Cidade Acesa

Genres

sertanejo

Biography

The expression "cidade acesa" (lit. "lit-up city") appears in the lyrics of the song "Desculpe, Mas Eu Vou Chorar", a major hit by the sertanejo duo Leandro & Leonardo, released in 1990. Written by César Augusto and Gabriel, the song portrays the loneliness and melancholy of someone who, amidst the hustle and bustle of the nocturnal urban scene, feels helpless and searches in vain for a lost love. The image of the "lit-up city" serves as a backdrop for the lyrical self's feeling of desolation, contrasting the pulsating life around them with their own introspection and pain.

The composition of "Desculpe, Mas Eu Vou Chorar" is attributed to César Augusto, a renowned sertanejo composer known for creating numerous hits for various artists. He revealed that the inspiration for the song came from an unusual situation: the heavy traffic of São Paulo. Upon finding the city at a standstill one night, he decided to wait in his office and, in about 15 minutes, composed the song, which would become a milestone in the career of Leandro & Leonardo and in sertanejo music.

"Desculpe, Mas Eu Vou Chorar" was one of the biggest hits from the album "Leandro & Leonardo", released in 1990, which sold over 3 million copies. The song cemented itself as a classic of romantic sertanejo, being re-recorded and interpreted by various artists over the years, including a punk version by the band Raimundos and notable performances on television shows like "The Voice Kids". The expression "cidade acesa" evokes the urban atmosphere and the search for solace amidst loneliness, recurring themes in the work of Leandro & Leonardo and in sertanejo music in general.