Hotel das Estrelas

Gal Costa's 'Hotel das Estrelas' is a poignant exploration of solitude, memory, and the passage of time. The song opens with the image of the narrator looking out of a window, finding solace in the view of the city. This initial calmness is juxtaposed with the wandering 'vulgar star' and the acknowledgment of the ability to cry, suggesting an underlying sadness or sense of loss.

The lyrics delve into the narrator's introspection, revealing a sense of self-awareness and acceptance of their life's journey. The mention of a silver medal given by a friend symbolizes a cherished memory, yet it is tinged with nostalgia and the realization that it belongs to a distant past. The repetition of 'Mas isso faz muito tempo' (But that was a long time ago) emphasizes the weight of time and the distance from those moments of connection and significance.

As the song progresses, the imagery becomes more haunting. The abandoned courtyard, closed rooms, prophets in the corridors, and the dead under the stairs paint a picture of desolation and decay. These metaphors reflect the internal decay the narrator feels, likened to a fruit rotting with each bite. This powerful imagery conveys a deep sense of regret and the inevitability of time's impact on both physical spaces and emotional states. The song circles back to the initial scene of the narrator at the window, reinforcing the cyclical nature of their reflections and the persistent melancholy that accompanies them.