Chico Buarque - Construção

'Construção' (Construction) is a tragic narrative about a construction worker who dies falling from a scaffolding while his bosses wait for his body to hit the ground. The song uses complex, meticulously crafted rhyming schemes to critique the exploitation and dehumanization of the Brazilian working class. It is widely considered a masterpiece of Brazilian literature and music.

The album Construção was released in 1971 during the height of Brazil's military dictatorship. Because of strict government censorship, Chico Buarque had to write using intricate metaphors and wordplay to disguise his political messages. It was his seventh studio album and cemented his status as a national icon.

Yes, Chico Buarque was heavily targeted by the Brazilian military regime's censorship bureau. While the title track 'Construção' slipped past the censors due to its clever lyrics, other songs on the album and from this era were frequently banned or altered. He often had to submit his lyrics to the government for approval before recording.

The album is a defining record of Música Popular Brasileira (MPB), a sophisticated post-bossa nova movement in Brazil. It combines acoustic Brazilian rhythms with lush, classical-inspired orchestral arrangements provided by famed conductor Rogério Duprat. The music sounds beautifully melodic while hiding deeply subversive lyrics.