A pop song that became part of a ceremonial ritual in the Amazon and an anthem to the LGBT community

In 1976 an unknown song played on TV opening a Brazilian TV Series (novela Saramandaia). Since then the song has been recorded 50 times and in several languages. The song, called Pavão Mysteriozo (Mysterious Peacock), composed and sung by Ednardo, talks about a mysterious peacock. In the lyrics the poetic being asks the peacock for protection from dying young, for help in keeping in touch with the inner child, and for help in singing during dark times. The composer took inspiration from a Brazilian short folk tale and from the dark times of Brazilian dictatorship (in the 70s). The mysterious power of this song flew not only over mundane urban spaces but also over sacred lands. The song became part of the the ceremonial ritual Quarup in the Xingu Tribe in the Amazon. Ednardo explains a how he discovered the inclusion of this song in this ritual:

The singer/ songwriter Ednardo

“Who told me about this was the [journalist and writer] Ana Maria Bahia, during an interview. She made a trip to the Upper Xingu, accompanying [composer and multi-instrumentalist] Egberto Gismonti and there they witnessed an indigenous ritual to the natives call Quarup. It is a rite that they honor their ancestors with music and dance. Then, before you start, the Indians put the song “Pavão Mysteriozo”. Ana Maria told me that in 1976, I think. It was right around the time that music was becoming known. And of course I was very surprised and at the same time fascinated with it. To this day I wonder how this song made ​​it to the traditional Native Brazilians.” (Tribuna do Norte, July 13th, 2013)

In 2002 the song was the official anthem of one of the biggest gay prides in the world, the São Paulo Gay Pride (Brazil).  Ednardo sees lots of sense in this association with the gay affirmation given the libertarian character of this tune composed during the dictatorship:“We sought ways to circumvent censorship. And I used the lyrics to comment on the times, for example ‘they are many, but can not fly,’ .

Gay Pride in São Paulo

After all these years, this “Mysterious Peacock” still flies, enchanting many who value freedom, appreciate beauty and cultivate resilience in their lives.

Please watch the video and see translated lyrics below:

Mysterious peacock
beautiful bird
Everything is mystery
In your flying
Oh if I could run
So many skies like you
lots of tales
I would have to tell

Mysterious peacock
this tail
Opened as a hand fan
Keeps me a child
in an eternal play
Saves me from the embarrassment
of dying so young
Much still
I want to see …

Mysterious peacock
beautiful bird
Everything is mystery
In your flying
Oh if I could run
So many skies like you
lots of tales
I would have to tell

Mysterious peacock
beautiful bird
In this dark night
Help me sing
Pour these sparks
Liberate this thunder
Extinguish all, oh!
That is not right..

Mysterious peacock
beautiful bird
An angry earl
Is on his way
Fear not, my maid
Our luck in this war
They are many
But they can not fly