Fátima Guedes

Fátima Guedes saw her songs interpreted by Elis Regina, who first brought her to wide attention in 1978, as well as by Maria Bethânia, Nana Caymmi, Simone, Ney Matogrosso, Elba Ramalho, Alcione, Wanderléa, Zizi Possi, Joanna, Simone, and Beth Carvalho, among numerous others. Standout pieces from her catalog include “Cheiro de Mato,” “Condenados,” “Onze Fitas,” “Absinto,” “Lápis de Cor,” “Arco-Íris,” “Faca,” and “Flor-de-ir-embora.”

She began composing poems at age nine and, by fifteen, had taught herself the violão. At eighteen she entered a festival held at Colégio Helio Alonso, where the panel—Maria Bethânia, Paulo César Pinheiro, Hermínio Bello de Carvalho, and Roberto Moura—awarded her the Passional prizes for lyrics, music, and performance. Her debut album, titled Fátima Guedes, appeared in 1979. The following year she entered the MPB/Shell festival with “Mais Uma Boca” and issued her second self-titled record. Critics singled out the 1981 release Lápis de Cor for its quality. In 1983 she delivered Muito Prazer, which contained “Absinto,” and followed it with Sétima Arte in 1985. Pra Bom Entendedor featured pieces written by Guinga and Aldir Blanc. Three of her compositions received 1996 Sharp prize nominations, among them the two drawn from Grande Tempo: “Minha Nossa Senhora” and “Sem Saída.”