White Flag, My Love...It's Carnaval...

So begin the lyrics to my all-time favorite carnaval song: a poignant, slow-motion marcha called "Bandeira Branca." I remember the first time I ever heard it: I was packing my suitcase in the early evening to fly back to the U.S. Strains of a rather melancholy, seemingly pleading song, came through the window in the voices of the crowd down in the streets below. I started to hum the melody along and then tried to make out the words: Bandeira branca, amor..."White flag, my love, I can't go on like this anymore, because of this longing for you that's taking over me, I ask for peace." I hope these lovers made up in the end, how could one resist such a melodious entreaty?


My carnaval has been a little busier than usual, because I have a guest this year, a young, lively Canadian woman come to see what's it all about. I took her out for a small taste of street revelry Thursday night. On Friday, we walked around the lagoon all the way to the meeting point for Rola Preguiçosa in Ipanema. I don't know if you recall the post I wrote about this last November, but they're the bloco that picked as their theme song a samba honoring President Obama. They called it "Get It Off Your Chest," in Portuguese a pun with the outgoing President's name: "Desem...BUSHe!" So, I got to belt it out along with the small crowd. And, yes, I got it off my chest once again, this time to the drumming of a bateria on a breezy, clear Rio night!

For those of you who would like to learn to sing Bandeira Branca for next year's carnaval parties, perhaps, here are the lyrics. It's included in "Sassaricando," a two-CD set with the best carnaval songs ever. You can pick it up next time you're in Brazil!

Bandeira branca, amor
Não posso mais
Pela saudade que me invade
Eu peço paz (BIS)

Saudade mal de amor, de amor
Saudade dor que dói demais
Vem meu amor
Bandeira branca, eu peço paz

This is a time for stolen kisses on the street, for falling in and out of love, but some carnaval romances seem to endure. O Globo today has a story about couples who met during carnaval...and stayed together. And Neguinho da Beija-Flor, the official singer for the superchamp samba school from Nilópolis, has received permission to get married at the Sambadrome tonight with President Lula and his wife Marisa as witnesses.

Last, but not least, the Ministry of Health is distributing tens of thousands of free condoms and there's a safe sex campaign directed at women over fifty...remember, better safe than sorry! Happy Carnaval!

The photos here are of the musicians come to grace my neighborhood street party with their incredible sounds this afternoon. The ladies belong to a fantastic all-woman orchestra called Orquestra Lunar.


I had to add two more pictures: you tell me if this isn't the best bloco..."Umbilical Cord," now dancing at the corner of my street: babies, pregnant women, current and future members and their proud dads!!