BETWEEN FRUIT AND DESIRE: SEMANTIC AND DISCURSIVE ANALYSIS OF THE SONG MORENA TROPICANA BY ALCEU VALENÇA

Abstract

This article presents a semantic and discursive analysis of the song "Morena Tropicana" by Alceu Valença, seeking to understand how the lexicon, metaphors, and isotopies of desire construct meanings associated with eroticism, sensuality, and Northeastern cultural identity. This is a qualitative, bibliographical and interpretative study, grounded in the theoretical frameworks of structural semantics by Greimas (1973), Pottier (1978), and discourse analysis by Orlandi (2001), and Maingueneau (2008). The methodology consisted of a bibliographic survey and an examination of the corpus—the song's lyrics—through the identification of lexical fields, semantic isotopies, and discursive scenographies. The central objective is to analyze how the song mobilizes tropical symbols and physical sensations (fruit, color, flavor) that, through connotation, are transfigured into erotic and identity metaphors. The rationale for this study lies in the relevance of Brazilian Popular Music as a space for the construction of cultural and social meanings, where poetic language is articulated with discursive memory and oral practices. From an etymological and cultural perspective, the expression "pink mango" refers to a variety of the Mangifera fruit, originating in South Asia and incorporated into Brazil during the colonial period. This variety, with its reddish color and sweet flavor, became part of the Brazilian cultural imagination, associated with fertility, abundance, and desire. In Maranhão, the pink mango acquires particular relevance: the state is among the largest producers of the fruit, and its presence in fairs, markets, and culinary practices reinforces the connection between tropical nature, eroticism, and regional identity. Therefore, the articulation of semantics and discourse analysis allows us to understand Morena Tropicana as an artistic text that transcends the literal dimension of language, transforming everyday signs into metaphors of desire, eroticism, and cultural identity.