Bibliography:
- www.slipcue.com/music/brazil/brazillist.html cute site from the 90s
The Portuguese term for it is "música popular brasileira". The widely recognized Brazilian acronym is "MPB".
"Brazilian pop" and "Br-pop" are inventions by Ciro Santilli, which are how Ciro thinks Brazil should market it to the world.
Unfortunately "B-pop" is too ambiguous with British pop music, and should be avoided.
YouTube playlist by Ciro Santilli containing all the songs in this section: www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcZOZrP1P_V4_SBDnegcLTcP-5YhNmWBB
Bibliography:
- www.slipcue.com/music/brazil/aa_styles/mpb.html has many good album reviews
It is such a huge shame that you have to understand Portuguese to appreciate those songs... this is yet another great evil outcome of having more than one natural language is bad for the world.
The good songs stopped before of just after Ciro Santilli was born, they were originally heard by his parent's generation. Those young new kids are boring.
The place to start is definitely the Holy Trinity of popular Brazilian music:
- Caetano Veloso is arguably Ciro Santilli's favorite MPB artist, he has just too many amazing songs, best ones at: Section "The best Caetano Veloso songs"
- Chico Buarque. Ciro's second favorite.
- Gilberto Gil. Perhaps Ciro likes him third because he is the most lighthearted one, although not always: Section "The best Gilberto Gil songs"
Non trinity songs and artists:
Video 1. Asa Branca by Luiz Gonzaga. Source. Translation: "White wing". Written in 1947Video 2. O vento by Dorival Caymmi (1949)Source. Translation: "The wind".Video 3. Panis et Circenses from the Tropicália: ou Panis et Circencis (). Source. Translation: "Bread and circuses", a famous Latin phrase. Composed by Gilberto Gil and Caetano Veloso and performed by Os MutantesVideo 4. Mistério do Planeta from the Acabou Chorare album by Novos Baianos (1972)Source. Translation: "The mystery of the planet".Video 5. "Senhor Cidadão" from the Se O Caso É Chorar album by Tom Zé (1972)Source. Translation: "Mr. Citizen". This is likely reference to Military dictatorship in Brazil-lingo. This is an anti-Military dictatorship in Brazil song, appears to reuse terms used by the dictatorship propaganda in the song.Video 6. Marimbondo from the "Pirão de Peixe com Pimenta (1977)" album by Sá & Guarabyra (1977)Source.The title is the name of a type of wasp found in Brazil: synoeca cyanea.Video 7. Romaria by Renato Teixeira. Source."Romaria" is the name of a type of Catholic peregrination.Video 8. Metamorfose ambulante by Raul Seixas (1973)Source. Translation: "Itinerant metamorphosis". From the album Krig-ha, Bandolo!Video 9. Ouro de tolo by Raul Seixas (1973)Source. Translation: "Fool's gold". This dude should be a scientist. But well, he went for mystic/artist. Close enough.Video 10. Gita by Raul Seixas (1974)Source. "Gita" must be a reference to the Bhagavad Gita. From the album: Gita.Video 11. Maluco beleza by Raul Seixas (1977)Source. From the album O Dia em que a Terra ParouVideo 12. A telicidade by Tom Jobim (1958)Source. Translation: "Happiness". Composed for the Black Orpheus (1958) film. "Tristeza não tem fim, felicidade sim" (Sadness never ends, but happiness does). The movie itself is OK. Appeals to Ciro's Buddhist sensibilities.Video 13. Chega de saudade by Tom Jobim. Source. Translation: "Enough longing".Video 14. Jorge da Capadócia by Jorge Ben Jor (1975)Source. From the Solta o Pavão (1975) album. The Caetano interpretation is better however, poor Jorge.- Jair Rodrigues
Video 15. Disparada by Jair Rodrigues (1968)Source. This song is simply amazing. Not exactly MPB, a bit more towards country, but close enough. This was as the track of some soap opera.Video 16. Deixa Isso Pra Lá by Jair Rodrigues (1964)Source. Fantastic early example of early rap music!!! This is regocnized example at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfnDEuuPq4Q which builds upon the 1964 song. Amazing. An amazing live performance at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3E1uHdrJws, only not using that as the default link as it is not from the official channel. - Vinicius de Moraes. Many of his lyrics are poetry. Notably, he has some "children" songs that you think about as an adult and go "oh fuck". For some reason, Ciro can't help but think that he looks like a pedophile, but he doesn't have any scandals apparently, poor dude. He was a drunkard for sure though.
