Sou Caipira!

Gente, ainda nos consideram os Paranaenses caipiras? Sim... pelo menos em Chicago, ainda nos chamam de caipiras! Mas, temos uma historia rica para contar...

Those of us who grew up in rural areas in Brazil are considered "caipiras". It's a derrogatory word, like hillbilly, meaning that you are not educated, walk around barefoot with patched jeans, and live in dirt poverty. Even today, my Brazilian friends tease me about my accent which is from Parana, not hip like a Carioca from Rio or a Baiano from Bahia...

Elis Regina transformed the word "caipira" with this song, giving it dignity and poignancy. She was one of the leading voices in the Brazilian music scene when we were growing up and anyone who lived in Brazil during the 1970's will recognize this song.

O Menino da Porteira, Para o Charles...

Os Brasileiros sabem a historia... O Charles sabia todas as palavras de cor!

The story is about a little boy who always opened the gate when the cowboy came through with his herd. I almost wept when I heard it again because it really pulls at your heart strings... The little boy and the cowboy have a close relationship which comes to a sudden close when a mean bull (according to the song), kills the boy. The cowboy never plays his horn again... Very sad.

Charles knew all the words to this song when he was a kid. He would belt it out in a monotone. I was always impressed with his memory and couldn't get over how he could remember the whole song... So, this is a Charles memory!