Troca de Calçada

Troca de Calçada (Change Sidewalk) is a powerful social critique wrapped in a melancholic ballad. It addresses the stigmatization of prostitution, humanizing the women who are often marginalized and judged by society. The song functions as a plea for empathy, challenging the listener to look beyond the surface level of "heels and miniskirts" to see the human being underneath.

The narrative explores the duality between the physical and the emotional. The protagonist reveals that her profession requires a dissociation of self: to keep her body "warm" (alive, working, physically present), she must "freeze her heart" (numb her emotions). This highlights the psychological toll of sex work when it is a result of desperation or lack of choice. The lyrics suggest that her path was not a desired career but a consequence of "low-quality loves" and life chipping away at her dreams.

The central message is one of anti-judgment. By stating that if people knew "one-third of the story," they would "hug rather than stone" her, the song alludes to biblical themes of forgiveness (specifically the story of Jesus and the woman taken in adultery) and criticizes the hypocrisy of societal morality. The act of "changing sidewalks" represents the physical manifestation of this hypocrisy—society uses these women but refuses to acknowledge their humanity in public.

A passerby encounters a woman on the street and is immediately urged to remain silent, to withhold the instinct to point fingers or cast premature judgment. This woman carries hidden reasons for her current state, and the scorn she faces is born of deep-seated prejudice. She has endured such immense contempt that it feels as though the divine itself weeps in disbelief from above.

Once, she was merely a young girl, innocent and full of dreams, who poured her life into unworthy, low-quality loves. Like many others, she harbored the simple, traditional dream of marriage; it was never her intention to become a source of shame for her family. However, each person who passed through her life took a fragment of her spirit, leaving her with only remnants to sell on the street corner.

To maintain physical warmth in the cold night, she was forced to freeze her own heart. She wears waterproof makeup as a shield to conceal her profound sadness. When society sees her dressed in her working attire—high heels and a miniskirt—they cross to the other side of the street in disgust. Yet, she confesses that the pain of love and the loss of self hurt far more than the look of revulsion on a stranger's face. If the world knew even a fraction of her harrowing history, they would offer an embrace rather than casting stones.

Troca de Calçada was released on January 29, 2021, as part of the EP Nosso Amor Envelheceu. However, the song was written in 2018 by Marília Mendonça alongside her frequent collaborators Juliano Tchula and Vitor Ferrari. For years, Marília kept the song in her "vault" of unreleased compositions, unsure of when to share it.

The decision to record and release it came after Marília posted a snippet of the guide vocal on Twitter. The reaction from fans was overwhelming; they launched a campaign asking her to record the full version. Marília stated in interviews that she considered it one of the strongest songs she had ever written. Unlike many of her songs which were based on personal romantic experiences, this track was a fictional narrative constructed to give voice to a marginalized group, inspired by the general struggle of women in prostitution rather than a specific individual.

The single's cover art features an illustration inspired by Vincent van Gogh's painting Café Terrace at Night, aligning with the project's artistic theme where each song cover referenced a famous work of art.

The song utilizes vivid imagery to convey the protagonist's emotional state and social standing:

• Troca de Calçada (Changing the Sidewalk): The titular metaphor represents social exclusion and disgust. It captures the physical action people take to avoid proximity to a sex worker, symbolizing how society pushes these women to the margins.
• Frozen Heart vs. Warm Body: A powerful contrast illustrating dissociation. The "warm body" represents the commodity she sells and physical survival, while the "frozen heart" symbolizes the emotional death required to endure the job.
• Waterproof Makeup: A symbol of concealment and resilience. It implies that she cries often, but her "mask" (her professional appearance) must remain intact to face the world.
• Stones vs. Hugs: A biblical allusion to the "casting of stones." It contrasts punitive judgment with Christian charity and human empathy.
• Amores de Quinta (Fifth-rate loves): Represents the exploitation she suffered. These unworthy relationships are depicted as the thieves that stole pieces of her life until she had nothing left but her body.

The emotional landscape of the song is dominated by melancholy, shame, and dignified anguish. It begins with a tone of solemn warning and defense, creating a protective atmosphere around the subject. As the perspective shifts, the emotion deepens into raw pain and resignation.

Marília's vocal performance is key here; she imbues the "third person" sections with a sense of compassionate authority, while the "first person" sections are delivered with a breaking voice that conveys years of accumulated suffering. The emotions shift from defensive anger (at society's judgment) to vulnerable confession, leaving the listener with a heavy sense of shared responsibility and guilt.

Troca de Calçada stands out in the Sertanejo genre, which traditionally focuses on romantic relationships, partying, and rural life. By addressing prostitution with empathy rather than moralism, Marília Mendonça expanded the thematic boundaries of the genre. The song was critically acclaimed for its maturity and social sensitivity, drawing comparisons to iconic Brazilian protest songs like Chico Buarque's "Geni e o Zepelim."

Upon its release, the song resonated deeply on social media, sparking conversations about the treatment of sex workers and the "hypocrisy of the good citizen." It remains a testament to Marília's legacy not just as a singer of "suffering" (sofrência), but as a chronicler of the female experience in all its facets, including those usually hidden in the shadows.

The lyrics follow a fairly consistent rhyme scheme, often utilizing AABB or AABCCB patterns common in Sertanejo storytelling. For example, in the chorus, "quente" (hot) rhymes imperfectly with "esquina" (corner) via assonance, while "coração" (heart) rhymes perfectly with "coração" in the repetition, and "calçada" (sidewalk) rhymes with "apedrejava" (stoned).

Rhythmically, the song is in 4/4 time with a slow, heavy pulse that drags slightly, emphasizing the burden the character carries. The phrasing is conversational but melodic, with the lyrics often crowding the measure to mimic the outpouring of a suppressed story. The interplay between the rhythmic acoustic guitar strumming and the vocal melody creates a swaying, hypnotic effect that draws the listener into the sad atmosphere.

Marília Mendonça employs a sophisticated shift in narrative perspective to enhance the song's emotional impact. The first verse is sung in the third person ("If someone passes by her..."), establishing the singer as an advocate defending the woman to the audience. The chorus then abruptly shifts to the first person ("I froze my heart..."), where the character speaks for herself. This technique forces the listener to step directly into the shoes of the marginalized woman, transforming an observational story into a personal confession.

Musically, the song is a classic Sertanejo "Sofrência" ballad. It uses a melancholic, slow-tempo arrangement driven by acoustic guitar and piano, allowing Marília's powerful, gritty vocals to take center stage. Her vocal delivery is characterized by dynamic swells, moving from a soft, conversational tone in the verses to a belted, anguish-filled delivery in the chorus, perfectly mirroring the transition from observation to internal pain.

What is the meaning of the song 'Troca de Calçada'?

The song is a plea for empathy towards prostitutes. It tells the story of a woman who turned to sex work after being exploited in relationships and facing life's hardships. It asks society not to judge ('change sidewalks') but to understand the pain and history behind her choices.

Who wrote 'Troca de Calçada'?

The song was written by Marília Mendonça, Juliano Tchula, and Vitor Ferrari in 2018.

Is 'Troca de Calçada' based on a true story?

It is not based on one specific person Marília knew. She wrote it as a fictional narrative to represent the collective struggle of women in prostitution, inspired by the desire to give a voice to the marginalized.

When was 'Troca de Calçada' released?

It was released on January 29, 2021, as part of the EP 'Nosso Amor Envelheceu'.

What does the 'frozen heart' metaphor mean?

The line 'Pra ter o corpo quente, eu congelei meu coração' (To have a warm body, I froze my heart) means the woman had to numb her emotions and feelings to perform her job and survive physically.