Video 18. Tarde em Itapuã by Vinicius de Moraes (1971)Source.www.dicionariotupiguarani.com.br/dicionario/itapua/ gives the meaning of "Itapuã". It originates from the Tupi Guarani language, and is the name of a beach in Salvador (Praia de Itapuã), to which the song presumably refers: Video 19. Aquarela by Toquinho (1983)Source. This is a mega childhood hit, and it never gets old. Amazing. One of the most brutal memento moris ever?Video 20. Xô Saudade by Alceu Valença. Source. From the 1980 album "Coração Bobo"Video 21. Carcará by João Do Vale (1981)Source.From the eponymous album.Video 22. Carcará by Maria Bethânia (1981)Source. This very good interpretation likely did much to popularize the song.Video 25. Tudo o que você podia ser from the Clube da Esquina album by Milton Nascimento (1972)Source.Translation: "All that you could be".Anti-Military dictatorship in Brazil song, using the common "you means the dictatorship" technique.Video 26. Caçador De Mim from the eponymous album by Milton Nascimento (1981)Source.
Video 1. As Curvas da Estrada de Santos by Roberto Carlos (1969)Source.Translation: "The curves of the road of Santos".Roberto Carlos makes Ciro cringe, it brings back memories of pre-New Year television Galas in the early 2000s at his great aunt's home in Santos, São Paulo, Brazil.This is the only bearable song by the artist, as it talks about going down to Ciro's beloved Santos, São Paulo, Brazil from the city of São Paulo, which lies on a plateau of about 700 meters above sea level, a trip that takes you down through the spectacular Serra do Mar tropical rainforest.The mountainous roads of the older road, Rodovia Anchieta there are very curvy, and can be very dangerous when there is fog. The heavy truck traffic to/from the port of Santos makes this even worse.But it also makes everything much more spectacular, as you get closer to the forest, and at slower speeds, with occasional panoramic views of the city.The newer road, Rodovia dos Imigrantes is a straighter, safer and boring alternative to it.Ciro did this many times on bus when he was studying at the university of São Paulo and going back home for the weekend from time to time.Video 4. Lindo Lago do Amor by Gonzaguinha. Source. From the 1984 album Grávido. Pure 80s. Video "Na Rua, Na Chuva, Na Fazenda by Hyldon (1974)" somewhat comes to mind.
In Ciro Santilli's view, the following three artists form a Holy Trinity of popular Brazilian music:
Elis Regina is not far though.
Ciro remembers quite clearly when he was riding the car with his parents when he pre teen, and he could not understand why they seemed so obsessed with The Trinity et al. Ciro in particular remembers listening to Video "Refazenda by Gilberto Gil (1975)". They had picked it up of course from the 70's and 80's when they were younger.
Young Ciro would also always confuse who was whom from the three of them.
Then Ciro got older, and he understood, they are mind blowing. You do have to look back in time a bit though, lots of lukewarm stuff on later periods. The military dictatorship in Brazil was good for music.
Within the The Holy Trinity of popular Brazilian music, Caetano has the most New Age religious feel to him. He is also perhaps the most varied of the trinity however, also covering heavier topics at times.
Caetano Veloso in the 60s
. Source. /i.s3.glbimg.com/v1/AUTH_59edd422c0c84a879bd37670ae4f538a/internal_photos/bs/2021/h/y/wSwVvmSbGgBiYJ3Fmb0g/caetano.jpeg)
Video 1. Alegria, Alegria by Caetano Veloso (1968)Source. Critique of Military dictatorship in Brazil.
- 1972
- Transa (1972) album. Literally: "The Fuck", good old seventies. Caetano himself later mentions that this is one of his own favorite albums.[ref] The album was composed when he was living in London.
Video 2. Triste Bahia by Caetano Veloso (1972)Source. Inspired by (or more likely: actually is) Capoeira music.Video 3. Mora na Filosofia by Caetano Veloso (1972)Source.
Video 4. Você Não Entende Nada by Caetano Veloso (1970)Source.Amazing performance at Coliseu dos Recreios, Lisbon. 1981. Discogs says original album is Legal (1970), but wiki page and photos of back disagree...This song talks about a man's mixed desires to remain with his partner and also escape to adventure. It contains one of the most amazing sexual innuendo ever recorded: the man describes foods that his partner will serve him, and the he endlessly eats and eats and eats:translation:eu como, eu como, eu como, você [... huge intentional pause ...] não está entendendo quase nada do que eu digo.
which makes it unclear "you" is part of "I eat you" (to eat (comer) is a slang for fucking), or if "you" is part of the next sentence.I eat, I eat, I eat, you [... huge intentional pause ...] don't understand anything that I'm saying.
