Beija-Flor

Posted on December 22, 2010 by WanderLustJeff
Founded:  1948
Colors: Dark Blue and White
Theme for 2011:  “Roberto Carlos: Simplicity of a King”
Website:  www.beija-flor.com.br
Performing:  Monday, March 7th, 2011 2:25am

2010 Finish: 3rd place

Beija Flor is a hummingbird, and while its mascot is small and humble, the school’s status is of a giant amongst giants. Having 11 victories under its belt says it all.

And after a 3rd place finish in 2010, they are coming back this coming year with a theme tributed to Brazilian music legend Roberto Carlos.

Click the You Tube video to hear their 2011 samba.

Samba Theme Lyrics ~ Samba Enredo 2011
A saudade
Vem pra reviver o tempo que passou
Ah! Essa lembrança que ficou
Momentos que não esqueci
Eu cheio de fantasias na luz do rei menino
Lá no seu Cachoeiro
E lá vou eu… De calhambeque a onda me levar
Na Jovem Guarda o rock a embalar… Vivendo a paixão
Amigos de fé guardei no coração

Quando o amor invade a alma… É magia
É inspiração pra nossa canção… Poesia
O beijo na flor é só pra dizer
Como é grande o meu amor por você

Nas curvas dessa estrada a vida em canções
Chora viola! Nas veredas dos sertões
Lindo é ver a natureza
Por sua beleza clamou em seus versos
No mar navegam emoções
Sonhar faz bem aos corações
Na fé com o meu rei seguindo
Outra vez estou aqui vivendo esse momento lindo
De todas as Marias vem as bênçãos lá do céu
Do samba faço oração, poema, emoção!

Meu Beija-Flor chegou a hora
De botar pra fora a felicidade
Da alegria de falar do Rei
E mostrar pro mundo essa simplicidade

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Vila Isabel

Posted on December 21, 2010 by WanderLustJeff
Founded:  1946
Colors:  Light Blue and White
Theme for 2011:  “Myths and stories intertwined by the hair”
Website:  www.gresunidosdevilaisabel.com.br
Performing:  Sunday, March 6th, 2011 1:20am

As 4th place finisher last year, Vila Isabel has the title by the hair this year. Figuratively at least. The chosen theme this year has to do with hair throughout history. It brings up the classic stories and myths such a Samson, Rapunzel and the wigs of Cleopatra. It is also conveniently sponsored by Pantene. Rumor has it Brazilian-born Gisele Bundchen might make an appearance!

Click the You Tube video to hear their 2011 samba.

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Salgueiro

Posted on December 20, 2010 by WanderLustJeff
Founded:  1953
Colors: Red and White
Theme for 2011:  “Salgueiro Presents: Rio at the cinema!”
Website:  www.salgueiro.com.br
Performing:  Monday, March 7th, 2011 10:05pm

2010 Finish: 5th place

It’s red and white flags and shirts are shown with pride. Salgueiro is one of the most respected schools in Rio, having last won the title in 2009 and finishing 5th last year. Though have been around over 50 years, and being known historically  for their samba dancing, today Salgueiro is known to be elitist, and some would even argue racist.

All that aside, they are samba kings and we’ll look forward to seeing what they present this year as they focus on Rio in the cinema!

Click the You Tube video to hear their 2011 samba.

 

Samba Theme Lyrics ~ Samba Enredo 2011

Salgueiro
Apresenta o Rio no cinema
Já não há mais lugar pra nos ver na Passarela
Cada um é um astro que entra em cena
No maior espetáculo da tela
A Cinelândia reencontrar
A luz se apaga acende a vida
Projeta sonhos na Avenida
A Terra em transe mostrou visão singular
E o tesouro de Atlântida
Foi abraçado pelo mar

Onde está? Diz aí
Carlota Joaquina veio descobrir
Na busca o bonde da Lapa Madame Satã
Pequena Notável requebra até de manhã
Em um simples instante
Orfeu vence as dores em som dissonante
E as cordas do seu violão
Silenciam para o amanhecer
Brilha o sol de um dia de verão
Salta aos olhos outra dimensão
Revoada risca o céu e faz
Amigos alados canto de paz
Maneiro deu a louca em Copacabana
Vi beijo do Homem na Mulher Aranha
E o “King-Kong” no Relógio da Central
Meu Salgueiro o “Oscar” sempre é da Academia
Toca o “bip-bop” furiosa bateria
Aqui tudo acaba em carnaval

O cenário é perfeito
De braços abertos sobre a Guanabara
O filme mostrou maravilhosa chanchada
Sob a direção do Redentor

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Mangueira

Posted on December 19, 2010 by WanderLustJeff
Founded:  1928
Colors:  Green and Pink
Theme for 2011:  “The faithful son, always Mangueira”
Website:  www.mangueira.com.br
Performing:  Sunday, March 6th, 2011 2:25am

Mangueira. One of the oldest, most traditional and most well known of all samba schools. Without a doubt, they are strong contenders year after year, and having won the first Carnival in the Sambadromo, they are at home!

