Aquarela das Filipinas

Uhm..yeah, the culture geek attacks yet again!

This time, her mind flew off to Brazil, land of stunning beaches, a vibrant festival called Carnaval, and oh yeah, great music. Please bear with her Portuguese-spouting for now. She promises to return to normal (whatever she calls normal) pretty soon.

This one is called "Aquarela do Brasil" ("Watercolours of Brazil" in Portuguese, and it was composed by Ary Barroso in 1939. This would have to be my favourite version of the song sung by João Gilberto, Gilberto Gil, and Caetano Veloso (three cantores I utterly admire, especially the first one.). What can I say more about this song except that I love how breezy it feels, as if I were suddenly transported to Ipanema by ear. Oh, and of course, we can not deny the beauty of the Portuguese language in the song.

Yes, of course, I'm not going to go and leave you scratching your heads at what this admittedly addictive song means. Here is the translation to the Portuguese lyrics:

Brazil
My Brazilian Brazil
My cunning mulatto
I will sing of you in my verses
Oh, Brazil, samba that gives swing,
That makes people sway
Oh, Brazil of my love
Land of Our Lord

Brazil! Brazil!
For me... for me...

Ah, open the curtain of the past
Bring the Black Mother down from the mountains
Place the Congo King in the congado
Brazil! Brazil!
Let the minstrel sing again
In the melancholy moonlight
Every song of his love
I want to see the Bahian woman
walking,
Trailing through the salons
Her lacy skirts

Brazil! Brazil!
For me... for me...

Brazil
Good and savory land
Of the cunning dark-skinned woman
With an indiscreet gaze
Oh, Brazil, green that makes
The world amazed
Oh, Brazil of my love
Land of Our Lord

Brazil! Brazil!
For me... for me...

Oh, this palm tree that gives coconuts
Where I hang my hammock
On clear moonlit nights
Oh, hear these murmuring fountains
Where I slake my thirst
And where the moonlight comes to play
Oh, this Brazil, beautiful and swarthy
Is my Brazilian Brazil
Land of samba and tambourines

Brazil! Brazil!
For me... for me...


Oh yes, that was indeed a sort of dance song...about their country.

What kind of people love their country so much that it makes them dance, a form of self-expression?


Well, apparently, the Brazilians do. They love their good and savoury land so much that they can't help voice (and apparently, move) it out. No, they're not ashamed to be caught swaying their hips to such a song as this. Hey, if gyrating is what it takes to say a big "I love you too." to Brazil, so be it.


Will we ever love our nation so much that it makes us dance. No, I don't necessarily mean literally. Like I've said, dance is self-expression. When you see that piece of trash on the road, will you pick it up? This coming elections, are you wisely weighing who you think should lead the nation. Hey, are you even registered in the first place. When asked about where you come from, do you say "Filipino" or "Oh, I'm Asian. Is that good enough?"? Have you ever expressed to the Philippines your love and appreciation?


The Bible says everything must bear fruit. Since that's so, your love for country should manifest itself in your actions towards it. I'm not saying you should die for the nation or that you should never like anything foreign. (Please. That's called discrimination.) As I've said in the previous paragraph, loving the nation can be as simple as obeying traffic rules or helping teach kids in Sunday School, or even actually saying you're Filipino. Every little deed is a step in a grand dance of national pride.


And no, you don't necessarily have to sing it in Portuguese.