Vírus do Amor
Rita Lee Lyrics

The opening lines of the Rita Lee song "Vírus do Amor" describe the scene: "Here we are / War tourists / Bizarre couples / Mortal remains of Ibirapuera." The first line suggests a detachment from reality, as though the singer is just observing the scene rather than participating in it. The second line adds a sense of danger to the setting, as though the couples are explorers in uncharted territory, facing unknown threats. The third line reinforces the sense of strangeness, likening the couples to "mortal remains" as though they are already dead or doomed. The specific reference to Ibirapuera, a park in São Paulo, Brazil, adds a sense of place and time to the song, grounding it in a specific context.

The chorus of the song focuses on the "virus of love" that is infecting the couples: "The virus of love / Inside of us / Nearest to chaos / Forty-two degrees of happy fever." The repeated line "inside of us" suggests that this virus is something internal, something that can't be escaped or cured. The use of the word "chaos" suggests that the virus is both thrilling and dangerous, adding to the sense of unpredictability and risk. Finally, the temperature reference to "forty-two degrees of happy fever" implies that the love virus is an experience that is both intense and pleasurable, despite the potential risks.