“Palpite Infeliz” (Noel Rosa, 1935)
In honor of what would have been Noel Rosa’s 113th birthday, a translation of his classic “Palpite Infeliz.” This fantastic song has an interesting backstory as well. Translating from Portuguese Wikipedia:
“Palpite Infeliz” is a samba composed by Noel Rosa in 1935. It is considered the apex of a dispute between Rosa and the sambista Wilson Batista. Wilson had written the song “Lenço no pescoço” (“Scarf around the neck”), an homage to the malandro lifestyle, to which Noel responded with the samba "Rapaz Folgado" (“Lazy Boy”), a criticism of that lifestyle. Wilson then composed “O Mocinho da Vila” (“Village Boy”), which Noel answered with the masterpiece “Feitiço da Vila” (“Village Spell”). Wilson followed up with “Conversa Fiada” (“Idle Chatter”) and finally Noel released “Palpite Infeliz.”
Irritated, Wilson composed a song ("Frankenstein") criticizing one of Noel’s physical features, but the latter did not reply to the provocation. Wilson insisted with another song, “Terra de Cego” (“Land of the Blind”), and Noel used the same melody to compose his response, “Deixa de Ser Convencido” (“Stop Being Conceited”) which ended the argument. The subsequent success of Noel’s songs “Feitiço da Vila” and “Palpite Infeliz” indubitably give him the win in this dispute.
The song is a defense of Vila Isabel, the neighborhood in Rio where Noel Rosa was born.
Listen to the song
(as sung by the great João Gilberto)
“Unfortunate Guess”
Who are you who doesn’t know what you’re saying?
My god in heaven, what an unfortunate guess!
Hail Estácio, Salgueiro, Mangueira,*
Oswaldo Cruz, and Matriz**
Who always knew full well
That Vila doesn’t want to keep anyone down,
It just wants to show that it does samba too
Writing poems in Vila is a game
To the samba sounds they dance to the groves
I’ve called you to see
You didn’t see because you didn’t want to
Who are you who doesn’t know what you’re saying?
Vila is an independent city
That makes samba but doesn’t want to take out a patent
Why pay attention to those who don’t know
Where their nose is?
Who are you who doesn’t know what you’re saying?
*Samba schools in Rio de Janeiro
**Another name for the Our Lady of Lourdes church in Vila Isabel