Elis Regina: uma interpretação do Brasil

Abstract

This masters degree dissertation, entitled Elis Regina: an interpretation of Brazil, has as object of study the lyrics chosen and sung by Elis Regina, since she was not actually the composer of these songs. The voice that speaks also denounces and interprets Brazil from a political, social, economical and cultural point of view. As a result, it reveals characteristics of the country from a given historical moment, a country going through military dictatorship, its social disparities, the race aspect, infant work, the Brazilian woman, the capitalist exploitation and an alternative life. The present study also brings testimonies given by the singer to the alternative press from the 60 s, 70 s and the beginning of the 80 s. Elis Regina makes use of her voice as a social banner, a political/ cultural intervention. She portrays the country in several different aspects through both her singing and her declarations to the press. Elis Regina owns the fearless voice, which denounces, complains and exposes Brazil during the period being analyzed. Just like many Social Science authors that also make analyses on the peculiarities of Brazil s socio-economical and political/cultural aspects, Elis uses her voice to sing, interpret and talk about the social complexities of her own country. This study attempts to relate these authors to the artistic career and performance of the singer, in other words, a dialogue that may be analyzed in the field of the political art and also of the human existentialism, seeing that the singer brings the human complexity in each and every song that she sings