Mesmo: Que Seja Eu

: The song's most iconic line, "Antes mal-acompanhada do que só" (Better in bad company than alone), is presented as a piece of "grandmotherly philosophy". The Marina Lima Cover & Impact

Watch Erasmo Carlos perform the original 1982 version of this classic hit: Mesmo Que Seja Eu

: The singer offers himself as a "savior," even if he isn't the idealized hero. : The song's most iconic line, "Antes mal-acompanhada

"Mesmo Que Seja Eu" is a seminal Brazilian pop-rock song released in 1982 by . Written in partnership with his longtime collaborator Roberto Carlos , the track remains one of the most enduring hits of Erasmo's solo career. Song Meaning and Themes While originally a hit for Erasmo, the song

: By keeping the original gendered lyrics ("you need a man to call your own, even if that man is me"), Marina's version became a celebrated "lesbian libertarian anthem" in Brazil.

: Unlike the synth-heavy tracks of the Fullgás album, her version relied on a more stripped-back arrangement of bass, guitar, and drums.

While originally a hit for Erasmo, the song took on a new cultural identity when covered by in 1984 for her album Fullgás .