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.

Samba do avião
Nara Leão Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Minha alma canta
Vejo o Rio de Janeiro
Estou morrendo de saudade
Rio, seu mar
Praia sem fim
Rio, você foi feito prá mim
Cristo Redentor
Braços abertos sobre a Guanabara

Este samba é só porque
Rio, eu gosto de você
A morena vai sambar
Seu corpo todo balançar
Rio de sol, de céu, de mar
Dentro de mais um minuto estaremos no Galeão
Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro

Cristo Redentor
Braços abertos sobre a Guanabara
Este samba é só porque
Rio, eu gosto de você
A morena vai sambar
Seu corpo todo balançar
Aperte o cinto, vamos chegar
Água brilhando, olha a pista chegando

E vamos nós
Aterrar...

Overall Meaning

The lyrics in Nara Leão's song "Samba do avião" express the singer's love and longing for Rio de Janeiro. It begins with her soul singing and her seeing the beautiful city of Rio. She expresses her sadness of being away from the city and missing its endless beaches and vast sea. The lyrics also touch on the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue with its open arms above the Guanabara Bay. Despite the longing, the samba is a celebration of the city and the singer's love for it. She speaks of a brunette woman who will samba and move to the rhythm of the city. As the song comes to an end, she mentions the flight landing and the excitement of coming back to Rio de Janeiro.

The lyrics of "Samba do avião" not only show Nara Leão's love for Rio de Janeiro but also capture the essence of the city, its warmth, and vibrancy. It's a love letter to the city, celebrating everything that makes Rio so unique and captivating.

Line by Line Meaning

Minha alma canta
My soul sings out

Vejo o Rio de Janeiro
I see Rio de Janeiro

Estou morrendo de saudade
I'm dying of homesickness

Rio, seu mar
Rio, your sea

Praia sem fim
Endless beaches

Rio, você foi feito prá mim
Rio, you were made for me

Cristo Redentor
Christ the Redeemer

Braços abertos sobre a Guanabara
Arms open over Guanabara Bay

Este samba é só porque
This samba is just because

Rio, eu gosto de você
Rio, I like you

A morena vai sambar
The brunette will samba

Seu corpo todo balançar
Her entire body will sway

Rio de sol, de céu, de mar
Rio of sun, sky, and sea

Dentro de mais um minuto estaremos no Galeão
In less than a minute we'll be at Galeão airport

Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro

Cristo Redentor
Christ the Redeemer

Braços abertos sobre a Guanabara
Arms open over Guanabara Bay

Este samba é só porque
This samba is just because

Rio, eu gosto de você
Rio, I like you

A morena vai sambar
The brunette will samba

Seu corpo todo balançar
Her entire body will sway

Aperte o cinto, vamos chegar
Fasten your seatbelt, we're arriving

Água brilhando, olha a pista chegando
Water sparkling, look the runway is coming

E vamos nós
And here we go

Aterrar...
Landing...

Writer(s): Antonio Carlos Jobim Copyright: Corcovado Music Corporation, Suvini Zerboni Ed. Spa.

Contributed by Jason O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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