Born in Rio de Janeiro to a family deeply rooted in the samba tradition, Paulinho met and befriended much of Rio's samba elite as a child. His father was a guitar player and musicians like Pixinguinha and Jacob do Bandolim would often come to his house for rehearsals, which Paulinho watched for hours on end. After the rehearsals, Paulinho would pick up his father's guitar and strum the few chords he knew. Later, as a teenager, he was frequently seen at jams at Jacob do Bandolim's house, quietly and attentively observing the older, more experienced musicians. He began writing his own songs as a teenager, but never considered a career as a professional musician until he met poet Hermínio Bello de Carvalho in 1964. By then, Paulinho was working as a teller at a bank in Rio de Janeiro, and recognised Hermínio from the jam sessions at Jacob do Bandolim's house. The two became close friends and soon began writing music together. The first song they wrote together was Duvide-o-dó, recorded by singer Isaurinha Garcia. He then began performing his own songs at a restaurant in Rio, owned by samba legend Cartola and his wife.
He got his famous nickname in 1965, when he was a member of the samba group A Voz do Morro (the voice of the hills), alongside Zé Keti and Oscar Bigode. After their first recording session, a publicist from the record label reportedly told him "'Paulo César' is not a samba name!". Zé Keti and journalist Sérgio Cabral eventually came up with the nickname "Paulinho da Viola" (something to the lines of "Guitar Paul").
By the 1970s, Paulinho was at the most prolific stage of his career, releasing an average of one album per year. He was already a household name in samba, choro and MPB circles and broadened his audience by touring all over Brazil and also playing at festivals in Europe and the USA. His productivity and popularity had waned by the mid-80s, when he decided to focus more on his songwriting. In 1996 he regained notoriety after releasing the much-acclaimed album Bebadosamba, in which he once again joined forces with Hermínio Bello de Carvalho and Elton Medeiros, his early songwriting partners. He still lives in Rio de Janeiro and performs around Brazil.
Argumento
Paulinho Da Viola Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Eu aceito o argumento
Mas não me altere o samba tanto assim
Olha que a rapaziada está sentindo a falta
De um cavaco, de um pandeiro
Ou de um tamborim
Sem preconceito
Sem querer ficar do lado
De quem não quer navegar
Faça como um velho marinheiro
Que durante o nevoeiro
Leva o barco devagar
(fonte: site oficial)
In Paulinho Da Viola's song Argumento, the singer begins by acknowledging and accepting the argument presented to them. However, they have a plea: don't change the samba too much. The "rapaziada," or the group of people enjoying the music, are missing the classic instruments such as the cavaco, pandeiro, and tamborim. The singer understands the desire to change and innovate, but they don't want to lose the essence of the samba that brings people together.
The second verse emphasizes the importance of letting go of prejudices and not clinging on to the past. The singer does not want to be on the side of those who refuse to move forward. Instead, they encourage a slow and steady approach to navigating through the figurative fog, like an experienced sailor.
This song is a beautiful commentary on the balance between innovation and tradition. The message urges the importance of evolution while acknowledging and respecting the roots of the music. It speaks to the heart of the emotions that music can evoke in people and the power it has to bring communities together.
Line by Line Meaning
Tá legal
I understand and acknowledge what you are saying
Eu aceito o argumento
I accept your argument or point of view
Mas não me altere o samba tanto assim
But do not change the essence of samba, its rhythm, and its soul
Olha que a rapaziada está sentindo a falta
You should recognize that the young generation is missing the traditional instruments of samba
De um cavaco, de um pandeiro
Like the sound of the 'cavaco' and 'pandeiro'
Ou de um tamborim
Or the beat of the 'tamborim'
Sem preconceito
Without any bias or prejudice
Ou mania de passado
Without being too nostalgic or obsessed with the past
Sem querer ficar do lado
Without tending to take sides
De quem não quer navegar
From those who are not willing to evolve
Faça como um velho marinheiro
Act like a seasoned sailor
Que durante o nevoeiro
Who, during the fog or uncertain times
Leva o barco devagar
Steers the boat slowly and steadily
Contributed by Claire R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Francisco Ribas
@cleberson florencio dos santos florencio Estão querendo tirar meu nome do samba
Tirar meu tempo de bamba
Dizendo até que eu já me despedi
Mas ainda não chegou minha vez de ir embora
Deixa essa gente falar
É inveja que eles sentem
Estão querendo acabar comigo de vez
Eu não ligo, eu não sou freguês
Vou ficar com meu samba osso duro de roer
É que ainda não chegou minha vez de ir embora
Deixa essa gente falar
É inveja que eles sentem
Canto mais um samba
Que é pra todo mundo ver
A minha bandeira do samba
Deus ajuda a defender
Estão querendo tirar meu nome do samba
Tirar meu tempo de bamba
Dizendo até que eu já me despedi
Mas ainda não chegou minha vez de ir embora
Deixa essa gente falar
É inveja que eles sentem
Estão querendo acabar comigo de vez
Eu não ligo, eu não sou freguês
Vou ficar com meu samba osso duro de roer
É que ainda não chegou minha vez de ir embora
Deixa essa gente falar
É inveja que eles sentem
Canto mais um samba
Que é pra todo mundo ver
A minha bandeira do samba
Deus ajuda a defender
Composição: Benito Di Paula.
Biel Ribeiro
Sim, Paulinho é um dos maiores. Que voz ! Quando ouve-se, sabe-se logo que se trata de Paulinho da Viola.
Antonio lisboa Machado
Paulinho, um dos sambistas mais refinados da nossa música: leve, marcante, autêntico e original. Um dos orgulhos nacionais. Esse argumento, não se tem como não aceitar...
Jorge Dellás Olivas
Essa Música o Paulinho fez para se contrapor elegantemente ao Benito de Paula e o seu samba chapa branca, Charlie Brown, e outros com base no Piano e com a ausência do surdo e dos tamborins. Acho que venceu a razão e o refinamento do Paulinho - o qual eu homenageio em um dos meus Sambas.
João Takanori jamjao
PAULINHO DA VIOLA deveria ser chamar PAULINHO "ORGULHO BRASILEIRO" DA VILA,
como Nat KING Cole, colocou " REI [KING] no nome dele.....
PAULINHO É DEMAISSS......RITMO, VOZ, E COMPOSIÇÃO, lindas LETRAS......isso é que é SER COMPLETO!!!
Carlos Valenzuela
Espectacular!!!! muy buena música! Saludos desde Chile!
Sam A.
I love this song! It has a very positive mood to it. I love Brazilian music
Nero da passione
@Luiz Jobbins Olha o perfil dele antes de vim criticar
Orandir Cardoso
Era garoto em Osvaldo Cruz,via o Paulinho escutando samba no toca discos à pilhas.Que saudades!
José Leandro Meireles
CANÇÃO HISTÓRICA!
C Web
Paulinho é o máximo!! Sem igual!!!!