The composer of bossa nova classics like "O Barquinho," "Ah, Se Eu Pudesse,… Read Full Bio ↴The composer of bossa nova classics like "O Barquinho," "Ah, Se Eu Pudesse," "Errinho à Tôa," "Nós e o Mar," "Rio," "Você," and "Vagamente," Roberto Menescal (Roberto Batalha Menescal - 10/25/1937 Vitória, ES) started his professional career in 1957 as Sylvia Telles' sideman (on guitar) in a tour around Brazil. In 1958, he opened a guitar school in Copacabana (Rio) with Carlos Lyra, having as his pupils Nara Leão and his sister Danuza Leão. In the same year, he formed, with Luís Carlos Vinhas, João Mário, Henrique, and Bebeto, the Conjunto Roberto Menescal, one of the first instrumental groups of bossa nova. The group accompanied Dorival Caymmi, Vinícius de Moraes, Billy Blanco, Maysa, and Telles. Also in 1958, he participated, with Telles, Carlos Lyra, and other artists, in a show at the Clube Hebraica (Rio), when the words "bossa nova" were used (inadvertently, by the club's secretary) for the first time to advertise the event. Having taken part with his group in the recording of Garotos da Bossa Nova in 1959, he participated in the I Festival de Samba Session at the Teatro de Arena theater of the School of Architecture at the State University of Rio de Janeiro. Such informal venues were important vehicles for bossa nova among the middle-class university people who were more inclined to absorb and disseminate it, and Menescal was instrumental for the promotion of such concerts in 1959, 1960, and 1961. Also in 1959, he had his first recorded composition, "Jura de Pombo" (with Ronaldo Bôscoli), by Alaíde Costa. His "O Barquinho" (with Ronaldo Bôscoli), a bossa nova classic, was simultaneously recorded by Maysa, Perry Ribeiro, and Paulinho Nogueira in 1960. In 1962, he accompanied Maysa in her Argentinean tour and, with Eumir Deodato's group, he performed in Marlene's program on TV Rio, having been hired for two years with his own group to back up artists on that TV station. In November 1962, he participated in the historic Bossa Nova Festival at Carnegie Hall in New York, NY, with Tom Jobim, Carlos Lyra, and others, interpreting "O Barquinho" in one of his few performances as a singer. From 1964 to 1968, he worked as an arranger and, invited by André Midani, he started to work as an independent producer and arranger at Polygram. In 1968, he accompanied Elis Regina in her performance at the MIDEM (International Phonographic Market and Music Publishers) in Cannes, France, and in her subsequent European tour, having been Regina's sideman until 1970, when he became Polygram's A&R. Already established as a major producer (having worked with Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, Jorge Ben Jor, Gal Costa, Maria Bethânia, and many others), instrumentalist (as a session man he worked with Lúcio Alves, Maysa, Claudette Soares, Nara Leão, Jair Rodrigues, and Elis Regina), he had several compositions of his included in soundtracks of broadly popular TV soap operas and also wrote music for the cinema (Bye Bye Brasil, Joana Francesa, both by Cacá Diegues, and Vai Trabalhar Vagabundo, by Hugo Carvana). In 1985, having accompanied Nara Leão in performances in Brazil and abroad, he launched with her the LP Um Cantinho, Um Violão/Nara Leão e Roberto Menescal. In the next year, he abandoned his career in A&R and dedicated himself to his solo career. He has also been participating in jazz projects, among others with Joe Henderson. In 2001, he participated with Wanda Sá, Danilo Caymmi, and Marcos Valle in the Fare Festival (Pavia, Italy). Menescal also owns the label Albatroz, which released albums by Danilo Caymmi, Emílio Santiago, and others. - by Alvaro Neder - AllMusic

Rio
Roberto Menescal Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Rio que mora no mar
Sorrio pro meu Rio
Que tem no seu mar
Lindas flores que nascem morenas
Em jardins de sol

Rio, serras de veludo
Sorrio pro meu Rio

Que sorri de tudo
Que é dourado quase todo dia
E alegre como a luz

Rio é mar, eterno se fazer amar
O meu Rio é lua
Amiga branca e nua
É sol, é sal, é sul
São mãos se descobrindo em todo azul
Por isso é que meu Rio da mulher beleza
Acaba num instante com qualquer tristeza
Meu Rio que não dorme porque não se cansa
Meu Rio que balança

Sou Rio, sorrio
Sou Rio, sorrio
Sou Rio, sorrio

Sou Rio, sorrio
Sou Rio, sorrio

Overall Meaning

The song "Rio" by Roberto Menescal is a beautiful tribute to the city of Rio de Janeiro. The opening line "Rio que mora no mar" (Rio that lives in the sea) sets the tone for the rest of the song, as it highlights the city's close relationship with the ocean. The singer smiles at his Rio, acknowledging the natural beauty of the city and the vibrancy of its people.

The song mentions "serras de veludo" (velvet mountains), which could refer to the lush landscape of Rio's surrounding mountains or the luxurious lifestyle of its inhabitants. The line "que sorri de tudo" (that smiles at everything) suggests that despite the city's troubles, Rio remains joyful and optimistic. The sun is mentioned as being almost always golden, and the city is described as being as happy as light.

The chorus links various elements of the city - the sea, the sun, the salt - to create an image of Rio as a beautiful and enduring object of affection. The city is described as a friend, a lover, and an inspiration. The song's final lines, "Sou Rio, sorrio" (I am Rio, I smile), reinforce the connection between the singer and his beloved city.

Overall, "Rio" captures the spirit of the city with its beautiful imagery and heartfelt lyrics, celebrating Rio de Janeiro's beauty and resilience.

Line by Line Meaning

Rio que mora no mar
The city of Rio de Janeiro is located on the shore of the ocean

Sorrio pro meu Rio
I smile for my dear Rio de Janeiro

Que tem no seu mar
The ocean that surrounds Rio de Janeiro

Lindas flores que nascem morenas
The beautiful brown-skinned people born in Rio de Janeiro

Em jardins de sol
Under the bright sun of Rio de Janeiro

Rio, serras de veludo
Rio de Janeiro, with velvet-like mountain ranges

Que sorri de tudo
A city that smiles through everything

Que é dourado quase todo dia
A city that's golden almost every day

E alegre como a luz
And as happy as the light itself

Rio é mar, eterno se fazer amar
Rio de Janeiro is the ocean, constantly loved and loving in return