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
Verdade De Feirante
O Rappa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Onde está?
Onde está?
Onde está?
(Repete 4 x)
Onde está minha parte da verdade, diz
Meio suja, meio de achaque
Casa pequena de pau, casa pequena de pau de rebite
Calafate de arame, calafate de arame de plastik
Casa pequena de pau, casa pequena de pau de rebite
Tá no grito, tá no sol que bate
Tá no rito, tá no sol que arde
Tá na rua em desespero
Tá no choro, tá no tiro, tá no medo
Tá no dedo, tá no dedo
Sempre apontado pra cara do X9
Tá deitado no chão, falando o que pode
No choro, no tiro, no medo,
Falando o que pode,
Tá no dedo apontado pra cara do X9
Onde está minha paz e a verdade de pescador,
Que toca viola, e bebe cachaça, e cidra barata, barata, barata
Que debaixo do sol, sob a barraca
Feia freguesia, segue bonita a vida
Que debaixo do sol, sob a barraca
Bonita freguesia, segue a vida
Debaixo do sol, sob a barraca
Feia freguesia, segue a vida
Debaixo do sol
Tá no grito, tá no grito ô
Tá no sol que arde, êê
Tá no rito, tá... tá no sol que arde
Onde está?
Onde está?
Onde está?
Onde está?
Onde está?
Onde está?
Onde está?
Onde está? (tá no sol que arde)
Onde está?
Onde está?
Onde está?
Onde está? (tá no sol que arde)
Onde está?
Onde está?
Onde está?
Onde está?
Não tenho
Não tenho
Não tenho mão digital
Minha vida é sem graça, quase cópia
Produtor-camelô, de birosca
Cd pirata no mundo igualzinho
Eu sou igual meus pais, cd pirata no mundo
Eu digo pra você, igualzinho
Minha vida é sem graça, quase cópia
Produtor-camelô, de birosca
Cd, no mundo igualzinho, ei, ei, ei
Cd pirata no mundo, tudo copiadinho
By Led Bruns
The song "Verdade de Féirante" by O Rappa talks about the search for truth and peace in the midst of chaos and desperation in the life of a street vendor - "féirante". The repeated phrase "Onde está?" ("Where is it?") represents the search for something that seems to be missing or elusive. The vendor asks about his "parte da verdade" ("part of the truth"), which he describes as being "meio suja, meio de achaque" ("half dirty, half bribed"). He also mentions the "casa pequena de pau de rebite" ("small house made of rivet wood") and the "calafate de arame de plastik" ("plastic wire caulker"), which are metaphors for the precarious and improvised life of the street vendor.
The lyrics also allude to the violence and fear that are part of his daily life, as he references the "tiro" (gunshot) and the "dedo apontado pra cara do X9" (finger pointed at the face of the snitch). The mention of the "paz e verdade de pescador" ("peace and truth of a fisherman") who plays his guitar and drinks cheap alcohol under the sun, represents the search for a simpler and more authentic life.
Overall, the lyrics of "Verdade de Féirante" depict the struggle of the marginalized, and their search for truth, justice, and peace amidst the chaos of the streets.
Line by Line Meaning
Onde está?
Asking where his portion of truth is.
Onde está minha parte da verdade, diz
He demands where his portion of truth is.
Meio suja, meio de achaque
His truth is tarnished and flawed.
Calafate de arame, calafate de arame de plastik
He's living in a makeshift home.
Casa pequena de pau, casa pequena de pau de rebite
His home is constructed from cheap materials.
Tá no grito, tá no sol que bate
Truth is found in screaming and being exposed to the sun.
Tá no rito, tá no sol que arde
It's found in religious practices and the burning sun.
Tá na rua em desespero
Truth is found in chaotic street life.
Tá no choro, tá no tiro, tá no medo
It's found in tears, gunshots, and fear.
Tá no dedo, tá no dedo
Truth is pointed towards the face of those who betray him.
Sempre apontado pra cara do X9
Truth is used to reveal those who reveal his secrets.
Tá deitado no chão, falando o que pode
Truth is found in being vulnerable and revealing secrets while lying on the ground.
No choro, no tiro, no medo,
It's found in pain, violence, and fear.
Falando o que pode,
Revealing everything he knows.
Onde está minha paz e a verdade de pescador,
He longs for peace and a fisherman's truth.
Que toca viola, e bebe cachaça, e cidra barata, barata, barata
The truth he seeks is that of a simple life playing guitar and drinking cheap alcohol.
Que debaixo do sol, sob a barraca
He seeks truth in the scorching heat under a tent.
Feia freguesia, segue bonita a vida
Ugly scenery, yet a life worth living.
Debaixo do sol, sob a barraca
He seeks truth under the same burning sun.
Bonita freguesia, segue a vida
Even more so, in the beautiful life he lives.
Debaixo do sol, sob a barraca
Again, seeking truth under the overwhelming sun.
Feia freguesia, segue a vida
Still, despite the rough surroundings, he finds truth in his life.
Não tenho
He has nothing.
Não tenho mão digital
He doesn't have digital talent.
Minha vida é sem graça, quase cópia
His life is dull and unoriginal.
Produtor-camelô, de birosca
He's a bootleg producer selling his wares.
Cd pirata no mundo igualzinho
He produces counterfeit CDs for the world.
Eu sou igual meus pais, cd pirata no mundo
He follows in his parents' footsteps making counterfeit CDs.
Eu digo pra você, igualzinho
His life is just the same as his CDs: a cheap imitation.
Minha vida é sem graça, quase cópia
A boring, copied existence.
Produtor-camelô, de birosca
A bootleg producer with a small shop.
Cd, no mundo igualzinho, ei, ei, ei
He produces counterfeit CDs for the world.
Cd pirata no mundo, tudo copiadinho
They're all cheap copies in the world of counterfeit CDs.
Writer(s): MARCELO LOBATO, MARCELO FALCAO CUSTODIO, MARCOS LOBATO, LAURO JOSE DE FARIAS, ALEXANDRE MENEZES
Contributed by Ethan P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.