Learn Portuguese With Mallu Magalhães with these 10 Song Recommendations (Full Translations Included!)

Mallu Magalhães
LF Content Team | Updated on 2 February 2023
Learning Portuguese with Mallu Magalhães's music is fun, engaging, and includes a cultural aspect that is often missing from other language learning methods. It is also great way to supplement your learning and stay motivated to keep learning Portuguese!
Below are 10 song recommendations by Mallu Magalhães to get you started! Alongside each recommendation, you will find a snippet of the lyric translations with links to the full lyric translations and lessons for each of the songs!
CONTENTS SUMMARY
Cena De Cinema (Movie Scene)
'Tá certo que não sou normal
Mas sabe que eu me viro bem ao longo do dia
Às vezes que me dei mal
Foi porque eu acreditei em outro alguém
Sure, I'm not normal
But you know I get by just fine through the day
The times I got screwed
Were 'cause I believed in someone else

Lights, camera, action! In Cena De Cinema (which means Movie Scene), Brazilian singer-songwriter Mallu Magalhães invites us to picture life as a colorful film. She playfully admits she is “not normal,” yet she knows how to handle each day’s plot twists. Whenever she gets hurt, it is usually because she believed too much in someone else’s script. Even so, she chooses to keep loving, falling, and getting back up rather than living without love at all.

The chorus is her motto: Whatever happens, I live my life like a movie scene; it is all worth it. Mallu refuses to waste even a second being afraid of the world. Instead, she embraces every unexpected moment, trusting that the drama, comedy, and romance are part of a story that ultimately pays off. The song is a warm reminder to step into our own spotlight, accept the risks, and find joy in the cinematic adventure of everyday life.

Pé De Elefante (Elephant's Foot)
Pé de elefante
Roda gigante
Vou confiante
Nada sei
Elephant foot
Ferris wheel
I go confident
I know nothing

“Pé De Elefante” feels like a whimsical stroll through a surreal carnival of life. Mallu Magalhães strings together vivid snapshots – an elephant’s foot, a Ferris wheel, a lucky clover, a stone street – to show how every step can be both playful and mysterious. The singer walks “confiante” yet admits “nada sei,” capturing the thrill of venturing forward even when you do not have all the answers.

At its heart, the song is a love letter to unapologetic individuality. While “há quem siga pelo caminho do meio” (some people choose the safe middle road), Mallu proudly declares herself “metade totalmente louco” – half and totally crazy. She is not short on time; she is bursting with restless energy, truth and doubt, traps and loud-speaker emotions. Life’s twists spin her around like the Ferris wheel, but each whirl leaves a memorable footprint. The message is clear: embrace your contradictions, ignore the ticking clock, and dance through the chaos with fearless curiosity.

Você Não Presta (You Are No Good)
Vem
Eu não tenho mistério, não
Eu guardo as minhas cicatrizes
Mantenho as minhas diretrizes
Come
I have no mystery, no
I keep my scars
I keep my guidelines

“Você Não Presta” is Mallu Magalhães’s playful yet punchy anthem of self-worth. Singing in Portuguese, the Brazilian artist lays out her rules loud and clear: she owns her scars, follows her own compass, and happily opens the doors of her inner “empire” to everyone… except one toxic guest. The repeatedly chanted line “Eu convido todo mundo para a minha festa, só não convido você porque você não presta” (“I invite everyone to my party, I just don’t invite you because you’re no good”) turns the song into a cheeky, carnival-flavored dis-invitation. In other words, Mallu is throwing the bash of self-confidence and firmly crossing the name of anyone who brings bad vibes off the list.

Beneath the upbeat rhythm and witty lyrics sits a deeper message: knowing your limits is as important as celebrating freedom. By contrasting carnival imagery with warnings against overthinking, never crying, or never failing, Mallu reminds us that real joy comes from embracing imperfection and dancing through life’s ups and downs. So press play, feel the samba-tinged beat, and remember: your party is big enough for the whole world—just don’t forget to keep the haters outside the gate.

Culpa Do Amor (Love Guilt)
A gente briga sem querer
E o tempo demora a passar
Você não vai me convencer
E eu não vou nem tentar
We fight without meaning to
And time drags on
You won't convince me
And I won't even try

"Culpa Do Amor" unfolds the charming chaos of a relationship where tiny storms quickly turn into sunshine. Mallu Magalhães sings about those spur-of-the-moment arguments that feel endless, only to melt away with a shy glance, shared laughter, and a sweet kiss. In her lyrics, every quarrel is a playful “briga de aluguel” (a fight you temporarily rent), and every reconciliation is proof that love itself is the mastermind pulling the strings.

The song reminds us that love loves to tease: it pauses time, flips plans upside down, yet paints the sky an even brighter blue when the dust settles. Rather than fearing the unexpected, Mallu invites us to see misunderstandings as part of love’s artwork. After all, if the heart is the artist, a few messy brushstrokes only make the final picture more vivid and unforgettable.

Vai E Vem (Comes And Goes)
Sei que cê não gosta nada
Dessa história de vai e vem
Tudo bem
A gente fica mais em casa
I know you don't like it
This back-and-forth thing
It's okay
We'll stay home more

Vai e Vem (literally “Come and Go”) is Mallu Magalhães’s gentle reminder that life is made of tiny, shimmering instants. Singing to someone who is tired of constant comings and goings, she proposes a quieter rhythm—“We can just stay at home.” Yet the nighttime brings dreams of the life that is almost within reach, and Mallu comforts her companion with a playful truth: “Almost is already pretty good.”