Video 5. Partido Alto by Caetano Veloso (1972)Source. Atheism song (theodicy)! Lyrics by Chico Buarque, but Ciro Santilli prefers this interpretation. From the 1972 "Caetano E Chico Juntos E Ao Vivo" joint album with Chico Buarque.
- 1975 Qualquer coisa album
Video 6. Qualquer Coisa by Caetano Veloso (1975)Source.Video 7. Samba e Amor by Caetano Veloso (1975)Source. Cover from original song by Chico Buarque, original album Chico Buarque de Hollanda - Nº4. Desperately reminds Ciro of his University day weekend nights. Except that there was no Samba. And little Amor. Mostly a silent and wholesome loneliness and emulation.Video 8. Georde de Capadócia by Caetano Veloso (1975)Source.Composed by Jorge Ben, but this interpretation is remarkable. corpo fechado (closed body) style song. This idea is much linked to Capoeira/African religion idea. E.g. a more traditional capoeira corpo fechado song: www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfd9j6XFmSgVideo 9. Coricos' prayer scene from Black God, White Devil (1964)Source. This shows an Amazing corpo fechado scene from an amazing old black an white Brazilian film.
- 1976 Doces Bárbaros (1976) album
Video 10. Um Índio by Caetano Veloso (1976)Source. Recording from 1992. Also appeared in the Bicho (1977) album. - 1977 Bicho (1977)
Video 11. Tigresa by Caetano Veloso (1977)Source. Talks about a strong willed, unapologetic, disenchanted, but also hopeful brown skinned lover: a tigress. Ciro once knew one, but it wasn't meant to be.
- 1978 album Muito (Dentro da Estrela Azulada)
Video 12. Sampa by Caetano Veloso (1978)Source."Sampa" is an affectionate slang for São Paulo City. The song perfectly captures the city, and reminds Ciro so badly of his University days there.[D]a força da grana que ergue e destroi coisas belas
The power of money that builds and destroy beautiful thingsVideo 13. Terra by Caetano Veloso (1978)Source."Terra" means Earth in Portuguese.Ciro used to watch a television nature show called "Planeta Terra" in the legendary TV Cultura with his parents in the couch when he was young, and under a duvet when it was a bit cold. Those days were the best. The narrator's lady voice was particularly soothing, and would easily put you in a kind of sleepy trance, her name is Valéria GrilloTODO what was the original show exactly? Here is a sample: www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNwfYEMdrRU Very likely just a translation of some British nature show with a custom Brazilian intro and presenter. Credits at end mention English narrator: "Eugene Fraser", and "Thirteen WNET Nature" production, which produced Nature (1982) that ran since 1982, making that a likely candidate. - 1980
Video 14. Menino do Rio by Caetano Veloso (1980)Source. Apparently served as inspiration for the Menino do Rio (1980) movie, which is silly, but a worthwhile record of the times. - 1984 Velô (1984)
Video 15. O Quereres by Caetano Veloso (1984)Source. Notable quote from the chorus that is often in Ciro's mind:translation:Ah, bruta flor, do querer
Oh, brute flower of the wanting
Within the The Holy Trinity of popular Brazilian music, Chico tends to approach the more down to Earth and heavy topics.
Video 1. Quem Te Viu, Quem Te Vê by Chico Buarque. Source.Performed for television for the Hebe Camargo show on TV Record in 1966.Present in the 1967 album "Chico Buarque de Hollanda - Volume 2".The song is about sambist woman who moved up in social rank, and does not dance samba with her impoverished old friends anymore.Video 2. Apesar de Você by Chico Buarque. Source.Released 1970. Portuguese wiki page for the song.It is a song against the military dictatorship in Brazil. "Você" (you) can ambiguously refer to either a loved woman, or to the dictatorship itself throughout the song.Video 3. . Source. From the 1968 Chico Buarque de Hollanda - Volume 3 (1968) album. Video 4. Construção by Chico Buarque. Source.Video 5. Cotidiano by Chico Buarque. Source.Video 6. Cálice (Cale-se) by Chico Buarque. Source. Featuring Milton Nascimento. Song against the military dictatorship in Brazil, a pun on the homonym "Cálice" (chalice) and "Cale-se" (shut up), a reference to censorship during the dictatorship.Video 7. Feijoada completa by Chico Buarque. Source. Malandro-themed song about gathering friends to eat a Feijoada at home, but the money is not quite enough so they have to improvise a bit.Video 8. A volta do malandro by Chico Buarque. Source. From the Malandro (1985) albumVideo 9. Teresinha by Chico Buarque. Source.The version performed by Maria Bethânia is also notable: Video "Teresinha performed by Maria Bethânia".Video 10. Paratodos by Chico Buarque. Source. From the 1993 "Paratodos" album.
