Current Formation
* Marcelo Falcão - vocals
* Xandão (Alexandre Menezes) - guitars
* Lauro Farias - bass
* Nelson Meirelles - keyboards
* Marcelo Lobato- drums
Origins
O Rappa got their start in 1993, when Jamaican reggae artist Papa Winnie arrived in Brazil for a series of show and needed a back up band to support him. Four people were immediately picked: Nelson Meirelles, a well-known Rio de Janeiro indie producer; Marcelo Lobato, former member of África Gumbe; Alexandre (Xandão) Menezes, a musician with African influences; and Marcelo Yuka, a prolific songwriter and member of KMD-5 at the time. After the shows with Winnie, the foursome decided to keep the band going and added a vocalist and fifth member, Marcelo Falcão, recruited through an ad in Rio’s main newspaper. In 1994, they released their first album, O Rappa, on the Warner label.
Tragedy
In 2001, Marcelo Lobato who was originally on keyboard had to take over drum duties after the band’s original drummer and main songwriter, Marcelo Yuka, was shot multiple times during a robbery near his house in Rio, which severely compromised movement in both his legs and one of his arms. Yuka has been the biggest contributor of the band's social projects for years, even after turning paralytic. He is currently working on other music projects such as F.Ur.T.O.
Discography
* O Rappa - 1994
* Rappa Mundi - 1996
* Lado B Lado A (Side B, Side A) - 1999
* Instinto Coletivo - ao vivo (Collective Instinct - Live) - 2001
* O Silêncio Que Precede o Esporro (The Silence Before the Scolding) - 2003
* Lual MTV - 2004
* Acústico MTV (MTV Unplugged) - 2005
* 7 Vezes - 2008
Na Palma Da Mão
O Rappa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pegou sua viola e tocou pro povo
Pro povo do crime
Que foi chegando e colocando
As suas armas devagar no chão
O mesmo chão que guarda o sangue
O mesmo chão de correrias
O mesmo chão de tantas famílias
Na palma da mão pra aliviar
O negro brilhou e ajudou
Aquelas almas distorcidas pela guerra
Só com a viola, só com a voz
Só com a viola suas idéias
Onegro falou e falou alto
Inspirou uma calma
E misteriosamente alegre é
Sufocando o pior dos bandidos
E em troca deixou lágrimas
Nos olhos do artista
Lágrimas, lágrimas
Na palma da mão pra aliviar
Hoje mesmo, hoje
Quando o barulho dos tiros sinalizam
O que acontece por lá
Uma comunicação silenciosa
Se faz com a memória das armas no chão
Por algum momento
Ganhando outra missão
"Na Palma da Mão" by O Rappa tells the story of a black musician who goes to the top of a hill to play his guitar for the people of the crime-infested community down below. As he plays, people slowly come down from the hill with their guns and place them gently on the ground. The same ground that has seen so much violence and has taken the blood of many families. The musician, with just his voice and guitar, calms everyone down and brings them together to enjoy the music. He manages to inspire calmness and joy in a place where chaos and violence reign.
The song is a powerful commentary on the impact of art in society. It highlights the power of music and how it can bring people together, even in the most violent and hopeless of environments. The black musician represents hope and unity in a place where there is none. He brings people together and helps them forget about their troubles, if only for a little while.
Overall, "Na Palma da Mão" is a beautiful and moving song that speaks to the power of music and the human spirit. It's a powerful social commentary that highlights the need for unity and togetherness in the face of violence and despair.
Line by Line Meaning
O negro pisou no topo do morro
A black person walked up to the top of the hill.
Pegou sua viola e tocou pro povo
He picked up his guitar and played for the people.
Pro povo do crime
For the people in crime.
Que foi chegando e colocando
They came and started placing.
As suas armas devagar no chão
Their weapons slowly on the ground.
O mesmo chão que guarda o sangue
The same ground that holds the blood.
O mesmo chão de correrias
The same ground of running.
O mesmo chão de tantas famílias
The same ground of so many families.
Que hoje batucam o mesmo som
Who today drum to the same beat.
Na palma da mão pra aliviar
In the palm of the hand to alleviate.
O negro brilhou e ajudou
The black person shone and helped.
Aquelas almas distorcidas pela guerra
Those souls distorted by war.
Só com a viola, só com a voz
Only with the guitar, only with the voice.
Só com a viola suas idéias
Only with the guitar, his ideas.
O negro falou e falou alto
The black person spoke and spoke loudly.
Inspirou uma calma
Inspired a calmness.
E misteriosamente alegre é
And mysteriously happy it is.
Sufocando o pior dos bandidos
Suffocating the worst of the bandits.
E em troca deixou lágrimas
And in return left tears.
Nos olhos do artista
In the artist's eyes.
Lágrimas, lágrimas
Tears, tears.
Na palma da mão pra aliviar
In the palm of the hand to alleviate.
Hoje mesmo, hoje
Today, today.
Quando o barulho dos tiros sinalizam
When the sound of gunshots signal.
O que acontece por lá
What happens over there.
Uma comunicação silenciosa
A silent communication.
Se faz com a memória das armas no chão
Is made with the memory of the weapons on the ground.
Por algum momento
For some time.
Ganhando outra missão
Gaining another mission.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALEXANDRE MENEZES, ALEXANDRE MONTE DE MENEZES, LAURO JOSE DE FARIAS, MARCELO LOBATO, MARCELO DE CAMPOS LOBATO, MARCELO FALCAO CUSTODIO, MARCELO FONTES DO NASCIMENTO SANTANA, MARCELO FONTES DO NASCIMENTO VI SANTANA
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