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.
Vamos Tratar Da Saúde
Rita Lee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Que ainda não sentiu as vibrações
Mas do jeito que as coisas andam
Não vou me preocupar
Eles que tratem, hum, de se tratar
Que tal um chá, chá, chá,
Pra gente se achar
Que tal um chá, chá, chá,
Pra gente se achar
Vamos tratar bem da nossa saúde
Vamos tratar bem da nossa saúde
In Rita Lee's song "Vamos Tratar Da Saude", the lyrics express a sense of awareness and responsibility towards one's own health. The first two lines express the idea that some people may not have yet experienced the "vibrations", or the sense of urgency, when it comes to taking care of their health. However, the singer acknowledges that given the current state of things, she will not worry too much about those who have not yet taken action. She humbly suggests that they "se tratem", or take care of themselves, implying that the responsibility ultimately lies within each individual.
The chorus, "Que tal um chá, chá, chá, pra gente se achar" translates to, "How about a tea, tea, tea, for us to find ourselves". The idea of tea here can represent taking a moment to slow down, to gather one's thoughts and to reflect. It is an invitation for those who may not have started taking care of their health seriously, to start exploring ways to do so in a gentle and nurturing way.
The main message of the song is encapsulated in the last line of the chorus, "Vamos tratar bem da nossa saúde", which translates to, "Let's take good care of our health". The singer reminds the listener that taking care of one's health is important, and it is something that each individual should take responsibility for.
Line by Line Meaning
Sei de muita gente por aí
I am aware of many people around who may not have felt the vibrations yet.
Que ainda não sentiu as vibrações
Who are yet to feel the positive energy of a healthy life.
Mas do jeito que as coisas andam
Considering the way things are going,
Não vou me preocupar
I am not going to worry,
Eles que tratem, hum, de se tratar
Let them take care of themselves on their own.
Que tal um chá, chá, chá,
How about having some tea, tea, tea,
Pra gente se achar
To comfort and find ourselves.
Vamos tratar bem da nossa saúde
Let's take good care of our health,
Vamos tratar bem da nossa saúde
Let's take good care of our health.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ARNALDO BAPTISTA, ARNOLPHO LIMA FILHO, RITA CARVALHO, RITA LEE JONES DE CARVALHO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind