Brazil (Aquarela Do Brasil)
Remembered for his highly-commercial approach to pop music, Xavier Cugat (b… Read Full Bio ↴Remembered for his highly-commercial approach to pop music, Xavier Cugat (born: Francisco De Asis Javier Cugat Mingall De Cru Y Deulofeo) made an even greater mark as one of the pioneers of Latin-American dance music. During his eight decade long career, Cugat helped to popularize the tango, the cha-cha, the mambo and the rhumba. His hits included "El Manicero" in the 1930s, "Perfida" in 1940 and the original recording of "Babalu" in 1944. Members of Cugat's band included Desi Arnaz, Miguelito Valdes, Tito Rodriguez, Luis Del Campo, Yma Sumac and his third (of four) wife, Abbe Lane. Cugat used the success of his musical career as a springboard for a movie career that included appearances in such films as Gay Madrid (1930), You Were Never Lovelier (1942), Bathing Beauty (1945), Weekend At The Waldorf (1945), Holiday In Mexico (1946), On An Island With You (1948), A Date With Judy (1948), Chicago Syndicate (1955) and Desire Diabolique (1959). A native of Genoa, Spain, Cugat emigrated with his family to Cuba in 1905. Trained as a classical violinist, he played with the Orchestra of the Teatro Nacional in Havana at the age of twelve. Emigrating to the United States, sometime between 1915 and 1918, he quickly found work accompanying an opera singer. At the height of the tango craze, in 1918, Cugat joined a popular dance band, The Gigolos. His involvement with the group, however, was brief. As the popularity of the tango faded, he took a job as a cartoonist for The Los Angeles Times. Cugat returned to music in 1920, forming his own group, The Latin American Band. Although they played regularly at the Coconut Grove in Los Angeles and supplied the soundtracks for several musical shorts, the group had its greatest success after moving to New York and became the houseband for the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. Despite being criticized for their middle-of-the-road approach, Cugat remained committed to his commercial-minded sound. He later explained, "I would rather play 'Chiquita Banana' and have my swimming pool than play Bach and starve". Cugat and his orchestra remained at the hotel for sixteen years. Beautiful women were consistently featured in Cugat's band. After helping Rita Hayworth to launch her career, he appeared in her film, You Were Never Lovelier. Cugat's recordings of the 1950s featured the singing of his third wife, Abbe Lane. In the mid-1960s, he featured his fourth wife, Charo, who he billed as a "folksinger". Upon his retirement in 1970, Cugat returned to Spain. He died in Barcelona on October 27, 1990. His band, which was led by Tito Puente following his retirement, continues to perform under the direction of dancer, musician and vocalist Ada Cavallo.

Brazil
Xavier Cugat & His Orchestra Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Brazil, where hearts were entertaining June,
We stood beneath an amber moon
And softly murmured "someday soon."
We kissed and clung together,
Then, tomorrow was another day
The morning found me miles away

With still a million things to say;
Now, when twilight dims the sky above
Recalling thrills of our love,




There's one thing I'm certain of
Return I will to old Brazil

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Xavier Cugat & His Orchestra's song Brazil is about reminiscing on a past love in Brazil. The song starts with the line "Brazil, where hearts were entertaining June" which sets the scene in Brazil during the summer month of June when the singer was with their lover. The second line "We stood beneath an amber moon" paints a romantic and intimate picture of the couple under the moonlight. They whisper to each other "someday soon" which shows their future plans of being together. They kiss and cling to each other, but unfortunately, the next day the singer has to leave Brazil and their lover behind. The morning after leaves them with "still a million things to say."


The song then moves to the present moment where the singer is reminiscing about the past love. As twilight dims the sky above, they recall the thrills of their love and sing "Return I will to old Brazil," indicating their desire to go back to Brazil to be with their lover again. The song is romantic and nostalgic, capturing the idea of a love left behind in a beautiful and exotic location.


Line by Line Meaning

Brazil, where hearts were entertaining June,
Brazil, the place where people were falling in love and having a great time during the month of June.


We stood beneath an amber moon
We were standing together under the light of a full moon, which cast an amber glow around us.


And softly murmured 'someday soon.'
We whispered to each other with gentle voices that we would be together again soon.


We kissed and clung together,
We embraced each other tightly, kissing and holding each other close.


Then, tomorrow was another day
Despite our affection for each other, we knew that we had to face the realities of the following day and the challenges that it would bring.


The morning found me miles away
When I woke up the next morning, I realized that I had traveled far away from Brazil, where I had experienced such joy and love.


With still a million things to say;
Even though I left Brazil, I still had so much to tell my lover and so many emotions to convey.


Now, when twilight dims the sky above
Years later, as the sun sets and darkness begins to settle in, I find myself remembering the time I spent in Brazil and the love I shared there.


Recalling thrills of our love,
I think back on the excitement and adventure of our passionate relationship.


There's one thing I'm certain of
Through all the ups and downs of my life, there is one thing that I know for sure.


Return I will to old Brazil
I will definitely go back to Brazil someday, to relive the memories of the love that was shared there.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Tratore
Written by: Ary Barroso

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@johnsain

My mom was a waitress near Grand Central in NYC and waited on Charo and Xavier....

@frankytrevor7

WOW just WOW! I LOVE LATIN MUSIC!! SUCH A FEELING!!!

@Dobie_Gillis

While the teens were digging rock and roll the adults were grooving to Cugat!

@LiricaBrasil

Actually the name of this song is "Aquarela do Brasil" (Brazil's watercolor), composed by the great Ary Barroso

@michaeltuz608

The 1943 recording by Xavier Cugot is likely the most famous, the one most responsible for the song's international fame. Originally known in it's homeland as Watercolor of Brazil, after Cugot s recording hit the top of the charts Brazil went on to become one of the most recorded songs of all time. Thanks for posting this reprise of music history!

@juanmonge8

I believe Tico Tico was a hit before that.

@psu1724

Je voudrais babalou par xXxavier cuvât or hêtre

@frederickcombs8661

THE VERY BEST INSTRUMENTALISTS IN THE WORLD... INCREDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS... IT COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED TODAY... AND EVERYONE LIKED XAVIER CUGAT.

@Farwell.007

merci pour ce beau voyage dans le temps ❤❤❤

@gtlfb

It is not humanly possible to listen to this and sit still.

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