From Zé Renato's My Space:

Zé Renato, one of the most beautiful voic… Read Full Bio ↴From Zé Renato's My Space:

Zé Renato, one of the most beautiful voices of Brazilian music, started his carrier 30 years ago and soon joined the band Boca Livre that became famous in Brazil and worldwide. In parallel, he has been leading his own career since 1982 and is responsible for many hits in Brazil. In 1987 he joined Al di Meola’s band recording the LP "Tiramisu" and touring twice in the United States and Europe.

Zé Renato has won much acclaim and visibility with his decision to record albums in tribute to some of the greatest artists of Brazilian music. He is partly responsible for the revalorization of the Samba music in the young generation since the 90’s. With his sophistication in production and repertoire, he has become widely known as one of Brazil’s first-class performers.

1994 saw the release of the CD "Arranha Céu" with re-recordings of hits by Silvio Caldas such as "Chão de Estrelas", "Se Tu Soubesses" and "Mulher", the latter included in the soundtrack of the soap-opera "Éramos seis" (SBT). The record was held by specialist music critics to be the best release of the year.

In 1995 he chose to pay homage to the sambista Zé Kétti with the CD "Natural do Rio de Janeiro".

Z.. played together with Elton Medeiros and Mariana de Moraes, in 1997, in the show "Alegria continua" recorded live and released on CD by the MPB/Warner label. In 1998 he went on tour to launch the CD "Boca Livre convida" playing in several Brazilian capitals and in New York ’s Summerstage Festival.

In 1999 he recorded "Cabô", a CD of his own samba compositions, with partners Lenine, Pedro Luis and Elton Medeiros, among others. The following year, he left Boca Livre, and was replaced by Claudio Nucci.

In 2001, he released the CD "Filosofia", with songs by Noel Rosa and Chico Buarque. With maestro and composer Wagner Tiso released in 2002 the CD“Memorial” a joint musical tribute to the most musical of presidents in Brazilian history: Juscelino Kubitschek. In 2004, he brought out his new CD “Minha Praia” a combination of some of his greatest hits together with the previously unreleased fruits of partnerships with Arnaldo Antunes, Paulo César Pinheiro, Lenine and Capinam, among others.

As a composer, he has had several songs recorded by stars such as Milton Nascimento, Jon Anderson, Joyce, Leila Pinheiro, Lulu Santos, Nana Caymmi, MPB-4 and Boca Livre.

In his 25 years of career, Zé Renato has shown total dedication to good music. The singer/songwriter from Espírito Santo, Brazil has built up his name on two pillars: the traditions of Brazilian music, and his talent as a performer.

Musicality is constantly reinvented in the art of Zé Renato, a born musician who is always open to new influences but never forgets his roots.

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More info:

Zé Renato (José Renato Botelho Moschkovich) is a brazilian singer, composer, instrumentist and producer. He was born in 04/01/1956 in Vitória (capital of the Espirito Santo state, near to Rio de Janeiro), Brazil.

His entusiam with compositions started only when he was seventeen year-old. Later, Boca Livre helped him to become one of the most singular brazilian male voice.

With more than twenty albuns released, his career could be divided in three paths. The first one is his work as a singer and instrument in the Boca Livre. At this period Ze Renato could be considered the lider of Boca Livre vocal group (among majority says that the group had no lider). His technique, vocal hability and great compositions are showed in ten Boca Livre's albuns:

Boca Livre and 14 Bis Ao Vivo (2000)
20 Anos: Boca Livre Convida (1997)
Americana (1996)
Songboca (1994)
Dancando Pelas Sombras (1992)
Em Concerto (1989)
Boca Livre (1983)
Folia (1981)
Bicicleta (1980)
Boca Livre (1979)

The second path is Ze Renato solo's albuns. His last album, Minha Praia (My Beach) was considered one of the most important and unique Brazilian Popular Music album in 2003.

Minha Praia (2003)
Cabo (2000)
Ze Renato e Orquestra: Silvio Caldas 90 Anos (1998)
Natural do Rio de Janeiro (1996)
Arranha Ceu (1994)
Pegadas (1991)
Luz e Misterio (1984)
Fonte da Vida (1982)

And also, Ze Renato third path is his work as a producer.

Samba Para Criancas (2003)
Memorial Ze Renato e Wagner Tiso (2002)
A Alegria Continua: Elton Medeiros, Ze Renato e Mariana de Morais (1997)

My Space: http://www.myspace.com/zerenatominhapraia
Official web site: http://www.zerenato.com.br

Filosofia
Zé Renato Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

O mundo me condena
E ninguém tem pena
Falando sempre mal do meu nome
Deixando de saber
Se eu vou morrer de sede
Ou se vou morrer de fome

Mas a filosofia hoje me auxilia

A viver indiferente assim
Nessa prontidão sem fim
Vou fingindo que sou rico
Pra ninguém zombar de mim

Não me incomodo que você me diga
Que a sociedade é minha inimiga
Pois cantando neste mundo
Vivo escravo do meu samba
Muito embora vagabundo

Quanto a você da aristocracia
Que tem dinheiro, mas não compra alegria
Há de viver eternamente

Sendo escrava dessa gente
Que cultiva a hipocrisia

Overall Meaning

The lyrics in Zé Renato's song "Filosofia" suggest that the world is condemning and showing no sympathy towards the singer. The world is always talking negatively about the singer and not caring about their wellbeing, whether they die from hunger or thirst. However, the singer has found solace in philosophy, which has helped them live an indifferent life. In this state of mind, the singer can pretend to be wealthy, so as not to be mocked by anyone.

The singer does not mind being told that society is their enemy, as they live a life of a slave to their samba music, even though they are seen as a vagabond. The lyrics also suggest that those from aristocratic backgrounds who have wealth but no joy will always be slaves to the people who portray hypocrisy, despite their riches.

The lyrics in "Filosofia" thus paint a picture of a person living in poverty who resorts to pretending to be rich to escape the condemnation of the world. Still, they find contentment through their philosophy and music, free from the shackles that trap those with power and wealth.

Line by Line Meaning

O mundo me condena
The world condemns me

E ninguém tem pena
And no one shows compassion

Falando sempre mal do meu nome
Always speaking ill of my name

Deixando de saber
Not caring to know

Se eu vou morrer de sede
Whether I'll die of thirst

Ou se vou morrer de fome
Or if I'll die of hunger

Mas a filosofia hoje me auxilia
But philosophy helps me today

A viver indiferente assim
To live indifferent like this

Nessa prontidão sem fim
In this endless readiness

Vou fingindo que sou rico
I pretend to be rich

Pra ninguém zombar de mim
So no one will mock me