Brilha Brilha Estrelinha Lyrics in English by Galinha Pintadinha
Cordel literally means “string,” but in Brazil it also refers to a traditional popular-art style, especially colorful illustrations and poems sold as literatura de cordel. In the song, “num desenho de cordel” evokes the star shining in a charming, folkloric drawing, making this a distinctive and culturally rich word to learn.
A Brazilian take on the lullaby everyone knows as "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star", sung by Galinha Pintadinha for small children. It keeps the opening line, "Brilha, brilha, estrelinha" (Twinkle, twinkle, little star), and the wish "Quero ver você brilhar" (I want to see you shine), then gives the star a home of its own: "Lá no alto, lá no céu" (Up high, up in the sky), "Num desenho de cordel" (Like a drawing in a cordel booklet). Cordel is the cheap folk poetry pamphlet of north-east Brazil, printed with woodcut pictures, so the star becomes a little woodcut figure rather than a diamond in the sky.
The last line turns the star into "linda bailarina" (pretty ballerina) with the command "Baila" (Dance). The whole verse is sung twice with an instrumental break between, which makes it an easy first song: five short lines, the verbs brilhar and bailar, and the everyday words alto, céu and linda.
