One of my favorite Brazilian music videos to put on and listen to is Tarde em Itapuã sung acoustically by its composer Toquinho and invited guest Gil Gilberto. It’s such a great, soothing song and it has the power to transport me back to any number of Brazilian beaches I’ve sat and pondered life on. It’s a shame I have yet to spend an afternoon in Itapuã, much less in the city that surrounds it, Salvador.
It’s slightly ironic, given the lyrics I translated below, that the song’s lyricist, none other than Vinicius de Moraes, was not a fan of the sun, nor taking a dip in the sea (though he did live in Itapuã, as did fellow musician Dorival Caymmi). The beach at Itapuã was originally a small fishing village and fishermen can still be seen there today. It’s said the Vinicius’ inspiration for the song was given to him while watching these men at work. Another version is that the great poet hated Itapuã beach and was actually inspired by the nearby Praia dos Coqueiros (although, this beach’s name doesn’t quite have the same musical ring to it).
Without further ado, below are the lyrics and the video I mentioned. And here is a handout that you can download with the lyrics and a picture glossary: Tarde em Itapuã – Street Smart Brazil. Enjoy!
