“Fascinação” (Elis Regina, 1976)

Tomorrow would have been Elis Regina’s 78th birthday. Hard to believe she has been gone longer than she was here. Below I offer a translation of one of her most moving songs, in honor of the beauty that she brought into the world through her music. “Fascinação” (“Fascination”) is from her 1976 album “Falso Brilhante” (literally, “False Brilliant” but could be either “False Brilliance” or even “False Jewel”), and is one of her most popular and replayed songs.

Listen to the song.
Listen to a heartrending a cappella version.

“Fascination”
The most beautiful dreams I’ve dreamt
Of a thousand fantasies, a castle I built
And in your look giddy from emotion
I eagerly foresaw a thousand adventures

Your body is light, seduction
A divine poem full of splendor
Your smile captures, inebriates, numbs
You are fascination, love