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.
Tatibitati
Rita Lee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Quando eu nasci, minha mãe dizia
"Tome cuidado com o bicho-papão.
Não dê ouvidos ás más companhias.
Siga o instinto do seu coração."
Fiquei mocinha e sabe como é
Eu sou má companhia pra quem não tiver
Um coração que vive apaixonado, ouh.
Quando eu nasci, minha mãe dizia
"Tome cuidado com o bicho-papão.
Não dê ouvidos ás más companhias.
Siga o instinto do seu coração."
Fiquei mocinha e sabe como é
O tal bicho-papão virou meu namorado.
Eu sou má companhia pra quem não tiver
Um coração que vive apaixonado, ouh.
Sempre fui levada-da-breca.
Brincar de médico é melhor que boneca.
Sempre fui levada-da-breca, ouh ouh.
Sempre fui levada-da-breca.
Brincar de médico é melhor que boneca.
Sempre fui levada-da-breca, ouh ouh.
Sempre fui levada-da-breca.
Brincar de médico é melhor que boneca.
Sempre fui levada-da-breca.
The lyrics of Rita Lee's song Tatibitati describe the journey of a girl growing up, accompanied by the wise words of her mother. From birth, the mother warns her daughter to be careful of the "bicho-papão," a mythical creature similar to the bogeyman. Her mother also advises her to avoid bad company and instead follow the instincts of her heart. However, as the girl gets older, she falls for the bicho-papão and becomes a bad influence on those without passionate hearts.
The lyrics highlight the themes of rebellion and growing up, and the idea that sometimes, the path we choose may not align with the expectations of our elders. The phrase "levada-da-breca" is a Brazilian expression that means "wild and unruly." Brincar de médico" means "playing doctor," which traditionally refers to curious children who would play with each other's bodies, but Lee uses the phrase to symbolize her free-spirited nature as a child.
Overall, the lyrics of "Tatibitati" paint a picture of a girl who is independent, adventurous, and unafraid to go against the norm. The song can be interpreted as a celebration of individuality and a reminder to embrace the journey of growing up and finding oneself.
Line by Line Meaning
Quando eu nasci, minha mãe dizia
The singer's mother warned her about the bicho-papão when she was born.
"Tome cuidado com o bicho-papão.
The singer's mother cautions her to be wary of the bicho-papão.
Não dê ouvidos ás más companhias.
The singer's mother advises her not to listen to bad company.
Siga o instinto do seu coração."
The artist's mother encourages her to follow her heart and instincts.
Fiquei mocinha e sabe como é
The artist grew up and experienced what comes with it.
O tal bicho-papão virou meu namorado.
The bicho-papão became the singer's love interest.
Eu sou má companhia pra quem não tiver
The singer is bad company for someone who doesn't have a heart that is constantly in love.
Um coração que vive apaixonado, ouh.
The only way to keep up with the artist is by having a heart that is constantly in love.
Sempre fui levada-da-breca.
The artist has always been a wild child.
Brincar de médico é melhor que boneca.
Playing doctor is more fun than playing with dolls, according to the artist.
Sempre fui levada-da-breca, ouh ouh.
The singer has always been a wild child.
Sempre fui levada-da-breca.
The artist has always been a wild child.
Brincar de médico é melhor que boneca.
Playing doctor is more fun than playing with dolls, according to the singer.
Sempre fui levada-da-breca, ouh ouh.
The singer has always been a wild child.
Sempre fui levada-da-breca.
The singer has always been a wild child.
Brincar de médico é melhor que boneca.
Playing doctor is more fun than playing with dolls, according to the artist.
Sempre fui levada-da-breca.
The artist has always been a wild child.
Contributed by Sydney K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Niko Niko
Quando eu nasci
Minha mãe dizia
Tome cuidado
Com o bicho papão
Não dê ouvidos
Às más companhias
Siga o instinto
Do seu coração
Fiquei mocinha
Sabe como é...
O tal bicho papão
Virou meu namorado
Eu sou má companhia
Pra quem não tiver
Um coração que vive apaixonado
Sempre fui levada-da-breca
Brincar de médico
É melhor que boneca...
Sempre fui levada-da-breca...
Jose Vasques
A rainha do rock no Brasil.
Margarete Generosa Bertholet
D
Rita de qual pLAneta vc e, R oberto e o rei e vc rainha, assisti um show q no museu do Ipiranga á sofri na chuva ,Eu olho carro lá sou atriz mas a sorte ainda nao sorriu pra mim, me formei faz tempo, será que devo acreditar. No futuro?
cida brechó
em dias de pandemia, rita lee alegra nossa vida.
Renato M S
Essa música é maravilhosa ainda mais a partir de 02:28 no instrumental gostoso que vicia onde a música parece que pega o ritmo contagiante "Sempre fui levada da breca, brincar de médico é melhor que boneca, sempre fui levada da breca...🎵🎵🎵" Bis
Pernambucana albananda
Atemporal! Magnífica 💕💕
Paulinho Cirillo
Rita Lee. Show de Bola.
Tbm não tem para ninguém.
Fabiola Cristina
Verdade querido
Renato M S
As músicas da Rita Lee no geral tem a cara dos anos 80, são boas demais. Curtindo essa de 1981 agora em 2021.
Renato JS
Eu amo essa música 😍😍😍😍
Marcos Floyd
Da melhor qualidade . Grande Rita Ler, sempre arrebentando. ☘️😊🌿🍀🙏🏻