Brazil: Celso Adolfo Sings His Homeland

Celso Adolfo, mineiro
to the core, never exchanged his home state for life in the megalopolises of the
south. The songs he creates, both Brazilian and universal, are imbued with the
sights, flavors, and sounds of the red hills of Minas Gerais.


Celso Adolfo

Adolfo’s most recent disc, O Tempo, digs deep into his unique vein of regional poetry, adroitly mixed with his signature bluesy rock and pop.

In “Sem Tirar Nem Pôr” (Celso Adolfo/Leo Minar), a driving yet relaxed tune punctuated with funky keyboards and various percussions, Celso sings:

Eu já falei, repeti
já avisei de onde é que eu sou
sou de Aracaju, Marabá
BH, São Salvador

Eu como beiju, tutu
danço samba-de-roda, maracatu
maculelê, óia o vento
ventando no bambu

O que eu vi qulquer um vê
é a tarde misturando a cor
eu sou mineiro e faço conta
sem tirar, sem tirar nem por
[…]

The title tune likewise blends pop instrumentation (electric & acoustic guitar, keyboards, bass, drums) with essentially rural lyrics.

Cai mais uma tarde no lugar
janela aberta para bem-te-vis
telhados de rubis e colibris
eu sofro asas derramando o olhar

Os sete anzóis da minha cicatriz
aonde ando ouço lambaris
o galo brinca as cores de manhã
a tarde veste cascas de maçã
[…]

A change of pace is provided in the sensual bolero “Depois das Dez,” executed with the requisite Cuban percussion in a male-female duo with the singer Sol Alac.

Uns lábios vermelhos que eu vi
fizeram meus olhos girar
de noite eu percebo melhor o que eu bebo
as dores que eu vou misturar

As dores cantei sempre assim
somente o bolero dirá
eu choro quando é pra chorar
se não tenho mais lágrimas o mar me dá
me dou por inteiro, não tenho segredo
não bebo do medo de amar
[…]

The strong Native-American flavor of “A Terra Dᔝ derives not only from its melody and instrumentation (the latter an unusual combination of wind and percussion instruments) but from its lyrics:

Uraricaá, Urariquera
Paapiú, Apiaú
Mucajaí­, murucujá
Roraima tem o Caiapó

Tinha um ticão, água na taboa
Vida í  toa deslizando na canoa
E o botocudo, de onde ele é?
í‰ de onde é o bicudo-maquiné
[…]

A touch of samba enters the mix in “Mão do Pilão,” with verse that calls forth Brazil’s African heritage:

Vi tanto mar, vi Marajó
maracatu, azulejo e rondó
guias de luz, véu e capuz
vela na areia, pinga e cuscuz

Eu vi samba-regue com lua e com sol
eu vi pagodeiro e vi rock ‘n roll
repente e martelo, cacau, caramelo
e um pé de chinelo no mei do Brasil.

Ouro de igreja de Minas Gerais
saci pererê eu vi e o que mais
calango, joá e o cateretê
babalorixá, caranguejo, dendê
[…]

The lovely voice-guitar ballad “Setembro Nublado” introduces a trail of wistfulness inspired Guimarães Rosa:

Setembro nublado
saio colhendo flores e um som
fico escondido tecendo sentidos
viajando só

Linda menina
bela bailarina do ar
quem te convida
é o balanço manso do mar

Dia nublado
bato o cajado no sino do som
pego no vento
cores claras, cores do som
[…]

Equally pensive is “Dia Santo,” which vaguely recalls the songs of Elomar. Again, the acoustic guitar provides the only accompaniment to the troubadour’s voice.

Levantei, lancei o dado
procurando a sorte entre tantos
números já combinados

Hoje é dia santo
dia santo assim
faz meu coração estremecer

Cada coisa que eu repito
ainda mais reflito
pode alguém me ouvir

Aprendi lançando o dado
a sorte não tem lado
e mais tempo o tempo não tem


O Tempo is one of the most beautifully packaged CDs I’ve seen in a long time. You won’t find it easily, but if you do, your search will have been amply rewarded.

For audio samples and complete song lyrics, visit Celso Adolfo’s well-designed website.





Celso Adolfo: O Tempo
(Independent; 2003) 32:48 min.

01. O Tempo (Celso Adolfo)
02. ígua na Bomba (Celso Adolfo)
03. Depois das Dez (Celso Adolfo)
04. í‰ a Vida (Celso Adolfo)
05. Estrela da Luz (Celso Adolfo)
06. Mão do Pilão (Celso Adolfo)
07. Sem Tirar nem Pôr (Celso Adolfo/Leo Minar)
08. A Terra Dá (Celso Adolfo)
09. Trentina (Celso Adolfo)
10. Setembro Nublado (Celso Adolfo)
11. Dia Santo (Celso Adolfo)


You can read more about Brazilian music and culture at
Daniella Thompson on Brazil here:
http://daniv.blogspot.com/

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