres and movements, such as bossa nova, samba de morro, protest song, Tropicália, música nordestina and others, quickly gaining the title of "Musa da Bossa Nova" (Muse of Bossa Nova) ever since the beginning of her career.

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.

Nono
Nara Leão Lyrics

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Nonó
Você já sabe de cor
Minha mais nova canção
Composta só
Para fazer o "check up"
Na minha capacidade musical
Cal, cal, cal, cal
Mas a razão pela qual

Eu lhe pergunto
Se já conseguiu decorar
É pra você cantar
Onde puder e tiver chance
Pra me divulgar
{bis}

Como é do seu conhecimento
Ainda sou desconhecida
Nesse mundo artístico
E o seu relacionamento
Poderá dar uma mão
A essa sua amiga
Quem sabe a vida maltratada
Que eu levo amargamente
Pode ser mudada
Meu barraco, meu ragu
Aquele sonho do carango
Tudo na barbada
Talvez você só se amedronte
Com a felicidade aos montes
Que me vem oferecer
Mas uma coisa lhe garanto

Se eu ganhar dinheiro tanto
Eu divido com você.

Overall Meaning

The song "Nonó" by Nara Leão is an appeal made to her friend Nonó to help her achieve fame and recognition in the artistic world. The song starts by acknowledging that Nonó already knows the lyrics by heart as they were composed as a way of testing Leão's own musical abilities. She then goes on to ask Nonó whether she has learned the song in order to sing it wherever she finds an opportunity to help spread the word about Leão's talent. As the song progresses, Leão reveals that she is still relatively unknown in the music industry, and explains how Nonó's connections and support could give her the boost she badly needs.

The second verse suggests that Leão is living in trying circumstances, as she mentions a "barraco" (hut) and "ragu" (a cheap meat sauce). She then goes on to dream of owning a car, but acknowledges that fame and fortune would be more than enough for her. Her promise to share her earnings with her friend highlights the importance she places on their bond, and gives the song a sense of sincerity and depth. The lyrics are simple and heartfelt, and Leão's gentle voice and acoustic guitar make for a soothing, memorable performance.

Line by Line Meaning

Nonó
Title of the song

Você já sabe de cor
You already know by heart

Minha mais nova canção
My newest song

Composta só para fazer o 'check up'
Composed just to do a check up

Na minha capacidade musical
On my musical ability

Cal, cal, cal, cal
Shh, shh, shh, shh (asking for silence)

Mas a razão pela qual eu lhe pergunto
But the reason why I ask you

Se já conseguiu decorar
If you already managed to memorize

É pra você cantar
It's for you to sing

Onde puder e tiver chance
Wherever you can and have the opportunity

Pra me divulgar
To spread the word about me