Noted for the extraordinary precision of the vocalists' intonation and delivery, the quartet performed and recorded with almost every single major Brazilian artist of the '60s and '70s; their popularity exceeded and still exceeds the borders of their native country. They met with great success in America in the mid-sixties, and have a considerable following in Japan, where they still tour regularly.
They started performing in 1959, appearing on local television in that year. Cyva, the leader of the group, then moved to Rio de Janeiro, and persuaded her three sisters to join her there. They then started to make regular appearances in the boates (small nightclubs) of Rio, particularly Bottle's bar and the legendary Zum-Zum, where they caught the attention of Vinicius de Moraes and other prominent figures of the bossa nova scene. Their first album was released in 1964, and was to be followed by regular releases up to the late '90s, at the frequency of one a year, and sometimes more.
In the late 1960s, the group achieved international success under the title The Girls from Bahia, having undergone changes in its original composition. The first modification happened in 1966, when the youngest sister, Cylene, left the group to marry, getting replaced by Regina Werneck. Later, sisters Cynara and Cybele left the group to form a brief succesful duo that won, in 1968, the III Festival Internacional da Canção. Both got replaced by Sonia Ferreira and Semíramis Rubim, remaining only Cyva from the original formation, but despite the success of the duo, Cynara decided to rejoin the Quartet in the place of Semíramis. After a brief hiatus, the group resumed its activities in 1972 with the singers Cyva, Cynara, Sonia, and recently added member Dorinha Tapajós (replacing Regina). In 1980 Dorinha left for health reasons and was replaced by Cybele, who remained in the group until 2013 and was replaced by Keyla Fogaça, by her own indication. On 21 August 2014, at the age of 74, Cybele died of a lung ischemia at her home in Rio de Janeiro. Since then, after periods of work, Sonia and Keyla left the quartet, adding Corina Viana into the group.
The group's voices have transited through notable Brazilian music composers such as Vinícius de Moraes, Toquinho, Dorival Caymmi, Chico Buarque, Tom Jobim and many others. Their phonographic recordings have been released on more than 30 records - both in Brazil and abroad. With a solid and unwavering career for fifty years, Quarteto em Cy remains one of the most remarkable and expressive vocal groups in the history of MPB.
Carta Ao Tom 74
Quarteto Em Cy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
E você ensinando pra Elizete
As canções de canção do amor demais
Lembra que tempo feliz, ai que saudade
Ipanema era só felicidade
Era como se o amor doesse em paz
Nossa famosa garota nem sabia
Este Rio de amor que se perdeu
Mesmo a tristeza da gente era mais bela
E além disso se via da janela
Um cantinho de céu e o Redentor
É, meu amigo, só resta uma certeza
É preciso acabar com essa tristeza
É preciso inventar de novo o amor
Rua Nascimento Silva, cento e sete
E você ensinando pra Elizete
As canções de canção do amor demais
Lembra que tempo feliz, ai que saudade
Ipanema era só felicidade
Era como se o amor doesse em paz
Nossa famosa garota nem sabia
A que ponto a cidade turvaria
Este Rio de amor que se perdeu
Mesmo a tristeza da gente era mais bela
E além disso se via da janela
Um cantinho de céu e o Redentor
É, meu amigo, só resta uma certeza
É preciso acabar com essa tristeza
É preciso inventar de novo o amor
The lyrics of Quarteto Em Cy's song "Carta Ao Tom 74" depict nostalgia for the past and a longing to return to a time when love felt pure and peaceful. The song is addressed to Tom Jobim, one of Brazil's most famous composers, who had a close relationship with the Quarteto Em Cy. The opening lines mention a specific address in Rio de Janeiro, "Rua Nascimento Silva, cento e sete," where Tom apparently taught Elizete Cardoso the songs for her album "Canção do Amor Demais." The nostalgia is clear in the following lines, with the singers remembering a time when Ipanema was full of happiness and love, and the fact that even sadness was more beautiful back then. The Redentor (Christ the Redeemer statue) is mentioned as a symbol of hope and beauty in the city, contrasting with the sad reality of a lost love.
The final lines of the song call for a change, for an attempt to rediscover the love that once was. It is a call that can be interpreted in one of two ways: as a political message, with the Quarteto Em Cy urging for an end to the military dictatorship that ruled Brazil at the time of the song's release, or as a more personal message, with the singers simply longing for a return to the past and to the innocent love that once was.
Line by Line Meaning
Rua Nascimento Silva, cento e sete
Refers to a specific address where certain events took place
E você ensinando pra Elizete
Refers to a specific person teaching another person something
As canções de canção do amor demais
Refers to a specific type of song being taught
Lembra que tempo feliz, ai que saudade
Reminiscing about a happy time in the past
Ipanema era só felicidade
Describes a location as being filled with happiness
Era como se o amor doesse em paz
Describes a feeling of love being peaceful despite its intensity
Nossa famosa garota nem sabia
Refers to a famous girl who was unaware of something
A que ponto a cidade turvaria
Reflects on how the city has changed over time and lost its essence
Este Rio de amor que se perdeu
Refers to the city losing its romantic vibe
Mesmo a tristeza da gente era mais bela
Even the sadness experienced back then seemed beautiful in comparison to the current state of things
E além disso se via da janela
One could see a beautiful view from the window
Um cantinho de céu e o Redentor
Describes the view as having a small piece of heaven and the Redeemer statue
É, meu amigo, só resta uma certeza
The singer expresses a sense of certainty
É preciso acabar com essa tristeza
The singer suggests a need to end the current state of sadness
É preciso inventar de novo o amor
The singer suggests a need to reinvent the feeling of love
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Vinicius De Moraes, Antonio Pecci Filho Toquinho
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
TASSIARO TASSIARO
Pessoas da minha idade não curtem muito,mas eu amo de paixão ❤️❤️
Camila Cruz
Rua Nascimento Silva, 107
E você ensinando pra Elizeth
As canções de Canção do Amor Demais
Lembra que tempo feliz?
Ai, que saudade
Ipanema era só felicidade
Era como se o amor doesse em paz
Nossa famosa garota nem sabia
A que ponto a cidade turvaria
Esse Rio de amor, que se perdeu
Mesmo a tristeza da gente era mais bela
E, além disso, se via da janela
Um cantinho de céu e o Redentor
É, meu amigo, só resta uma certeza
É preciso acabar com essa tristeza
É preciso inventar de novo o amor
Rua Nascimento Silva, 107
E você ensinando pra Elizeth
As canções de Canção do Amor Demais
Lembra que tempo feliz?
Ai, que saudade
Ipanema era só felicidade
Era como se o amor doesse em paz
Nossa famosa garota nem sabia
A que ponto a cidade turvaria
Esse Rio de amor, que se perdeu
Mesmo a tristeza da gente era mais bela
E, além disso, se via da janela
Um cantinho de céu e o Redentor
É, meu amigo, só resta uma certeza
É preciso acabar com essa tristeza
É preciso inventar de novo o amor
Tácio Belizário
Linda melodia!
Nathan
Perfect! Me encanta.
Carlos Reganati
Simplesmente MARAVILHOSA CANÇÃO E EXECUÇÃO!
Carlos Nascimento
Me emociono sempre...ouvindo essa gravacao...
flavioreis_66
Perfeita
Newton Henriques Magalhães Júnior
LINDA