Chico Buarque - Construção (REACTION) WRITER REACTS

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#chicobuarque #musicreactions

[swamianandtesla]

I'm from Chile, 51 years old now and I grew up in the dictatorship of the time, another one in Latin America during those years. I remember being 13 or 14 years old when one morning on the radio they played this song (which I had not heard) in its Spanish version. I still remember how it impacted me and how I couldn't stop crying when the song had finished a while ago. Chico was a genius of composition and lyricism, there is a lot of very interesting material in Portuguese and Spanish, very unknown to English speakers. Good reaction.

[gpeddino]

He tells the story three times but changes the final word in each line, thus totally transforming the narrative. A masterpiece.

[freddyfleal]

Chico Buarque should win a Nobel for literature. For real.

[Laroyeexu]

The song "Construção" by Chico Buarque is deeply intertwined with the social and political context of Brazil during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Released in 1971, Brazil was under a military dictatorship known for its repression and censorship.

"Construção" tells the story of a construction worker who falls to his death from a building under construction. The lyrics are fragmented and non-linear, using poetic imagery to depict the worker's life, his tragic accident, and the indifferent response of society.

Socially, the song reflects the harsh conditions faced by Brazil's working class, highlighting their struggles and the dehumanizing nature of labor. Politically, it serves as a critique of the oppressive military regime and the societal inequalities it perpetuated. The song's innovative use of narrative structure and poetic language made it a powerful piece of protest art, resonating with the Brazilian public who were grappling with political repression and censorship.

"Construção" became a symbol of resistance and artistic defiance against the authoritarian regime. Its impact extended beyond music, influencing Brazilian literature and culture by challenging the status quo and advocating for social change. Thus, the song "Construção" remains a poignant reflection of its turbulent time, capturing the spirit of resistance and resilience amidst political adversity in Brazil.

[woneymalian]

Fun fact (told me by my father): at this time, a famous brazilian artist was asked how he wrote his songs and rhymes, and he said that he used to look for words with strong syllables being the last or the one before the last (oxytones and paroxytones) and when asked why he said "because it's impossible to make a rhyming lyric with proparoxytones (strong syllable being the two before the last one), it's just too difficult".... Chico Buarque apparently heard this interview and was intrigued to see if he could do this. And he could... and it is still today a masterpiece for those listening to the lyrics in portuguese!

[ademirconegundes]

Trabalhei na construção civil por mais de 20 anos, sempre me emociono com esta música.

[predohenr]

I don't know if you noticed, but past the first and second reference to the traffic, the orchestra and the voices harmonizing with Chico actually remember vehicle horns, that is great imagery building. Chico and who arranjed this song are actually geniuses.

[kristhyansc]

Sometimes is easy to forget how blessed Brazilian PT speakers are to be born in that land! 🥺😭

[ktmtxt]

Chico Buarque is the greatest living artist in the Portuguese language.
No one even comes close.
I'm portuguese and I was able to finally watch him live in Porto in 2022 and I cried like a baby, it was unreal.
Long live Chico Buarque de Hollanda ❤

[LanguageNerdsofia_]

The last part of the song belongs to another song, "Deus lhe pague". During the dictatorship, there was this slogan "Brazil, love it or leave it", thus he saying "may God pay you back" for those awful things.

[rafaelnussi]

This song is a Brazilian masterpiece in composition.
There are some interesting tidbits in it.
Chico repeats the lyrics 4 times, always using proparoxytones at the end of each phrase.
These words are repeated in different orders in each segment of the song, giving a different meaning to the character's "personality, in this case the worker.
The song is called construction because the man works in a construction, but in my understanding it also reflects the way Chico builds the song, intelligently using this play on words to change the meaning in each segment.

[JuniorBedin]

BRASIL MENTIONED!! Brasileiros vamo pedir mais, o cara sentiu mesmo a vibe da música kkk

[santigabin]

There is a little detail about this song that really gets me... there is a grammar structure in portuguese called 'proparoxitona', it is when the third syllable from the end is stressed. Every verse of the story ends using one of them, and they are shuffled around in order to build each version of the story. Chico is a genius.

[moisessiqueira]

If you want a more in depth analysis on this song theres a great video by Charles Cornell callled "How brazil's music hid protest inside harmony", he does a great job at explaining not just the music but the historical context around that time! Anyway, great video

[paidoadm]

The chords in the music symbolise the horns of the cars on the street when he fell down the building, this is genius

[aimardom]

Chico Buarque is a sensitive genius, a socially hyper-develloped mind, a master of writing and composing, a man desiring to share his perception of the dictatorship horrors in the 60's in Brazil. I have no words to describe my deepest admiration for the poet, citizen, musician, leader, artist, man, human being, no words...

[andreacarreiro]

You totally understood the spirit of the song! Chico buarque is one of the greatests brazilian songwriters, poet and writer.

[marcorj]

"Construção" is one of Chico Buarque's masterpieces, released in 1971, and is widely recognized for its innovative structure and the depth of its lyrics. The song addresses the lives of workers in the context of urbanization and modernization in Brazil, particularly during a period of military dictatorship, reflecting on the alienation and dehumanization of labor.

The song is notable for its repetitive and nearly hypnotic structure. Chico uses the repetition of the initial line and the construction of interspersed stanzas to create a rhythm that evokes the arduous routine of workers. Each stanza culminates with the phrase "ele partiu" ("he left"), which becomes a mantra, reinforcing the idea that the life of a worker is marked by the continuity of labor and the lack of individuality.

Dehumanization of labor: Workers are depicted mechanically, as if they are merely parts of a machine. The song describes the death of a worker, but the focus is not solely on his individuality, but on how his life and death are absorbed into the daily grind of work.

Alienation: There is a strong critique of how society treats workers, disregarding their personal lives and human dignity. The worker becomes an object, and their struggle is rendered invisible in the grand enterprise of civil construction.

Relationship with society: The song also critiques societal indifference toward the lives of workers. While they sacrifice themselves, there is a disconnection between hard work and the acknowledgment of human value.

Political Context

During the 1970s, Brazil was under military dictatorship, and the song reflects a climate of repression, but also the resilience of the people. "Construção" can be interpreted as a metaphor for the struggle for freedom and social justice, reflecting the difficulties faced by the working class.

Conclusion

"Construção" is a work that transcends a mere account of a worker's life. Through its form and content, Chico Buarque provokes a profound reflection on working conditions and the dehumanization of individuals in the modern era. The song remains relevant, resonating in discussions about labor rights, dignity, and the valuing of human beings in any social context.

[Corrupted_Oberon.]

3:12 i think that the way the music got dramatic there was to simbolize the car horns

[dionescarpelli]

Chico Buarque has a wonderful body of work, in compositions, plays, books. He recently turned 80 on the 19th and is still on stage. This composition is from 1971, pure art. Thank you for bringing him, Chico is the owner of many successes here in Brasil.