Stay tuned this year for their gaudy colors (green and pink) and their fabulous performance!

Click the You Tube video to hear their 2011 samba.

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Mocidade

Posted on December 18, 2010 by WanderLustJeff
Founded:  1955
Colors:  Green and White
Theme for 2011:  “Parable of the Divine Seed”
Website:  www.mocidadeindependente.com.br
Performing:  Sunday, March 6th, 2011 11:10pm

Another classic samba school and top contender in the elite group, Mocidade has a history steeped in working its way up from a football club to one of the most formidable samba schools in Rio. Though laying under the radar for its first years, the 1970’s saw the schools rise as Castor de Andrade, a bicheiro (bookie mobster), took the school under his wing and brought it new life.

Having won 4 titles in the past, Mocidade is planning another great year with “Parable of the Divine Seed” while addressing the history of agriculture and farming in Brazil, with the promise of religious undertones. Can’t wait to see what they will harvest from this one!

Click the You Tube video to hear their 2011 samba.

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Imperatriz Leopoldinense

Posted on December 17, 2010 by WanderLustJeff
Founded:  1959
Colors:  Light Green, White & Gold
Theme for 2011:  “The Empress advises: samba is good for health”
Website: www.imperatrizleopoldinense.com.br
Performing:  Sunday, March 6th, 2011 10:05pm

Founded in 1959, and named  in honor of Leopoldina von Habsburg of Austria, and also Empress of Brazil, Emperor Dom Pedro’s first wife. She was a great politician in her time, and one of the main proponents of Brazil’s independence from Portugal. Always a class act, this school is known for its lavish and luxurious fashion shows, the work of long-time designer Rosa Magalhães.

Imperatriz is a force to be reckoned with. It has won 8 titles- 3 with perfect scores (1980, 1989, 2001) and 3 titles consecutively (1999, 2000, 2001). What will 2011 bring them?

Click the You Tube video to hear their 2011 samba.

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Portela

Posted on December 16, 2010 by WanderLustJeff
Founded:  1926
Colors: Blue and White
Theme for 2011:  “Rio, the color blue sea”
Website: www.gresportela.com.br
Performing:  Monday, March 7th, 2011 11:10pm

2010 Finish: 9th place

Arguably one of the best known of the samba schools, Portela is also one of the oldest. It’s emblem is the eagle, and it does soar above the competition. Portela has won a record 21 titles, making them truly legendary.

In the past, stars such as Ricky Martin, Naomi Campbell and Quincy Jones have been known to show up on their floats. This year, headed by Szaniecki Roberto, where will their theme “Rio, the color blue sea” take them?

Click the You Tube video to hear their 2011 samba.

 

Samba Theme Lyrics ~ Samba Enredo 2011

Brilhou no céu
A luz da Águia, a estrela-guia
Do coração navegador
Que na travessia enfrentou
Todo o medo que havia
Era a mitologia do mar
A lenda deu lugar para a certeza
Que pra viver é preciso navegar
As galés do Oriente…já vêm!
Da Fenícia e do Egito… também!
Gregos e romanos partem para conquistar
e o Farol de Alexandria fez a noite clarear

Os mistérios vão desvendar
Um novo caminho encontrar
Lá na Índia, especiarias
Leva-e-traz mercadorias

A ambição do europeu se encantou
Com o Novo Mundo de riqueza natural, sem igual
Os navios negreiros
Deixam seus lamentos pelo ar
Nas águas de Yemanjá
Nem pirata aventureiro, nem o rei podem mandar
Oi leva mar, oi leva
Leva a jangada numa nova direção
O Porto centenário abriu seus braços
Na terra de São Sebastião
Portela vai buscar no horizonte
A eterna fonte de inspiração
Um oceano de amor que virou arte
E deságua na imaginação

Lindo como o mar azul
Meu grande amor, minha Portela
A força do seu pavilhão vai me levar
A navegar

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Porto da Pedra

Posted on December 15, 2010 by WanderLustJeff
Founded:  1978
Colors:  Red and White
Theme for 2011:  “The dream always comes to those who dream…”
Website: www.unidosdoportodapedra.com.br
Performing:  Monday, March 7th, 2011 1:20am

2010 Finish: 10th place

A relative new-comer to the elite scene, Porto da Pedra was founded in 1978 after originally being a part of a soccer club. Founded by a teen street gang, this school was seen as a fresh start and has been elevated to this elite level over the years with the help of keen investors and insiders of the world of samba.

