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.
Perder e Ganhar
Paulinho da Viola Lyrics
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Agora quero prosseguir em paz
Tanto que falei, voltei
Mas obrigar jamais
Fazer o que eu fiz
Nem adianta contar
Tudo de bom pra você
Eu desejo porque
Sei perder e ganhar
Felicidade há de voltar para mim
Vou me livrar da tristeza
Com toda certeza
Um dia ela pode ter fim
In the song Perder e Ganhar by Paulinho Da Viola, the singer is acknowledging a recent loss but expressing a desire to move on and find peace. The lyrics suggest that despite having made mistakes, the singer accepts their consequences and is willing to let go of the past. They also express a wish for the person they are addressing to receive good things, despite any negative feelings between them. The chorus then brings in a note of hope, stating that happiness will return to the singer eventually and that they will overcome their present sadness.
The emotions conveyed by the lyrics are supported by the song's instrumentation, which features a slow and melancholy rhythm that gradually increases in intensity as the song progresses. This builds towards the triumphant final lines of the chorus, which are sung with more energy and volume than the rest of the song. These lines emphasize the singer's determination to overcome their sadness and find happiness again.
Overall, the lyrics and music of Perder e Ganhar work together to create a complex emotional landscape that reflects the ups and downs of life. The song acknowledges the pain of loss and the difficulties of moving on, but also emphasizes the importance of hope and the possibility of a brighter future.
Line by Line Meaning
Perdi mas uma vez
I lost again
Agora quero prosseguir em paz
Now I want to move on in peace
Tanto que falei, voltei
As much as I spoke, I came back
Mas obrigar jamais
But never force
Fazer o que eu fiz
To do what I did
Nem adianta contar
It's no use telling
Tudo de bom pra você
All the best to you
Eu desejo porque
I wish because
Sei perder e ganhar
I know how to lose and win
Felicidade há de voltar para mim
Happiness will come back to me
Vou me livrar da tristeza
I'll get rid of the sadness
Com toda certeza
With all certainty
Um dia ela pode ter fim
One day it may come to an end
Contributed by Nolan L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.