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.
Miudinho
Paulinho Da Viola Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ô devagar miudinho, devagarinho
Ô devagar, ô devagar, ô devagar, ô devagar
Ô devagar miudinho, devagarinho
Ô devagar miudinho, devagarinho
Ô devagar, ô devagar, ô devagar, ô devagar
Se você quer carinho eu ′tô de prontidão
Se você quer carinho eu 'tô de prontidão
Ô devagar miudinho, devagarinho
Ô devagar miudinho, devagarinho
Ô devagar, ô devagar, ô devagar, ô devagar
Ô devagar miudinho, devagarinho
Ô devagar miudinho, devagarinho
Ô devagar, ô devagar, ô devagar, ô devagar
Monarco!
Se eu soubesse eu tinha me preparado
Penteava meu cabelo, tinha meu quarto arrumado
Penteava meu cabelo, tinha meu quarto arrumado devagar
Ô devagar miudinho, devagarinho
Ô devagar miudinho, devagarinho
Ô devagar, ô devagar, ô devagar, ô devagar
Ô devagar miudinho, devagarinho
Ô devagar miudinho, devagarinho
Ô devagar, ô devagar, ô devagar, ô devagar
Você...
Você meu bem assim se rebolando
Nessa maneira está me tentando
Dessa maneira está me matando devagar
Ô devagar miudinho, devagarinho
Ô devagar miudinho, devagarinho
Ô devagar, ô devagar, ô devagar, ô devagar
Ô devagar miudinho, devagarinho
Ô devagar miudinho, devagarinho
Ô devagar, ô devagar, ô devagar, ô devagar
Raul!
Eu canto samba ma′ não é por valentia
É uma prova de amizade que eu tenho pela orgia
É uma prova de amizade que eu tenho pela orgia (é devagar)
Ô devagar miudinho, devagarinho
Ô devagar miudinho, devagarinho
Ô devagar, ô devagar, ô devagar, ô devagar
Ô devagar miudinho, devagarinho
Ô devagar miudinho, devagarinho
Ô devagar, ô devagar, ô devagar, ô devagar
Ô devagar miudinho, devagarinho...
The song "Miudinho" by Paulinho da Viola is a beautiful, slow-paced samba that talks about the power of small, subtle movements. The phrase "devagar miudinho" is repeated throughout the song and means "slowly, small." The lyrics seem to suggest that it is through these little movements that we can show someone our affection and seduce them.
The opening verses set the tone for the rest of the song, with Paulinho da Viola's voice accompanied by gentle percussion and guitar. He sings, "If you want money, I don't have it / If you want affection, I'm ready / Slowly, small, slowly." The lyrics continue to focus on the idea of seduction through subtle movements and gestures, with references to combing hair, arranging a room, and swaying hips.
The song is a masterful example of the poetic power of samba, with its emphasis on rhythm, melody, and lyricism. It is a testament to the importance of paying attention to the details in life, and not rushing through things. The song encourages us to slow down and appreciate the beauty in the small things.
Line by Line Meaning
Ô devagar miudinho, devagarinho
Slowly and gently, with care and attention
Ô devagar, ô devagar, ô devagar, ô devagar
Repeatedly emphasizing the need to take things gradually
Se você quer dinheiro eu não tenho não
If you're looking for money, I don't have any
Se você quer carinho eu ′tô de prontidão
But if you're looking for affection, I'm ready and willing to give it
Monarco!
A shout-out to fellow musician Monarco
Se eu soubesse eu tinha me preparado
If only I had known, I would have prepared myself
Penteava meu cabelo, tinha meu quarto arrumado
I would have groomed myself and tidied up my room
Você...
Addressing the object of the singer's affection
Você meu bem assim se rebolando
You, my love, moving your body like that
Nessa maneira está me tentando
You're tempting me with your movements
Dessa maneira está me matando devagar
Slowly but surely, you're driving me crazy
Raul!
Another shout-out, this time to musician Raul Seixas
Eu canto samba ma′ não é por valentia
I sing samba not out of bravado
É uma prova de amizade que eu tenho pela orgia
It's a demonstration of my friendship and enjoyment of the party atmosphere
Ô devagar miudinho, devagarinho...
Reasserting the need to take things slowly and gently
Writer(s): Bucy Moreira, Raul Marques
Contributed by Isaiah E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
BRAULIO JONNY
Escutar essas "MODERNIDADES" Chamadas de 'Modinhas', como funk, pagode de grupinhos sem letras como exemplo: Pixote, sorriso maroto, Tiaguinho, forrós universitários juntos com sertanejos e outros mais. Pra mim é até uma ofensa! Isso ai é que é música Brasileiro, o mais puro e refinado Samba com Paulinho da viola, Carlos cachaça, Dona Ivone Lara dentre tantos outros da antiga!!!!
Waldemar José Sá de Azevedo
Muito marcante!
Kiko Costa
Falou um monte de titica hein! Tbm à 8 anos atrás a Presidenta falava muito mais.
Marcos Aurelio
@Yelareese pra vc muda,pra quem gosta de música de verdade na muda nada não
Yelareese
vale lembrar que cada arte é expressada de diferentes modos são tempos diferentes entre Paulinho da viola e pixote… o tempo muda as coisas meu caro irmão
Cesar Neves
O ultimo idolo.
Eli Pinto Borges
Atenção pagodeiros demeia-tigela,de meia-pataca da atualidade,aprendam o q é samba de verdade com este mestre de verdade.
Mauricio guiomar sehn Sehn
O problema e que os de meia tigela nao conhecem a historia raiz samba ai se espelham somente naqeles grupos ruins que a midia nos empurra para gosta tipo ferrugem mais e mais aqui no sul poucos gostam paulinho viola e outros sambistas raiz de escolas samba como portela e mangueira e outras deus abencoe o samba partido alto raiz
Gloria Vascocelos
Verdade!! Saudades dr u
Verdadeira partido alto! Lembrado meu pai batucando na caixa de fósforos !
Solange Silva
Sao de quinta categoria aff kkkk