Wrapped in breezy indie-folk, the song balances two forces that tug at every heart: the urge to chase big dreams and the need to savor what is already here. Happiness, she insists, flashes by in “micro-seconds,” and real peace is roaming freely around the world. With this light-hearted wisdom, “Vai e Vem” invites you to keep your plans alive, feel the wind at the window, but never overlook the small moments that make the journey worthwhile.

Será Que Um Dia (Will One Day)
Será que um dia desses
Você vai dizer
Que se cansou das minhas aventuras
Que está na hora de viver as suas
I wonder if one of these days
you'll say
that you're tired of my adventures
that it's time to live yours

Can love outshine wanderlust? In "Será Que Um Dia," Mallu Magalhães wonders if the restless spirit that once fascinated her partner might eventually drive them apart. She pictures the moment when her companion may confess, "I’m tired of following your adventures—it’s time for mine." This possibility fills the singer with both fear and tenderness, inspiring a heartfelt plea that blends childlike imagination with cozy, domestic promises.

Instead of grand declarations, she offers the simple magic of everyday life: a shared dinner table, an old-school landline, good wine after a rough day, and even a "star from the dawn" to prove that love is still worth it. The song is a gentle tug-of-war between freedom and attachment, showing how intimacy can turn the ordinary into something dazzling. Ultimately, Mallu invites us to believe that real adventure might be found not out on the road but in the warm glow of home, side by side with someone who chooses to stay.

Navegador (Browser)
Faça o que quiser mas não me negue
Invente uma desculpa que se aceite
Pense o que quiser mas não se engane
Eu não nasci pra ver o mundo desabar
Do whatever you want but don't deny me
Make up an excuse that'll pass
Think whatever you want but don't fool yourself
I wasn't born to watch the world collapse

Mallu Magalhães invites us on a sun-drenched voyage of self-discovery in Navegador. The narrator announces that she will no longer wait, beg, or explain. Instead, she chooses to nadar nas ondas da felicidade (swim in waves of happiness) and taste the mel da liberdade (honey of freedom). Ocean imagery turns her heart into a sturdy ship’s trunk and her feet into those of a barefoot fisherman, highlighting resilience, simplicity, and the thrill of steering her own course.

Although someone from her past may still ask how she is, she no longer needs their gaze or their tears. The world might say it is the end, yet she decides it is only the beginning of her personal adventure. Navegador is a playful yet empowering anthem that celebrates breaking free from expectations, trusting your inner compass, and savoring every salty-sweet moment along the way.

Casa Pronta (Ready House)
Vem pra perto de mim
Já cansei de esperar
Você nem vai acreditar
Quando vir a nossa casa pronta
Come closer to me
I'm tired of waiting
You won't even believe it
When you see our house finished

In Casa Pronta Mallu Magalhães paints a cozy picture of love in the making. The singer speaks directly to someone special, inviting them to come closer and finally see the dream they have both been waiting for: a fully prepared home filled with hand-picked flowers, a freshly made bed, and even a brand-new fan for warm Brazilian nights. Every detail, from the color of the door to the neatly arranged wardrobe, shows her excitement and dedication. She is not just decorating a space; she is decorating a future for two.

Yet beneath the cheerful preparations lies a gentle tension. The repeated lines "Você que vai, você que vem" (you who go, you who come) reveal uncertainty about whether this person will truly stay. Still, the singer’s optimism shines as she says "Eu vou torcer pra ser você e eu" (I will root for it to be you and me). The song becomes a sweet mantra of hope: love may be unpredictable, but for now the house is ready, the heart is open, and she is cheering for a happy arrival.

Sambinha Bom
Sambinha bom
É esse que te traz de volta
Que é só tocar
Que logo você quer voltar
Good little samba
It's the one that brings you back
Just play it
And right away you wanna return

“Sambinha Bom” (Good Little Samba) is Mallu Magalhães’s ode to the irresistible power of a simple samba groove. The singer describes a tune so catchy that the moment it starts you feel an urge to come back, sing along, and hit the dance floor again. Over light, circular chords and few notes, she explains that this tiny musical spell can pull lovers together better than words ever could.

Beneath the playful rhythm lies a heartfelt plea. Mallu’s narrator admits her heart is tired of shedding tears and now begs for her partner’s return, hoping they can dance, sing, and sambar their sorrows away. The lyrics grow more intimate and mischievous as she declares she wants to “stick” to her lover, embroider herself into their very skin, and even strip away their clothes. It is a flirtatious cocktail of longing, tenderness, and Brazilian swing — showing how music can heal hurt feelings, spark desire, and turn any room into a small carnival.

Velha E Louca (Old And Crazy)
Pode falar que eu não ligo
Agora amigo eu tô em outra
Eu tô ficando velha
Eu tô ficando louca
You can talk, I don't care
Now, buddy, I'm onto something else
I'm getting old
I'm going crazy

Velha e Louca is Mallu Magalhães’s playful anthem of self-acceptance and carefree rebellion. Singing in a breezy, almost conversational tone, she tells the world that she is growing “old and crazy” – and she loves it. The lyrics paint the picture of a wanderer who is always on the road, never checking the time, and never letting anyone steal her easy laugh. Even when friends try to give advice, she brushes it off with a swipe of bright red lipstick and keeps focusing on the bright side of every corner she visits.

Rather than fearing age or imperfection, Mallu celebrates them as badges of freedom. She follows her own nose, sings even when her voice is hoarse, and proudly balances wobbly legs with a heart full of joy. The song’s message is clear: embrace your quirks, ignore the naysayers, and find happiness in the simple act of being yourself.

We have more songs with translations on our website and mobile app. You can find the links to the website and our mobile app below. We hope you enjoy learning Portuguese with music!