Gilberto is definitely the most psychedelic/tribal one of the The Holy Trinity of popular Brazilian music, though he also has a boyish quality to his soul.
He is also perhaps the one that impresses Ciro Santilli the most, at times he can't help but feel:
OMG how the hell did he come up with that?!
Gilberto Gil in the cover of his 1977 album Refavela
. Source. Good selection: Acústico MTV - Gilberto Gil (1994).
- 1967 Louvação (1967) album
Video 1. Lunik 9 Gilberto Gil (1967)Source. Ciro Santilli prefers Elis Regina's interpretation however. - 1972 Expresso 2222 album.
Video 2. Expresso 2222 by Gilberto Gil (1972)Source. youtu.be/aSFahdu5ga8?t=4584 In the 2002 documentary Tempo Rei he explains the origin of the song as being based on seeing trains come by in Bahia, when they still existed before the automobile decimation.Video 3. Oriente by Gilberto Gil. Source. This song seems to be about a parent giving a mixture of good and weird advice. Perhaps it is what we all get, or at least the lucky ones of us. - 1975 Refazenda (1975) album. This album is just too Legendary. The cover is also legendary.
Video 4. Refazenda by Gilberto Gil (1975)Source.Video 6. Tenho sede by Gilberto Gil (1975)Source. Video 7. Sítio Do Picapau Amarelo by Gilberto Gil (1977)Source.This song is the opening theme of the 1977 children's television series based on the renowned children books of the same name by Brazilian author Monteiro Lobato.The same song was also used on the 2001 series, e.g.: www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9RbBcDTRAI.The choice of Gilberto Gil as a singer and composer was a stroke of genius, as his natural quirkiness perfectly suits the subject matter of the books.- Date unclear
Video 8. A Paz by Gilberto Gil (1967)Source. Performed 2009. The earliest recording we can find is from 1994: www.discogs.com/master/190615-Gilberto-Gil-Unplugged
Runner ups:
Video 9. Beira-Mar by Gilberto Gil. Source.
Lamento Sertanejo scene from the 2002 documentary Tempo Rei
. Source. Fantastic scenes perfecly complementing ths songVery good documentary!
This is a documentary about Gilberto Gil going back to his homelnd for the first time since he emigrated to Salvador/Rio, with some of his most popular songs intermixed into it. Beautiful!
"Tempo Rei" is the name of a Song composed by Gilberto Gil.
Of particular note is the Video "Lamento Sertanejo scene from the 2002 documentary Tempo Rei".
Mostly interpreter of songs written by others. But she's just too amazing, many of her interpretations are better than the original.
God, even Ciro Santilli is slightly shocked by her death, which happened before he was born, can you imagine it at the time? She was MPB's golden girl...
Atrás da Porta performed by Elis Regina
. Source. Composed by Francis Hime and Chico Buarque.Águas de março performed by Elis Regina
. Source. From the 1972 eponymous album. Composed by Antônio Carlos Jobim.Capoeira music is amazing. And some Brazilian pop adaptations of it have also been awesome.
Parabolicamará
. Source. By Gilberto Gil. Title track of the 1991 album.Triste Bahia by Caetano Veloso
. Source. Na Roda de Capoeira by Nara Leão
. Source. From the 1964 album "Opinião De Nara"This incredibly foul mouthed band was incredibly funny.
Ciro Santilli was a bit young to understand the songs at the time, but the older boys were singing them, and he sang along. So maybe there is a nostalgia factor in play.
But it can't be just that. They are just too funny and brutal, even when Ciro re-listens to it as of 2020.
Many Brazilian religious cranks in were really happy when their plane crashed and killed all of them in 1996.
Official YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/channel/UCPmfP5LNbxYwlN0k6C3F_6w
Best songs:
- Pelados Em Santos (1995). Not too amazing, they only try to be funny by making fun of the North-Eastern accent of Brazil, which is considered somewhat funny in São Paulo, and they fail at being funny.But it talks about Santos, São Paulo, Brazil, Ciro's idolized city, so let's hear it. They didn't live in Santos apparently, but being from São Paulo City, they would have been familiar with that popular local beach location.
Rorogwela by Afunakwa (1970)
Source. Later used as a vocal sample in the Sweet Lullaby by Deep Forest (1992), which notably featured in Where the hell is Matt (2006), an early YouTube viral video. The original destroys the Deep Forest version however.Articles by others on the same topic
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