chico buarque

A Brazilian singer/songwriter, Chico Buarque (born June 19th, 1944 in Rio de Janeiro) has become famous for his music, which comments on Brazil's social, economic and cultural situation. Chico Buarque is also a writer of novels and plays, having his last book, Budapeste achieved great critical acclaim and won the Prmio Jabuti, a award in Brazil similar to The Booker Prize Award. His full name is Francisco Buarque de Holanda. Chico (as he is widely known in Brazil) came from a both intellectual and privileged family background: father Sergio Buarque de Holanda was a well-known historian and sociologist, and the first name of lexicographer and forebear Aurelio Buarque de Holanda is as strongly associated with Brazilian dictionaries as the name Webster is with American ones. A studious child with a precocious interest in music and writing, Chico was heavily impressed by bossa nova, and specifically, the work of João Gilberto. Chico made his public debut as musician and composer in 1964, rapidly building his reputation at music festivals and television variety shows. His self-titled debut album exemplified the work to come, with catchy sambas characterized by inventive wordplay and an undercurrent of nostalgic tragedy. Chico's increasing political activity against the Brazilian military dictatorship resulted in his arrest in 1968, and eventual self-exile to Italy in 1969. Chico returned to Brazil in 1970, using his fame and song-writing skills to protest the dictatorship. At this time his lightly-veiled protest single "Apesar de Voc" (In spite of you) somehow passed by the gaze of military censors, becoming the democracy movement's anthem. After selling over 100,000 copies, the single was eventually repressed, and all copies were removed from the market. In spite of the censors, songs such as "Samba de Orly" (Samba of Orly; 1970), "Acorda Amor" (Wake Up, Love; 1974), and "Vai Passar" (It Will Pass; 1983) made plain Chico's continuing opposition. During the 1970s and 1980s, Chico collaborated with filmmakers, playwrights, and musicians, often running afoul of the military government and timorous music publishers. During Brazil's military coup of 1964, Chico wrote about the situation and avoided censure by using cryptic analogies and word play. For example, using the Portuguese words for "shut up" (cale-se) and "chalice" (clice) allowed Chico to sing about the military's oppression under the guise of a bible story in the song "Clice."

Lyric in Portuguese

Pai, afasta de mim esse clice

De vinho tinto de sangue.

Como beber dessa bebida amarga

Tragar a dor, engolir a labuta.

Mesmo calada a boca, resta o peito

Silncio na cidade no se escuta.

De que me vale ser filho da santa

Melhor seria ser filho da outra

Outra realidade menos morta

Tanta mentira, tanta fora bruta.

Translation