This work puts together a set of criteria for the systematic study of Brazilian songs through the encounter of melody and lyrics. These two components ajusted to each other by a series of composition processes. Therefore, they require the construction of a more abstract theoretical viewpoint where their specificities may be evaluated by means of a homogeneous approach.
The presentation of a descriptive model is complemented by numerous examples of popular Brazilian songs that clarify the theoretical notions and some complete analysis of selected songs.
The investigations on "temporality" proposed by some sectors of contemporary semiotics (especially by Claude Zilberberg) offer the main foundations to the model formulated in this book.