What dreams may they have in store with 2011’s theme “The dream always comes to those who dream…?”

Click the You Tube video to hear their 2011 samba.

 

Samba Theme Lyrics ~ Samba Enredo 2011

Um pedaço de papel
Pano, cores, ilusão
Vai girando o carrossel
Nas asas da imaginação
Clara, “a menina dos meus olhos”
Criadora do impossível, sonhadora feito eu
Em tudo que ela escreveu
Um aprendiz de feiticeiro a formular o amor
E a princesa recebeu a flor
A fera foi pra outra dimensão
Amigo de Deus, Noé entendeu
O mundo em transformação

A bruxa boa vem aí, eu quero ver!
O saboroso elixir, eu vou provar!
No vento vendaval da liberdade,
Um samba de verdade vai passar

Quem não sonhou jamais amou
Não sabe o que é se libertar
Não viu o trem, nem o colar…
O sonho sempre vem pra quem sonhar!
Vai, vai, vai, vai, vence logo esse medo
“Prega uma peça” à esperança…
Vem no galope o corcel, feito azul do céu
E a magia da criança
Em busca d`alegria, seu poder de encantar
Criando sonhos, recriando a fantasia a brincar

No Tablado consagrando a criação
É a arte, vida em transformação
Meu Tigre chegou, aplausos no ar
É Clara que me faz sonhar!

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União da Ilha do Governador

Posted on December 14, 2010 by WanderLustJeff
Founded:  1953
Colors: Blue, Red & White
Theme for 2011:  “The mystery of life”
Website: www.gresuniaodailha.com.br
Performing:  Monday, March 7th, 2011 9:00pm

2010 Finish: 11th place

The year 2011 will be an exciting one for União da Ilha as they will perform in the Sambadrome on the exact day of their 57th anniversary! Though ranked 11th place in the Special Group  last year, this exciting night will hopefully give them the energy they need to be strong contenders in the 2011 competition.

Through their 57 year history they have had many classic sambas and Carnival themes, though they have never won the title in the Special group. With a theme as curious as “The mystery of life,” could this be their year?

Click the You Tube video to hear their 2011 samba.

 

Samba Theme Lyrics ~ Samba Enredo 2011

Minha alegria vai girar o mundo
Aventureira vai cruzando o mar
Trazendo Darwin na memória
Histórias vou desvendar
Um relicário de beleza natural
É o esplendor do Carnaval
Que maravilha, nessa terra vou desembarcar
O show da Ilha vai começar

No fundo do mar eu vi brotar
Se multiplicar a vida
Mistérios vão se revelar
Nas águas que vão me levar… A caminhar

A Terra abriu um sorriso
E o paraíso vai me ver chegar
Seres estão antenados
Pequenos alados bailando no ar
Lindos animais na Passarela
E lá no céu, a mais linda aquarela
Do alto surgiu diferente
Não sei se é bicho, não sei se é gente
Somos frutos do mesmo lugar
A Árvore da Vida vamos preservar

Hoje eu quero brindar… A Ilha
Nessa Avenida dos sonhos brilhar
O meu amanhã só Deus saberá
A vida vamos celebrar

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São Clemente

Posted on December 13, 2010 by WanderLustJeff
Founded:  1961
Colors:  Gold and Black
Theme for 2011:  “Yours, mine, our Rio, blessed by God and beautiful by nature”
Website:  www.saoclemente.com.br
Performing:  Sunday, March 6th, 2011 9:00pm

In 2010, São Clemente won their division (Access group) with a near perfect score and won the rights to move up to the highest group- Grupo Especial. In doing so, they bumped out last-place VilaDouro and have poised themselves in a great position for 2011- their 50th anniversary!

São Clemente is known for its storylines that are smart, sarcastic and irreverently deal with social issues within Rio de Janeiro and Brazil. Whether it be the crazy traffic, housing deficits, or the abundance of street children, São Clemente points out, pokes fun at, and illustrates social issues of the times in a fun sarcastic way.

Click the You Tube video to hear their 2011 samba.

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