Nina

Chico Buarque's song 'Nina' is a poetic exploration of longing, imagination, and the mysterious allure of a distant love. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of Nina, a woman with 'skin the color of snow' and 'eyes as black as pitch.' Despite her youth, Nina has experienced deep emotional pain, likened to that of a widow, but she has moved past it. This sets the stage for a narrative filled with both melancholy and hope, as Nina becomes a symbol of distant, unattainable love.

Nina's character is further developed through her love for travel and her fascination with the narrator's distant country. She has even gone so far as to create a map of his world, suggesting a deep, almost obsessive interest. This map-making can be seen as a metaphor for her desire to connect with the narrator, to bridge the gap between their worlds. The song's imagery is rich and evocative, allowing listeners to visualize Nina's home, her attire, and even her expressions as she writes to the narrator. This creates a sense of intimacy and connection, despite the physical distance between them.

The song culminates in a shared fantasy of meeting in Moscow, a city that represents both the exotic and the familiar. The mention of vodka and a waltz adds a layer of cultural specificity, grounding the fantasy in a real, tangible place. The narrator's act of closing his eyes and drinking vodka while listening to the waltz symbolizes his deep emotional investment in this imagined relationship. 'Nina' is a beautiful, melancholic ode to the power of imagination and the human desire for connection, even across great distances.