{"id":7998,"date":"2018-04-30T23:09:34","date_gmt":"2018-04-30T23:09:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/portuguese\/?p=7998"},"modified":"2018-04-30T17:14:26","modified_gmt":"2018-04-30T17:14:26","slug":"brazilian-music-chico-buarques-construcao","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/portuguese\/brazilian-music-chico-buarques-construcao\/","title":{"rendered":"Brazilian music – Chico Buarque’s ‘Constru\u00e7\u00e3o’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Boa tarde, leitores! Good afternoon, readers!<\/span><\/p>\n

Did you know that tomorrow, May 1rst, is <\/span>dia do trabalhador<\/span><\/i> (labor day) here is Brazil? Therefore, it is a holiday for all of us workers to get some rest! In that spirit, today we are going to listen to some music and learn the lyrics to the 1971 iconic working-class themed song <\/span>Constru\u00e7\u00e3o <\/span><\/i>(construction), by legendary Brazilian composer Chico Buarque.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"

The composer Chico Buarque (photo by Fernanda Steffen under CC BY-SA 2.0)<\/p><\/div>\n

Contexto hist\u00f3rico – Historical context:<\/b> This song was written during the military dictatorship period, a time when culture and arts were underdoing severe censorship and repression. It was elected by <\/span>Rolling Stone<\/span><\/i> magazine as the greatest Brazilian song of all time!<\/span><\/p>\n

A m\u00fasica – The song:<\/b> The epic composition narrates the story of a construction worker who passes away in the exercise of his functions. Its lyrics organize events following a circular structure that repeat sentences but alternate its main elements in a complex wordplay that creates a very unique rhythm. <\/span>Construction <\/span><\/i>brilliantly criticizes the alienation of workers in modern society in a potent and poetic manner without sounding too overtly political.<\/span><\/p>\n

Listen to the song and read its<\/span> letra<\/span><\/i> (lyrics) followed by the translation in italics right underneath so you can check it out for yourself.<\/span><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=jzWI_JjFBr0<\/a><\/p>\n

Constru\u00e7\u00e3o – Construction<\/b><\/p>\n

Amou daquela vez como se fosse a \u00faltima<\/span><\/p>\n

He made love as if it were the last time<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Beijou sua mulher como se fosse a \u00faltima<\/span><\/p>\n

Kissed his wife as if she were the last one<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

E cada filho seu como se fosse o \u00fanico<\/span><\/p>\n

And each child of his as if they were the only ones<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

E atravessou a rua com seu passo t\u00edmido<\/span><\/p>\n

And he crossed the street with his shy step<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Subiu a constru\u00e7\u00e3o como se fosse m\u00e1quina<\/span><\/p>\n

He climbed the construction site as if he were a machine<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Ergueu no patamar quatro paredes s\u00f3lidas<\/span><\/p>\n

He built in the landing four solid walls<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Tijolo com tijolo num desenho m\u00e1gico<\/span><\/p>\n

Brick by brick in a magical design<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Seus olhos embotados de cimento e l\u00e1grima<\/span><\/p>\n

His eyes filled with concrete and tears<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Sentou pra descansar como se fosse s\u00e1bado<\/span><\/p>\n

He sat down to rest as if it were Saturday<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Comeu feij\u00e3o com arroz como se fosse um pr\u00edncipe<\/span><\/p>\n

He ate beans and rice as if he were a prince<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Bebeu e solu\u00e7ou como se fosse um n\u00e1ufrago<\/span><\/p>\n

Drank and sobbed as if he were a castaway<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Dan\u00e7ou e gargalhou como se ouvisse m\u00fasica<\/span><\/p>\n

He danced and laughed as if listening to music<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

E trope\u00e7ou no c\u00e9u como se fosse um b\u00eabado<\/span><\/p>\n

And he stumbled in the sky as though he were a drunk<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

E flutuou no ar como se fosse um p\u00e1ssaro<\/span><\/p>\n

And he floated in the air as though he were a bird<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

E se acabou no ch\u00e3o feito um pacote fl\u00e1cido<\/span><\/p>\n

And ended up on the ground in a flabby bundle<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Agonizou no meio do passeio p\u00fablico<\/span><\/p>\n

He agonized in the middle of the public sidewalk<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Morreu na contram\u00e3o, atrapalhando o tr\u00e1fego<\/span><\/p>\n

He died in the wrong way disrupting the traffic<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Amou daquela vez como se fosse o \u00faltimo<\/span><\/p>\n

He made love that time as if he were the last<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Beijou sua mulher como se fosse a \u00fanica<\/span><\/p>\n

Kissed his wife as if she were the only one<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

E cada filho seu como se fosse o pr\u00f3digo<\/span><\/p>\n

And each child of his as if they were the prodigal<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

E atravessou a rua com seu passo b\u00eabado<\/span><\/p>\n

And crossed the street with his drunken step<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Subiu a constru\u00e7\u00e3o como se fosse s\u00f3lido<\/span><\/p>\n

He climbed the construction site as if it were solid<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Ergueu no patamar quatro paredes m\u00e1gicas<\/span><\/p>\n

