One of the most important artists of the bossa nova movement, Carlos Lyra was also an intellectual behind the movement, forging new directions like the protest song. Lyra wrote some of the best moments of the bossa nova on his own or together with illustrious partners like Vinícius de Moraes. With Roberto Menescal, Carlos Lyra created a guitar academy that became a meeting point for future artists like Edu Lobo, Marcos Valle, Nara Leão, and Ronaldo Bôscoli. In 1954, Geraldo Vandré interpreted his song Menina in a festival; it was recorded in the next year by Sílvia Telles. Three years later, Os Cariocas recorded his Criticando. In 1959, João Gilberto included three of Lyras