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.
Pé De Meia
Rita Lee Lyrics
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Pra enfrentar a velhice
E se leva a vida inteira
Pra saber que é uma boboquice
Preparar esse pé de meia
Pra esconder a idade
A desculpa é costumeira
Tem que ter personalidade
Preparar esse pé de meia
Como manda o destino
E no que diz respeito à moda
Eu não sigo esse figurino
E se leva a vida inteira
Pra saber que é uma boboquice
The lyrics of Rita Lee's song "Pé De Meia" describe the importance of being financially prepared for old age, yet simultaneously mocking the societal pressure to hide one's age through fashion and appearance. The phrase "preparar esse pé de meia" literally means to prepare a sock drawer, but it is commonly used to mean saving money for the future. The song emphasizes how it takes a lifetime to learn the importance of saving for the future, and it is foolish to put it off until later in life. The lyrics also suggest that hiding one's age through fashion or plastic surgery is a pointless and shallow practice, and that true personal strength comes from being comfortable with oneself and accepting the aging process.
The song's message is a commentary on societal values and the pressure to conform to certain ideals. It encourages listeners to prioritize their own financial and personal well-being over societal pressures. Overall, the lyrics suggest that true happiness and contentment come from accepting oneself, both financially and personally, and not from succumbing to societal ideals.
Line by Line Meaning
Preparar esse pé de meia
Guardar dinheiro para o futuro.
Pra enfrentar a velhice
Para se preparar para a chegada da terceira idade.
E se leva a vida inteira
Leva muito tempo para entender uma lição importante.
Pra saber que é uma boboquice
É tolice não se preparar para o futuro.
Preparar esse pé de meia
Guardar dinheiro para disfarçar a idade na velhice.
Pra esconder a idade
Para esconder os sinais da passagem do tempo.
A desculpa é costumeira
A justificativa é comum.
Tem que ter personalidade
É preciso ser seguro o suficiente para ser fiel a si mesmo.
Preparar esse pé de meia
Guardar dinheiro como algo inevitável.
Como manda o destino
Como a vida estiver planejada para ser.
E no que diz respeito à moda
Em relação a tendências populares e aparências físicas.
Eu não sigo esse figurino
Eu não sou influenciado pela pressão da sociedade para estar na moda.
E se leva a vida inteira
Leva muito tempo para compreender que a preparação é necessária para o futuro.
Pra saber que é uma boboquice
É tolice não antecipar as necessidades financeiras da velhice.
Contributed by Molly H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.