Mamãe eu quero

Mamãe eu quero (literally 'Mommy I wanna', referring to suckling) is a 1937 Brazilian song (specifically a marchinha [mahr-SHEEN-a], or "carnival marchlet"^[a]) composed by Vicente Paiva and Jararaca. It is one of the most famous Brazilian songs of the 20th century and of all time.^[1]

This carnival marchlet was originally recorded in 1937 by one of its composers, Jararaca, at Odeon Records. It is frolicsomely sung in the lyrical voice and point of view of a baby telling its mother that it wants to be nursed, and asking for a pacifier to avoid crying; the mother character herself also sings in later verses. It won international visibility thanks to Carmen Miranda's 1939 English-language adaptation, titled "I Want My Mama", which was included in her Broadway debut and in the film Down Argentine Way (1940).^[2] The song was also recorded by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters. It was featured in the 1943 Tom & Jerry short Baby Puss, as performed by a trio of cartoon cats.^[3]

The song was performed in the 2016 Summer Olympics closing ceremony at the Maracanã Stadium on August 21, 2016, among other Mirandesque songs performed in tribute by the Brazilian singer Roberta Sá, who portrayed her in garb and voice.^[4]