It's to Monte's credit that she avoids the overcooked production that detracted slightly from her recent fine album Universo Ao Meu Redor. Instead, she favours a simple stripped down sound for the understated but effervescent acoustic arrangements. These feature the ukulele-like trill of cavaquinho, mellow 7-string guitar, the occasional woozy trombone and samba’s trademark percussive battery of booming surdo drum, the cheeky-sounding cuíca (friction drum), tambourine, pandeiro and so on. Monte is a great singer, but only allows herself two honeyed vocals, the best of which appears on the delightful Volta Meu Amor. The other guest stars include samba smoothie Paulinho da Viola (A Noite Que Tudo Esconde), Cristina Buarque (somewhat lost in the chorus of Monha Vontade) and Moreno Veloso, who sounds much like his father Caetano on Vou Me Embora.
But it's the Velha Guarda ('old guard') who take centrestage. Some of their singers such as Casemiro da Cuíca and Jair Do Cavaquinho (both taking their stage names from the instruments they also play) seem a little wobbly on their feet, even if they can still swing. But thankfully, Monarco still sounds in rude health and takes the lion's share of the lead vocals. All are usually accompanied by a wonderfully rousing chorus of backing/call and response singers – typified by Você Me Abandonu – underlining the communal nature of this music.
Portela Desde Que Eu Nasci
VELHA GUARDA DA PORTELA Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Desde os tempos de criança
Ainda guardo na lembrança
Algo e vou revelar
Me lembro o Paulo quando sorrindo dizia
Ao sambista que surgia
O segredo e o seu modo de cantar
Ficava alegre quando ouvia o entoar de um hino
Abriu-se o pano surge o mano caetano
Abelardo fracassou
Seu chapéu caiu na linha
Seu terno melhor rasgou
The lyrics to "Portela Desde Que Eu Nasci" by Velha Guarda da Portela express the singer's unwavering loyalty and nostalgia for the Portela samba school. The song begins with the singer stating, "Eu sou Portela," meaning that they are a member of the Portela community. They go on to reminisce about their childhood and recall a secret way of singing taught by the late Paulo. The singer becomes elated when they hear the opening notes of a new samba song and mention the excitement they feel when listening to Ruffino and Caetano, two famous samba musicians. The song takes a humorous turn when they mention Abelardo's failed attempt to make an impression in his best suit and hat, as his hat falls and his suit tears. Overall, the song portrays the deep love and admiration felt for Portela and its samba traditions.
Line by Line Meaning
Eu sou portela
I have belonged to Portela since birth.
Desde os tempos de criança
Since childhood.
Ainda guardo na lembrança
I still remember.
Algo e vou revelar
Something and I will reveal it.
Me lembro o Paulo quando sorrindo dizia
I remember Paulo, smiling, saying.
Ao sambista que surgia
To the emerging sambista.
O segredo e o seu modo de cantar
The secret is in their way of singing.
Ficava alegre quando ouvia o entoar de um hino
I was always happy when I heard the singing of a hymn.
Lá vem rufino, novidades ele vem apresentar
Here comes Rufino, presenting new things.
Abriu-se o pano surge o mano caetano
The curtain opened and Caetano appeared.
Abelardo fracassou
Abelardo failed.
Seu chapéu caiu na linha
His hat fell on the line.
Seu terno melhor rasgou
His best suit was torn.
Writer(s): monarco
Contributed by Stella A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.