The Paralamas do Sucesso had their share of success in Brazil and overseas, but they have become internationally famous since their song Luiz Inácio (300 picaretas) was censored by the Brazilian justice and forbidden to be played on radio and public shows. The band itself couldn't have thought of a better plot to boost their sagging career.
Everybody in Brazil -- and newspaper have been calling from other countries including Japan -- seems to be interested now in listening to the condemned lyrics. Since the dictatorship times there wasn't such a fuss about a song. Censorship against Chico Buarque's "Apesar de Você" ("Is Spite of You") in 1971, made that song an anthem against the military regime.
The 300 picaretas (charlatans) referred to in the tune were inspired by a comment made in 1993 by then presidential candidate Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Lula said that there were 300 picaretas in Congress. The Paralamas were ready to start their show in Brasília when they were presented with a writ of prevention forbidding them from singing the song.
The order calling the lyrics "offensive to the honor of the congressmen" came from federal judge Ionilda Maria Carneiro Pires, but it was requested by Bonifácio de Andrada, the House of Representative's general prosecutor. "I'm a democrat and against censorship," declared Andrada soon after the measure was taken against the band. "All I've done was to preserve the House's image and I intend to bring criminal suit against the song's authors."
Herbert Vianna, crooner, guitarist, leader of the band and author of the song, called the measure completely arbitrary, adding, "All we say in the song has been said and written before". Check by yourself.
Luiz Inácio falou, Luiz Inácio avisou São 300 picaretas com anel de doutor Eles ficaram ofendidos com a afirmação Que reflete na verdade o sentimento da nação É lobby, é conchavo, é propina e jetom Variações do mesmo tema sem sair do tom Brasília é uma ilha, eu falo porque eu sei Uma cidade que fabrica sua própria lei Aonde se vive mais ou menos como na Disneylandia Se essa palhaçada fosse na Cinelândia Ia juntar muita gente pra pegar na saída Pra fazer justiça uma vez na vida Eu me vali deste discurso panfletário Mas a minha burrice faz aniversário Ao permitir que num país como o Brasil Ainda se obrigue a votar, por qualquer trocado Por um par de sapatos, por um saco de farinha A nossa imensa massa de iletrados Parabéns coronéis, vocês venceram outra vez O congresso continua a serviço de vocês Papai quando eu crescer quero ser anão Pra roubar, renunciar, voltar na próxima eleição E se eu fosse dizer nomes a canção era pequena João Alves, Genebaldo, Humberto Lucena De exemplo em exemplo aprendemos a lição Ladrão que ajuda ladrão ainda recebe concessão De rádio FM e de televisão Luiz Inácio has said, Luiz Inácio has warned They are 300 charlatans with a doctor's ring They were offended with the statement Which in reality reflects the nation's feelings It's lobby, it's hanky-panky, it's bribe and gratuities Variations on the same themes and on the same tone Brasília is an island, I say that because I know It's a town that fabricates its own law A place where we live more or less as in Disneyland If this buffoonery was at Cinelândia [downtown Rio] There would be a lot of people waiting outside To do justice once a in a lifetime I have used this pamphletary discourse But my stupidity celebrates its anniversary By allowing that in a country like Brazil People are forced to vote, for just a dime A pair of shoes, a bag of flour Our immense mass of illiterate people Congratulations, colonels, you have won again Congress continues at your beck and call Daddy, when I grow up I want to be a dwarf To steal, resign, come back in the next election And if I were to tell names the song would be too short João Alves, Genebaldo, Humberto Lucena From every example we learn the lesson Thief who steals from thief still gets a concession For an FM radio and a television station
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