Rita helped to incorporate the rock revolution into the creative explosion of tropicalismo, formed the most celebrated Brazilian rock band in the world, Os Mutantes, and created solo songs with enormous popular appeal without losing her freedom and irreverence.
Former member of the group Os Mutantes (1966 — 1972) and leader of the band Tutti Frutti (1973 — 1978), Lee participated in important revolutions in the world of music and society, such as the Tropicália movement during the Brazilian dictatorship, which led her to be the artist with the most censored songs in Brazil during that period. Her songs, usually watered with an acid irony or with a claim for female independence and sexual topics, became ubiquitous in the charts. The album, Fruto Proibido (1975), released together with the band Tutti Frutti, is commonly seen as a fundamental milestone in the history of Brazilian rock, considered by some as her masterpiece.
In 1976, Lee began a romantic relationship with guitarist Roberto de Carvalho and since then he has been the partner on most of her songs and accompanied her in all her live performances. They had three children, including Beto Lee, also a guitarist, who accompanies his parents in concerts. With a career that has reached 50 years, Rita Lee has gone from the musical innovation of the late 1960s and 1970s to the highly successful romantic ballads of the 1980s. In October 2008, Rolling Stone magazine promoted the List of the 100 Greatest Artists in Brazilian Music, where Rita Lee ranks 15th.
In 2001, Rita Lee won the Latin Grammy for Best Portuguese Language Rock Album with "3001". She would receive five more nominations for the award and in 2022, she was awarded the Musical Excellence award for her body of work. In 2012, she announced that she would retire from performing live due to physical frailty. "I retire from shows, but never from music," she wrote on Twitter.
She was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2021 and had been undergoing treatment for the disease. She passed away in her hometown of São Paulo at the age of 75 on May 8, 2023.
3001
Rita Lee Lyrics
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Três mil e um
Três mil e um
Três mil e um
Lá no meio do 2000
O Sol fraco se sentiu
E a ciência decidiu
Com Júpiter ao nosso lado
Pra orbitar outra estrela
De ciclo mais prolongado
Três mil e um
Três mil e um
Primeiro fez-se da Lua
Brilhante lâmpada atômica
Pois Júpiter caloroso
Uma vez aproximado
Era um Sol improvisado
Três mil e um
Três mil e um
Três mil e um
Assim, na longa viagem
De anos trezentos mil
Que no relativo do tempo
Em nossa vida real
Não durava mais que um pio
O dia seria quente
Com Júpiter quase rente
E a noite seria dia
Onde a Lua reluzia
Três mil e um
Três mil e um
Três mil e um
Três mil e um
Três mil e um
Três mil e um
Três mil e um
Três mil e um
The song "3001" by Rita Lee speaks of a science fiction scenario where in the middle of the year 2000, the sun weakens and scientists decide to take Earth and the Moon, with Jupiter on its side, to orbit another star with a longer cycle. The song describes the process of making the moon a bright atomic lamp and how Jupiter, once close, becomes an impromptu sun. The lyrics then talk about the long journey of three hundred thousand years where the day would be hot with Jupiter close and the night would be a shining moonlight, making it seem like the day never ends.
The song's lyrics may seem like they are talking about a distant future, but in reality, they are referencing the year 2001, hence the title "3001." The song was released by Rita Lee in 2000, during the turn of the century and the dawn of the new millennium, providing listeners with a futuristic vision of what the future may hold. Rita Lee is known for her eclectic style, incorporating elements of rock, pop, and Brazilian influences into her music, which is evident in "3001." The song provides a unique commentary on humanity and our evolving relationship with science and technology, and how it could shape our future.
Line by Line Meaning
Três mil e um
Repeated for emphasis
Lá no meio do 2000
At a point in time in the middle of the year 2000
O Sol fraco se sentiu
The Sun felt weak
E a ciência decidiu
And science decided
Levar a Terra e a Lua
To take the Earth and the Moon
Com Júpiter ao nosso lado
With Jupiter by our side
Pra orbitar outra estrela
To orbit another star
De ciclo mais prolongado
With a longer cycle
Primeiro fez-se da Lua
First, they made the Moon
Brilhante lâmpada atômica
A bright atomic lamp
Pois Júpiter caloroso
Because Jupiter was warm
Uma vez aproximado
Once it came close
Era um Sol improvisado
It became an improvised Sun
Assim, na longa viagem
Thus, on the long journey
De anos trezentos mil
Of three hundred thousand years
Que no relativo do tempo
Which, in the grand scheme of time
Em nossa vida real
In our real lives
Não durava mais que um pio
Would last no longer than a chirp
O dia seria quente
The day would be hot
Com Júpiter quase rente
With Jupiter almost near
E a noite seria dia
And the night would be day
Onde a Lua reluzia
Where the Moon shone
Três mil e um
Repeated for emphasis
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Antonio Jose Santana Martins, Rita Lee Jones De Carvalho, Roberto Zenobio Affonso De Carvalho
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind