Cartola

This song speaks about Cartola's geniality for itself.

Acontece

Esquece o nosso amor, vê se esquece.
Porque tudo no mundo acontece
E acontece que eu já não sei mais amar.
Vai chorar, vai sofrer, e você não merece,
Mas isso acontece.
Acontece que o meu coração ficou frio
E o nosso ninho de amor está vazio.
Se eu ainda pudesse fingir que te amo,
Ah, se eu pudesse
Mas não quero, não devo fazê-lo,
Isso não acontece.

And my free translation so you can enjoy the 'simplicity of his sophistication'.


It Happens

Forget about our love, try to forget it.
Because things in the world just happens
And it happens that I don't know how to love you any longer.
You're gonna cry, suffer, and you don't deserve it
But it happens.
It happens that my heart got cold
And our love nest is empty.
If I still could pretend that I love you,
Oh, if I could...
But I don't want to, I shouldn't do it,
This won't happen.

And now enjoy the song here:

Djavan @ Last FM

I visited a blog this morning, and they had this widget from Last FM, that I decided to post here for it is so cool.
You choose an artist, and the player finds songs of the same genre by other artists and plays the whole song. Of course, they put the link to Amazon for you to buy the album there, and that is how they support the site.

Here it is, just play with it, or go get your own.

Balanço Zona Sul - Glaucia Nasser

Tito Madi composed this song entitled "Balanço Zona Sul" in the 50's, and it continues so current. Especially when Glaucia Nasser sings it.

For me, the song is just delightful. Tell me what YOU think!




You can download a mp3 of Balanço Zona Sul here. (Right click on link, and select 'save target as' option).

Gilberto Gil - Banda Larga

"Banda Larga" ("Broad Band") is the name of Gilberto Gil's new show that has traveled around Europe and Brazil in the past few months.

Banda Larga is also the name of a new song that you can hear right here:

Brasileirinho - The Movie

Last night I watched a very good documentary about Chorinho entitled "Brasileirinho".

"Brasileirinho is a 90-min musical documentary film about Choro, the first genuinely Brazilian urban music. It was back in the late 19th century in Rio de Janeiro when Brazilian musicians started to blend European melodies, Afro-Brazilian rhythms and the melancholic interpretation of the Brazilian Indians' music to create Choro. Choro is credited as being the first musical expression of Brazil's melting pot and had a prominent place in the development of Brazil's cultural identity. Choro remained a major popular music style until the 1920s, leading directly into Samba and later to Bossa Nova. After a slight decline in popularity, Choro music has made a remarkable comeback over the past few decades.

The film remembers the history but shows, above all, a colorful picture of Choro's vitality today. The guiding line of the film is the combo "Trio Madeira Brasil" composed of three of Brazil's outstanding Choro musicians. During a "Roda de Choro", a traditional Brazilian kind of private jam session, the Trio brings up a concert project. During these sessions or at their homes, some of the most interesting Choro musicians play and remember key events in the history of this Brazilian urban music. A look into a Choro workshop with over 450 participants of all ages illustrates the off-hand genuine Brazilian way to play. "Playing" interviews with well-known Samba and Bossa Nova artists like Zezé Gonzaga, Elza Soares and Guinga illustrate the reciprocal inspiration with Samba and Bossa Nova music. A final show of the "Trio Madeira Brasil" with their guests in one of Rio's traditional music halls show once more the opulence of rhythms and melodies in Choro that has evolved over the past 130 years into a fascinating form of modern tropical sound".(As described on the movie website).

If you enjoy Brazilian music, you've got to check out this documentary.
Here is a clip of the movie with Yamandu Costa playing Ernesto Nazareth's Brejeiro'.

Genuinely Brazilian - Rodrigo Maranhão

Rodrigo Maranhão, a musician from Rio de Janeiro, has been acknowledged in the past few years as a new and competent talent in the Brazilian music environment. Rodrigo is a member of a group known as Bangalafumenga, which has two albums released. Bangalafumenga is also a social project that invites people from different walks of life to learn a musical instrument in the city of Rio de Janeiro.


Rodrigo Maranhão's first solo album,'Bordado'('Stitchery') has been released recently. The album is totally acoustic, filled with songs that takes you through a musical tour of Brazil.

The album was produced by Rodrigo and Paulo Brandao, the bass player for the band. The band also counts with Marcelo Caldi playing acordeon, Marcello Gonçalves in the viola and guitar, as well as Ely Werneck and Sidon Silva playing percussion.

'Bordado' counts with already popular songs such as 'Caminho das Aguas', 'Recado' and 'Mantra' previously recorded by Maria Rita in her album 'Segundo'.

I have listened to Rodrigo's songs on MPB FM and You Tube. I've been searching the internet to buy the album on MP3 format, but so far had no luck. Amazon has the CD.

My favorite song is 'Caminho das Aguas'. I just love the Northeastern character of the song - especially the acordeon and percussion. See what you think...