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.
Minha Namorada
Quarteto Em Cy Lyrics
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Todo mundo de repente ficou lindo
Ficou lindo
Eu hoje estou me rindo
Nem eu mesma sei de que
Porque eu recebi
Uma cartinhazinha de você
Ah, que linda namorada
Você poderia ser
Se quiser ser somente minha
Exatamente essa coisinha
Essa coisa toda minha
Que ninguém mais pode ser
Você tem que me fazer um juramento
De só ter um pensamento
Ser só minha até morrer
E também de não perder
Esse jeitinho de falar devagarinho
Essas histórias de você
E de repente me fazer muito carinho
E chorar bem de mansinho
Sem ninguém saber porquê
E se mais do que minha namorada
Você quer ser minha amada
Minha amada, mas amada pra valer
Aquela amada pelo amor predestinada
Sem a qual a vida é nada
Sem a qual se quer morrer
Você tem que vir comigo em meu caminho
E talvez o meu caminho seja triste pra você
Os seus olhos tem que ser só dos meus olhos
Os seus braços o meu ninho
No silêncio de depois
E você tem que ser a estrela derradeira
Minha amiga e companheira
No infinito de nós dois
The lyrics to Quarteto Em Cy's "Minha Namorada" describe the joy and contentment that the singer feels upon receiving a letter from their lover. They feel that suddenly, everyone around them appears beautiful, and they cannot contain their happiness. The singer then tells their lover that they can be their girlfriend, but only if they make a promise to love only them for life, maintain their soft and slow way of speaking, share their stories, and comfort them when they cry without explanation. The song also suggests that if the lover wants to be more than just a girlfriend and be an "amada," a true love, they must come on the singer's journey, even if it is a difficult one, become the star of the singer's universe, and be their friend and companion in the endless infinity of their love.
These lyrics suggest a deep sense of commitment and faithfulness in a romantic relationship. The singer desires not just a casual girlfriend but someone who is devoted to them, both emotionally and physically. However, they also acknowledge that true love is not easy, and the journey may be rough, but it is worth it to have someone to share it with. The song expresses a desire for a deep and lasting connection that is built on trust, intimacy, and love.
Line by Line Meaning
Meu poeta eu hoje estou contente
Today, I am happy, my poet
Todo mundo de repente ficou lindo
Everyone suddenly seems beautiful
Ficou lindo
Everything looks stunning
Eu hoje estou me rindo
Today, I am laughing
Nem eu mesma sei de que
I do not even know why
Porque eu recebi
Maybe because I received
Uma cartinhazinha de você
A little letter from you
Se você quer ser minha namorada
If you want to be my girlfriend
Ah, que linda namorada
Oh, what a lovely girlfriend
Você poderia ser
You could be
Se quiser ser somente minha
If you want to be mine only
Exatamente essa coisinha
Exactly this little thing
Essa coisa toda minha
This thing that belongs only to me
Que ninguém mais pode ser
That no one else can be
Você tem que me fazer um juramento
You have to make a vow to me
De só ter um pensamento
To only have one thought
Ser só minha até morrer
To be only mine until death
E também de não perder
And also to not lose
Esse jeitinho de falar devagarinho
That little way of speaking softly
Essas histórias de você
Those stories about you
E de repente me fazer muito carinho
And suddenly give me much affection
E chorar bem de mansinho
And cry quietly
Sem ninguém saber porquê
Without anyone knowing why
E se mais do que minha namorada
And if you want to be more than my girlfriend
Você quer ser minha amada
You want to be my lover
Minha amada, mas amada pra valer
My lover, truly beloved
Aquela amada pelo amor predestinada
That lover destined by love
Sem a qual a vida é nada
Without whom life is nothing
Sem a qual se quer morrer
Without whom one would want to die
Você tem que vir comigo em meu caminho
You have to come with me on my path
E talvez o meu caminho seja triste pra você
And perhaps my path may be sad for you
Os seus olhos tem que ser só dos meus olhos
Your eyes have to be only for my eyes
Os seus braços o meu ninho
Your arms, my nest
No silêncio de depois
In the silence of afterwards
E você tem que ser a estrela derradeira
And you have to be the ultimate star
Minha amiga e companheira
My friend and companion
No infinito de nós dois
In the infinity of us two
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Carlos Eduardo Lyra Barbosa, Vinicius De Moraes
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind