Brazilian Stuff
Leonardo Crasto
If you have any doubt about Brazilian stuff just like the names and the
lyrics, ask me and I would love helping you. I want all the world to know
Brazilian culture, and music would be the perfect start.
Leonardo Crasto
John Sowalsky
Leonardo Crasto wrote:
I am a big fan of Brazilian music, but I do not speak Portuguese. Not yet,
anyways. I've always wondered what the following lyrics mean, just because
the words sound so good together. This is taken from Elis Regina's rendition
of "Aquarela Do Brasil." She performs it as a medley with a piece called
"Nega Do Cabelo Duro." Maybe you could translate for me?
Nega do cabelo duro
Qual e o pente que te penteia
Qual e o pente que te penteia
Qual e o pente que te penteia
Teu cabelo esta na moda
E o teu corpo bamboleia
Minha nega meu amor
Qual e o pente que te penteia
O nega
Sorry about the lack of proper accents. Also, I have no idea if the lyrics
I'm copying were originally printed correctly. Thanks for any help you can
offer!
--
John Sowalsky
(Remove NO and SPAM from the address above to correspond via e-mail)
Kplaut
"Nega do cabelo duro,
qual é o pente que te penteia"
means:
"Black girl with the kinky hair,
which comb can comb your hair?"
it's a samba-de-roda, a playful song, but some people attribute racist
connotations to it.
- kimson
John Sowalsky
Kplaut wrote:
Ouch! What a shame. Because it it a nice tune. Thank you for the
translation!
KSeitzinge
>> uh-oh! here we go again...
>> "Nega do cabelo duro,
>> qual é o pente que te penteia"
>> means:
>> "Black girl with the kinky hair,
>> which comb can comb your hair?"
>> it's a samba-de-roda, a playful song, but some people attribute racist
>> connotations to it.
>> - kimson
I read this, read again, and again, and then came back to it and decided: I
have to say something. Please do not take this as a complaint, but a
clarification: If you look at that verse "only" it will look like something
strange and ofensive has been said. Now, because it is saying the word "nega"
it doesn't mean it has a ofensive connotation. On the contrary. Men in Bahia
call their women "nega", "neguinha", even if she is blonde with blue eyes (it
is like honey, or sweet heart). In the case of the song, the woman is black,
but she is also the woman he loves. The rest of the song lift her up to the
sky: "Seu cabelo esta na moda
(Your hair is fashionable)
O seu corpo banboleia
(Your body sways)
Minha nega, meu amor
(My "nega", My love)
Qual eh o pente que te penteia , nega!?
(which comb can comb your hair, "nega"?)
There's also a double meaning in that question : What kind of caress will
affect you?
And I'm not kidding. That is understood when I hear the song. The writer is
trying to decifer the woman he loves. Does that make sense to you?Also would
you tell me who wrote that song? I cannot remember. Is it Dorival Caymmi(the
father)? :-) lena
John Sowalsky
> Now, because it is saying the word "nega"
> it doesn't mean it has a ofensive connotation. On the contrary. Men in Bahia
> call their women "nega", "neguinha", even if she is blonde with blue eyes (it
> is like honey, or sweet heart). In the case of the song, the woman is black,
> but she is also the woman he loves. The rest of the song lift her up to the
> sky: "Seu cabelo esta na moda
> (Your hair is fashionable)
> O seu corpo banboleia
> (Your body sways)
> Minha nega, meu amor
> (My "nega", My love)
> Qual eh o pente que te penteia , nega!?
> (which comb can comb your hair, "nega"?)
> There's also a double meaning in that question : What kind of caress will
> affect you?
> And I'm not kidding. That is understood when I hear the song. The writer is
> trying to decifer the woman he loves. Does that make sense to you?
That makes sense to me, yes. In any language! :-) I understand... it's a very
sensitive issue. I myself hate racism, and I'm not someone who tends to feel a lot
of hatred. That's one of the things I love about Brasilian music: so much of it is
multi-racial. I'm no expert, but it seems to me like Brasilian culture is very open
and accepting in a lot of ways. At least compared to where I live. People here are
very uptight. Maybe someday I'll learn Portuguese and head south...
Reminds me of a story I heard on the news a while ago. Psychologists studied the
effects of different kinds of music on the human nervous system. They found that
samba music has a stimulant effect; they recommend it for people who have trouble
waking up in the morning. I bet most people in this newsgroup could have told them
that!
> Also would
> you tell me who wrote that song? I cannot remember. Is it Dorival Caymmi(the
> father)? :-) lena
The writers listed are Rubens Soares and David Nasser.
Thank you for clarifying! I always love talking!