MusicCazuza: The double sense of ‘career, money, straw’ in the lyrics of ‘exaggerated’

The first album of the solo career of Cazuza It was released in November 1985 and initially bearing only the singer’s name. However, with the success of the single “Exaggerated”this became the title of the album, renamed the song composed by the former singer of Red baron in partnership with the journalist Ezequiel Neves and Leoniat the time still part of the Kid Bee.

Interestingly, the song itself, one of the greatest classics of the Cazuza repertoire, also allows a reinterpretation on a specific verse of its lyrics:

“And for you I drop everything / career, money, straw …“

According to Júlio EttoreYoutuber and national rock expert, this stretch has double meaning and makes mention beyond the obvious. On your channel in Youtube (Transcript via Wiplash), Julior explains his thesis about the letter of “Exaggerated”:

“If you analyze more ‘clean’ these words, he (Cazuza) is talking about his professional career, money and university diploma. That in many regions is called ‘straw’. ‘Ah, I’ll get a straw’. But this can also be seen as a double meaning phrasewhich mentions cocaine. Something that Leoni himself did not realize when he made the song. “

In this case:

• “Career” would be the career (name given to the powdered powder) of cocaine;
• “Money” would be the use of banknotes to inhale the drug;
• “Canudo” would also be the use of the device to aspire the dust.

In the video of Júlio Ettore, there is a quick passage from Leoni commenting on this second interpretation. The musician corroborates Julius’s thesis:

“He (Cazuza) took these words, which were from the daily lives of normal people, who was having a career, money, straw and I don’t know what, and mixed with the reality of drugs, underworld.”

Who is the “exaggerated”?

Considering this interpretation, the letter of “Exaggerated” would be a reference to the authors themselves, Cazuza and Ezequel Neves, also known as Ezequiel Jagger for the passion for Rolling Stones. Both were cocaine users.

On the other hand, it is said that only Ezekiel would be the character of the composition. Nevertheless, the lyrics were incorporated by Cazuza himself, who became the “exaggerated” before the public.

Cazuza and the 1985 album

Exaggeratedthe album, also had other hits, such as “Codename Hummingbird” and “Evil none”. The album was attended by Frejat – Even considering the still recent breaking of the singer with the Red Baron – and Wolf In the composition of some songs and sold about 50,000 copies.

In interviews, Frejat says that part of the repertoire present in Exaggerated It would be present on a planned baron’s fourth album with Cazuza. The album in question was not recorded.

Are credited by the recordings of Exaggerated:

• Cazuza – Vocals
• Nico Rezende-Piano (Yamaha CP-80) and synthesizer (Yamaha DX-7, Roland JX-3P)
• Décio Crispim – Bass
• Rogério Meanda – Guitars
• João Rebouças – Keyboards
• FERNANDO MORAES – BATTERY AND PERCUSSION
• Zé Luiz – Saxophone

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