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.
Ironia
Paulinho Da Viola Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Um sorriso de ironia
Sabem que a minha alegria
Terminou
Quero fugir não consigo
Sinto meu peito ferido
Envolvido por esse amor
Que perdi minha alegria
Meu amor me disse adeus
Não sei como alguém fica contente
Quando sabe que a gente
Não esquece o que perdeu
The lyrics in Paulinho Da Viola's song Ironia (Irony) tell the tale of a man who is experiencing heartbreak, and the people around him are mocking him for it. They smile at him with irony, taunting him and knowing that his joy has come to an end. The singer wants to escape from this situation, but he cannot, and his heart is wounded by the love he has lost. This feeling is evident on his face, which reveals that he has lost his happiness.
The second verse continues with the same theme, as the singer laments the fact that his love has said goodbye to him. He cannot understand how someone could be happy knowing that someone else is suffering from a broken heart. It's a sad and poignant message that resonates with anyone who has experienced the pain of a broken relationship. The song seems to emphasize the idea that sometimes people find joy in the pain of others, and this irony can be cruel and unfeeling.
Line by Line Meaning
Jogam pra mim
They throw at me
Um sorriso de ironia
A sarcastic smile
Sabem que a minha alegria
They know that my happiness
Terminou
Has come to an end
Quero fugir não consigo
I want to run away but I can't
Sinto meu peito ferido
I feel my heart wounded
Envolvido por esse amor
Surrounded by this love
Algo no meu rosto denuncia
Something in my face gives away
Que perdi minha alegria
That I've lost my happiness
Meu amor me disse adeus
My love said goodbye to me
Não sei como alguém fica contente
I don't know how someone can be happy
Quando sabe que a gente
When they know that we
Não esquece o que perdeu
Don't forget what we've lost
Contributed by Elliot D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.