mr. jj's introduction to brazilian music

01 Aquarela do Brasil
João Gilberto, Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso & Maria Bethania

This song is the unofficial Brazilian anthem. Every national artist and some international as well have recorded it. It is the theme song of Monthy Python's Brazil. Aside from it, the fact that João Gilberto, Caetano and Gil (with Caetano's sister Bethania) perform it together provides a sort of conexion to the other songs here. These 3 are my favorite/important Brazilian artists.

02 Corcovado
Stan Getz, Astrud Gilberto & João Gilberto

The quintessential Bossa Nova song. Beautiful Lyrics. BN goes international via Jazz Master Stan Getz.

03 Águas de Março (Waters of March)
Tom Jobim & Elis Regina

BN with a Rio wrap: Tom is the most acclaimed Brazilian composer internationally. Elis is considered the best female singer that Brazil has had.

04 So Nice (Summer Samba)
Bebel Gilberto

Bebel is JG's daughter - she is the face of the BN2000 renaissance.

05 Baby (1971)
Os Mutantes

Os Mutantes represent the rock influence. Different elements are added to the mpb and it sounds more 'international'

06 Meu bem, Meu mal
Gal Costa

Caetano as composer - the song is pure Brazilian pop... Gal is another bahian and is one of the most acclaimed female singers in Brazil.

07 Nosso Estranho Amor
Caetano Veloso & Marina

...COOL pop... Marina is our Melissa Etheridge.

08 Vamos Fugir
Djavan & Daude

Gil composer, Reggae undertones in a Bob Marley song. Gil, I believe has re-written EVERY Bob Marley song in Portuguese - not just a translation.

09 Luxo Pesado (Got to Be Real)
Fernanda Abreu

Fernandinha IS Brazilian funk - a very local movement: urban Rio. The 'Baile Funk' in Rio are legendary as shown in 'City of God'.

10 Only You
Marina

The point of including the non-Brazilian songs #9, 10, 11 is to show how the Brazilian style also lives within the interpreter, it's cultural. These happen to be my favorite versions of the songs.

11 Minha Vida (In My Life)
Rita Lee

Rita was an original Mutante (she is the singer in 'Baby' - she is now the grandmother of Brazilian rock. She released a beautiful CD of bossa nova beatle songs last year.

12 Pata Pata
Daude & Carlinhos Brown

As a kid, I loved this Miriam Makeba song. Daude & Carlinhos Brown are what's newest in Brazil and I see this song like one of those jazz improvisations by Ella. Their 'style' hits me as the coolest.

13 Rio 40 Graus
Fernanda Abreu & Chico Science

Chico Science represented the next wave but the group disappeared in an airplane explosion. 2 records only but 4 years later they are still the avant garde. Fernandinha hip-hops. She wrote the song - one of my top favorite - and the lyrics are delicious...

14 Desde que o Samba é Samba
Caetano Veloso & Gilberto Gil

Of course, it's fit that Caetano & Gil come up with a revision of the traditional samba. And it's not traditional anymore...