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.
Vai Amigo
Paulinho da Viola Lyrics
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E diga-me por favor
Que não sei o que faço que já nem sei quem sou
Diga-me que terminou
Toda aquela vaidade e que sinto saudade
Quero amá-la com mais fervor
Lembro-me bem
Um dia eu lhe disse uma grande tolice e nosso lar deixei
Só não sofre quem não ama
Pra amenizar meu castigo só você poderá, amigo.
The lyrics of Paulinho Da Viola's song Vai Amigo are heart-wrenching as they express the singer's regret and pain over a lost love. The singer implores his friend to tell him that he is not alone in feeling lost and confused, that he is not alone in his suffering. The singer remembers leaving his home and his love because of his own foolishness and vanity, and now he regrets it deeply. He wants to love her more than ever, but he cannot without her forgiveness and understanding. He acknowledges that everyone has their own struggles and heartbreaks, but that only his love can ease the pain that he feels. The song is a beautiful expression of the complex emotions that come with lost love and the difficult path to redemption.
Overall, Vai Amigo is a reminder of the power and poignancy of Brazilian music, and a testament to the talent of its creators. The song has been beloved by listeners for decades, and its lyrics are a testament to the deep emotional connection that music can create.
Line by Line Meaning
Vai amigo
Go, my friend
E diga-me por favor
And please tell me
Que não sei o que faço que já nem sei quem sou
That I don't know what I'm doing and I've lost myself
Diga-me que terminou
Tell me it's over
Toda aquela vaidade e que sinto saudade
All that vanity is gone and I miss it
Quero amá-la com mais fervor
I want to love her with more passion
Lembro-me bem
I remember well
Um dia eu lhe disse uma grande tolice e nosso lar deixei
One day I said a big foolishness and left our home
Todos tem o seu drama
Everyone has their own drama
Só não sofre quem não ama
Only those who don't love don't suffer
Pra amenizar meu castigo só você poderá, amigo.
Only you, my friend, can ease my punishment.
Contributed by Arianna J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Leandro Caori
Albúns incríveis que não estão no Spotify
Lucas Bessa
Ficha Técnica
Diretor de produção: Milton Miranda
Diretor musical: Lyrio Panicali
Assistente de produção: Hermínio Bello de Carvalho
Orquestradores e regentes: Maestros Nelsinho e Lindolfo Gaya
Diretor técnico: Z. J. Merky
Técnico de gravação: Zilmar e Nivaldo
Técnico de laboratório: Reny R. Lippi
Lay out e foto: Pedro de Moraes
Sandra Duarte
Meu 👦.
Pedro Henrique
Essa música é de autoria também do cartola ?
Hector Borderas-Ochoa
Sim