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.
Dancar Pra Nao Dancar
Rita Lee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gaste um tempo comigo
Não, não tenha juízo
Dê-se ao luxo de estar sendo fútil agora
Dance, dance, dance
Faça com Isadora
Que ficou na história
Um movimento qualquer
Sobe à cabeça e os pés
Sinta o corpo
Você está solto
E pronto pra vir
Dance, dance, dance
Passe as horas comigo
Nesse duplo sentido
No barato de ser um ser vivo, ainda
Dance, dance, dance
Num programa de índio
Vá rodar um cachimbo
Que é pra paz não dançar na tribo
Um movimento qualquer
Sobe à cabeça e os pés
Sinta o corpo
Você está solto
E pronto pra vir me amar
Rita Lee's song "Dancar Pra Nao Dancar" is a fun and catchy tune that encourages listeners to dance and enjoy life without worrying about being judged or being too serious. The lyrics urge the listener to spend time dancing, to not have good judgement, and to "give yourself the luxury of being futile now." The song references Isadora Duncan, a famous American dancer who was known for her unconventional dancing style and is remembered in history for her unique approach to dance.
The lyrics continue to encourage the listener to let loose and feel the music, with the movements of the body being compared to the sensation of the music going to one's head and feet. The song suggests that by dancing, the body is set free and one is ready to come and love. The second verse of the song references the traditional Native American practice of the peace pipe ceremony and how dancing to the beat of the pipe brings peace to the tribe. The song ends by repeating the chorus and urging the listener to spend time dancing, perhaps in a double meaning of both enjoying life and being alive as well.
One interesting fact about this song is that it was released in 1976 as part of Rita Lee's third solo album, but it's still popular in Brazil today and often played at parties and events. Another interesting fact is that it was inspired by a visit Rita Lee made to New York City, where she was impressed by the disco scene and the energy of the city. Additionally, the song was later covered by a variety of Brazilian musicians, including Gal Costa and Ivete Sangalo, which helped to spread its popularity.
Overall, "Dancar Pra Nao Dancar" is a joyous and empowering song that encourages listeners to let go and enjoy life through dance, and it continues to be a beloved classic in Brazilian music.
Chords (as provided by Ultimate Guitar):
Intro: F#m7 B7
Verse: F#m7 B7 Em7 A7
Chorus: D G A D G A D G A E7
Line by Line Meaning
Dance, dance, dance
Encouragement to dance and have fun
Gaste um tempo comigo
Spend time with me and enjoy the moment
Não, não tenha juízo
Don't be sensible, let loose and be carefree
Dê-se ao luxo de estar sendo fútil agora
Indulge in being frivolous for a while
Faça com Isadora
Dance like Isadora Duncan, who danced the way she wanted to and became a legend
Que ficou na história
She made history for her unique dancing style
Um movimento qualquer
Any random movement
Sobe à cabeça e os pés
It goes to your head and feet, making you want to dance
Sinta o corpo
Feel your body and let it move freely
Você está solto
You are free and unencumbered by anything
E pronto pra vir
And ready to come
Passe as horas comigo
Spend hours with me, enjoying each other's company
Nesse duplo sentido
In this double entendre
No barato de ser um ser vivo, ainda
Enjoying the simple pleasures of being alive
Num programa de índio
In a silly or pointless situation
Vá rodar um cachimbo
Spin a pipe (a reference to a Native American ritual)
Que é pra paz não dançar na tribo
So that peace can reign in the tribe (a metaphor for avoiding conflict)
E pronto pra vir me amar
And ready to come love me
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RITA CARVALHO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mia
Dance, dance, dance
Gaste um tempo comigo
Não, não tenha juízo
Dê-se ao luxo de estar sendo fútil agora
Dance, dance, dance
Faça como Isadora
Que ficou na história
Por dançar como bem quisesse
Um movimento qualquer
Sobe à cabeça e os pés
Sinta o corpo, você está solto
E pronto pra vir
Dance, dance, dance
Passe as horas comigo
Nesse duplo sentido
E no barato de ser um ser vivo ainda
Dance, dance, dance
Num programa de índio
Vá rodar um cachimbo
Que é pra paz não dançar na tribo
Um movimento qualquer
Sobe à cabeça e os pés
Sinta o corpo, você está solto
E pronto pra vir me amar
Me amar
Dance, dance, dance
Um movimento qualquer
Sobe à cabeça e os pés
Sinta o corpo, você está solto
E pronto pra vir me amar
19rema
Para mim o melhor disco da Rita...
Sylviom100
Pra mim também.
Gabriela Ferreira
Concordo disparado!!!!!!
herbert costa dos reis
O solo final dessa música arrepia
Eugenio Pinto
DISPARADO...
Vinícius Sasso
Quanta coisa boa a Rita Lee fez para a MPB e para o Rock! Quem ouve as bandinhas de hoje não imagina que o Pop/Rock brasileiro já tiveram fases de criatividade intensa...salve!
Lucineide Gabriel de Vasconcelos
Uma verdadeira obra -prima rock and rolo musical
Papaia Dialeto
Sem dúvida, a Rita roqueira q os radicais queriam q nunca tivesse se dissipado. Esses paulistas do tutti fruti tbm . Todos roqueiros da melhor qualidade. Essa aí sim ......Rita Lee puro Rock and roll !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Eugenio Pinto
música do caraio,show,só Rita e seus músicos prá nos proporcionar uma jóia dessas,grande momento de nosso rock.....
Nei Silva
perfeição sempre em tudo.. mudou a vida de tantos com seu som ..suas letras e sua eterna beleza.. impressionante ter vivido isso tudo.. gratidão..