He built in the landing four magical walls<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Tijolo com tijolo num desenho l\u00f3gico<\/span><\/p>\n

Brick by brick in a logical design<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Seus olhos embotados de cimento e tr\u00e1fego<\/span><\/p>\n

His eyes filled with concrete and traffic<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Sentou pra descansar como se fosse um pr\u00edncipe<\/span><\/p>\n

He sat down to rest as if he were a prince<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Comeu feij\u00e3o com arroz como se fosse o m\u00e1ximo<\/span><\/p>\n

He ate beans and rice as if it were the best<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Bebeu e solu\u00e7ou como se fosse m\u00e1quina<\/span><\/p>\n

He drank and sobbed as if he were a machine<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Dan\u00e7ou e gargalhou como se fosse o pr\u00f3ximo<\/span><\/p>\n

He danced and laughed as if he were the next one<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

E trope\u00e7ou no c\u00e9u como se ouvisse m\u00fasica<\/span><\/p>\n

And stumbled in the sky as if listening to music<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

E flutuou no ar como se fosse s\u00e1bado<\/span><\/p>\n

And floated in the air as if it were Saturday<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

E se acabou no ch\u00e3o feito um pacote t\u00edmido<\/span><\/p>\n

And ended up on the ground in a shy bundle<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Agonizou no meio do passeio n\u00e1ufrago<\/span><\/p>\n

He agonized in the middle of the castaway sidewalk<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Morreu na contram\u00e3o atrapalhando o p\u00fablico<\/span><\/p>\n

He died in the wrong way interrupting the public<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Amou daquela vez como se fosse m\u00e1quina<\/span><\/p>\n

He made love that time as if he were a machine<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Beijou sua mulher como se fosse l\u00f3gico<\/span><\/p>\n

He kissed his wife as if it were logical<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Ergueu no patamar quatro paredes fl\u00e1cidas<\/span><\/p>\n

He built in the landing four flabby walls<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Sentou pra descansar como se fosse um p\u00e1ssaro<\/span><\/p>\n

He sat down to rest as if he were a bird<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

E flutuou no ar como se fosse um pr\u00edncipe<\/span><\/p>\n

And he floated in the air as if he were a prince<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

E se acabou no ch\u00e3o feito um pacote b\u00eabado<\/span><\/p>\n

And ended up on the ground in a drunken bundle<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Morreu na contram\u00e3o atrapalhando o s\u00e1bado<\/span><\/p>\n

He died in the wrong way interrupting Saturday<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Por esse p\u00e3o pra comer, por esse ch\u00e3o pra dormir<\/span><\/p>\n

For this bread to eat, for this ground to sleep<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

A certid\u00e3o pra nascer e a concess\u00e3o pra sorrir<\/span><\/p>\n

The certificate to be born and the license to smile<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Por me deixar respirar, por me deixar existir<\/span><\/p>\n

For letting me breathe, for letting me exist<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Deus lhe pague<\/span><\/p>\n

God shall reward you<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Pela cacha\u00e7a de gra\u00e7a que a gente tem que engolir<\/span><\/p>\n

For the free liquor that we all have to swallow<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Pela fuma\u00e7a e a desgra\u00e7a que a gente tem que tossir<\/span><\/p>\n

For the smoke and the misfortune, that we all have to cough<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Pelos andaimes pingentes que a gente tem que cair<\/span><\/p>\n

For the hanging scaffold from which we all have to fall<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Deus lhe pague<\/span><\/p>\n

God shall reward you<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Pela mulher carpideira pra nos louvar e cuspir<\/span><\/p>\n

For the moaning woman to praise us and spit at us<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

E pelas moscas bicheiras a nos beijar e cobrir<\/span><\/p>\n

And for the flies to kiss us and cover us<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

E pela paz derradeira que enfim vai nos redimir<\/span><\/p>\n

And for the final peace that in the end will redeem us<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Deus lhe pague<\/span><\/p>\n

God shall reward you<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Feel like learning more about Chico Buarque? Here is another post about him on our blog: <\/span>https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/portuguese\/chico-buarque\/<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

And how is your work vocabulary going? Here are a couple of posts for you to practice:<\/span><\/p>\n

https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/portuguese\/work-related-words-part-1\/<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/portuguese\/work-related-words-part-ii\/<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

Boa tarde, leitores! Good afternoon, readers! Did you know that tomorrow, May 1rst, is dia do trabalhador (labor day) here is Brazil? Therefore, it is a holiday for all of us workers to get some rest! In that spirit, today we are going to listen to some music and learn the lyrics to the 1971…<\/p>\n

Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":136,"featured_media":7999,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[1845,1846,3,108,13],"tags":[379399,507788],"class_list":["post-7998","post","type-post","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-brazilian-news","category-brazilian-profile","category-culture","category-music","category-vocabulary","tag-brazilian-music","tag-construcao-chico-buarque"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/portuguese\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7998","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/portuguese\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/portuguese\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/portuguese\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/136"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/portuguese\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7998"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/portuguese\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7998\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8001,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/portuguese\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7998\/revisions\/8001"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/portuguese\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7999"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/portuguese\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7998"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/portuguese\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7998"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/portuguese\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7998"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}