Song Won the 1967 Brazilian Popular Music Festival
A song that made history by winning the III Brazilian Popular Music Festival in 1967, "Ponteio" is a composition by Edu Lobo and Carlos Capinan that not only overcame the barriers of time but also came into existence through a series of meetings and partings during its creation.
The traditional refrain, "quem me dera agora ter uma viola para cantar" (I wish I had a guitar to sing with now), was originally made for another song, "O Cantador." Edu Lobo wrote the verse at the request of Dori Caymmi, who was preparing for the Brazilian Popular Music Festival, then broadcast by TV Record.
However, Edu "pulled back" when he learned that Nelson Motta was already working on the lyrics for "O Cantador." Yet, the verse was not discarded, as Edu kept a notebook where he wrote down verses. Using this phrase, he created the arrangement and defined the title, but the lyrics were still missing.
This is where Carlos Capinan comes in, a Brazilian poet, composer, and lyricist known for his collaborations with various names in Brazilian popular music and especially for his intense engagement with the Tropicália movement. He successfully wrote the rest of the lyrics for "Ponteio," which was performed by Edu Lobo and Marília Medalha at the 1967 Brazilian Popular Music Festival, where it emerged victorious.
Who Played with Edu Lobo and Marília Medalha at the 1967 Brazilian Popular Music Festival
The supporting bands that accompanied Edu Lobo and Marília Medalha at the Brazilian Popular Music Festival were comprised of some of the biggest names in national music.
They are:
Quarteto Novo: Theo de Barros (double bass and guitar), Heraldo do Monte (viola and guitar), Airto Moreira (drums), and Hermeto Pascoal (piano and flute).
Momento Quatro: Zé Rodrix, Ricardo Vila, Maurício Maestro, and David Tygel.
Meaning of the Song "Ponteio"
Composed during a turbulent period of great difficulty in Brazilian society, it is essential to consider the repression experienced in the country during the 1960s. Therefore, "Ponteio" reflects resistance and a desire for freedom in its lyrics.
The narrative brings forth the resilience and hope of a guitar player living in a discouraging environment, much like the Brazilian population at the time. The standout verse of the song, "quem me dera agora tivesse a viola pra cantar" (I wish I had a guitar to sing with now), expresses a longing for freedom—if only there was an opportunity to have a voice during that period.
The song also conveys the idea of overcoming adversity. Although existence is set in a world of violence and death, the pursuit of the guitar (symbolizing an element of freedom) is constant.
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