It is Carnival in Brazil! Everybody is having fun, dancing the samba in Rio and São Paulo, "axé music" in Salvador, frevo in Recife.The most famous Brazilian Carnival though is in Rio. Therefore, samba is the music that best express Carnival. If you think only the mulatas can dance the samba, check this video out!
The Brazilian Japanese Julia Futaki is here to prove that you can dance the samba too, even if you are a gringo! So, don't be shy and get into the groove!
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Image: Carnival in Rio - Picture taken by Lee Abamonte (Source: http://www.leeabbamonte.com/south-america/carnival-in-rio-the-champions-parade.html)
The girl from Ipanema goes walking And when she passes, each one she passes goes - ah
Who doesn't know this song? The beautiful song, composed by Vinicius de Moraes and Tom Jobim, is one of the most played songs in the world and was performed by many artists worldwide.
Recently, Scott Vogel published an interesting article in the Washington Post entitled "The girl from Ipanema, a cruise to the muse". There, the journalist reaffirmed a story that many people in Brazil believe to be truth: Vinicius de Moraes wrote the lyrics of the song in a bar in Ipanema called Veloso (now Garota de Ipanema bar), inspired by a beautiful young girl named Heloísa or Helô. Scott Vogel writes about the trip he made to Brazil to meet her and about the fun he had in a cruise ship along the coast of the states of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. When he finally meets Helô, a tall, tan, lovely and not so young woman anymore, she gives her testimony on how she became aware of the rumors about having inspired the song.
Another version of the story, however, is explained by Ruy Castro in his book "Bossa Nova: The story of the Brazilian Music that Seduced the World" (p. 239-240):
It has already been explained, but people find it hard to accept the truth: Jobim and Vinícius did not write "The Girl from Ipanema" in the Veloso bar (today called Garota da Ipanema). It was never the duo's style to write music sitting at a table in some bar, although they had probably spent the best hours of their lives in them. Jobim composed the melody meticulously on the piano at his new home in Rua Barro da Torre, and it was originally intended for a musical comedy entitled Blimp, which Vinícius already had worked out in his head but had not yet committed to paper. Vinícius, in turn, had written the lyrics in Petrópolis, near Rio, as he had done with "Chega de Saudade" six years earlier, and it took him just as much work. To begin with, it wasn't originally called "Garota da Ipanema," but "Menina que passa" (The Girl Who Passes By"), and the entire first verse was different. As for the famous girl, Jobim and Vinícius did in fact see her pass by as they sat in the Veloso bar, during the winter of 1962— not just once, but several times, and not always on her way to the beach but also on her way to school, to the dressmaker, and even to the dentist. Mostly because Heloísa Eneida Menezes Paes Pinto, better known as Helô, who was eighteen years of age, five feet, eight inches tall, with green eyes and long, flowing black hair, lived in Rua Montenegro and was already the object of much admiration among patrons of the Veloso, where she would frequently stop to buy cigarettes for her mother—and leave to a cacophony of wolf-whistles.
I am among the ones that find it hard to accept the truth. I prefer to believe in Vogel's version. It is more romantic. Besides, because of Helô, many girls like me grew up dreaming of one day finding an artist to inspire. And speaking of artists, let's check this video with Tom, Vinicius, and their masterpiece:
If you haven't seen it yet, do it. The musical documentary "The Sound of Rio: Brasileirinho" is a great present from Mika Kaurismäki to those who have a passion for "choro", a typical Brazilian style of music. "Choro" or "chorinho" was originated in Rio de Janeiro in the 19th century and has its roots in European ballroom dance music - like waltz and polka - and African rhythms.
The documentary "The Sound of Rio: Brasileirinho" tells a little bit of the history of "choro" but the great thing about this movie are the performances by great names of the current generation of "choro" musicians, like the clarinet and saxophone virtuoso Paulo Moura, the percussionist Marcos Suzano, the Trio Madeira Brasil, the guitar player Yamandú Costa, among others. I had the opportunity to see Yamandú in a concert in Brazil. He is a genius!
If you live in the US, "The Sound of Rio" can be rented at Netflix. If you want to buy the DVD, you can do it at the Milan Records website. Now, if you can't wait to know a little bit more about "chorinho", check this video I have found in YouTube. It is a documentary with Conjunto Época de Ouro, Pixinguinha, Altamiro Carrilho, Jacob do Bandolim, entre outros. If you know Portuguese, you will be able to understand the history told in this movie. If not, just enjoy the music. And if you want to learn Portuguese to see this and other Brazilian movies, I am starting my new blog: Brazilian Portuguese Class. Check it out! And tell me what you think about it!
Brazilian movie lovers! Get ready for four days of Brazilian Seventh Art! The Embassy of Brazil organized, in collaboration with Ms. Ilda Santiago, the artistic director of Rio International Film Festival, the First Brazilian Film Week. The festival will take place in Washington, DC, at the Greenberg Theater, from November 15th through 18th. Admission will be free, and on a first-come, first-served basis. So, get there early!! Show times can be checked at the site of the Embassy of Brazil.
And for the fans of Brazilian actors and directors, there is an extra reason not to miss this event: most of the films will be presented to the public by some of the Brazilian stars. So, get your camera ready!
I took a look at the movies that will be on the big screen and I am very curious about the short movie "Yansan". It is a Manga cartoon about Yansan, the orixá of the wind and storms, and her love adventures with two other orixás, Xangô and Ogum. Can you imagine an African myth told by Brazilians in a Japanese cartoon? This could only happen in a creative Brazilian mind!! I hope to be one of many people seating with a popcorn bag in one hand and a can of Guaraná in the other, enjoying the sounds, colors and inventiveness of Brazil! And with luck, you will be there by my side!
If you are in NY or in a short distance from the Big Apple, you can't miss Rosa Passos' concert at Blue Note this weekend (Nov 2 - 4). I will certainly be there. Not only to see this wonderful Brazilian singer but also to see my cousin, Paulo Paulelli that plays the bass in her band. You can listen to him by clicking in "I'm all ears" on the bar on the right side. He is playing a song composed by my father, Messias Santos Jr., also a musician and arranger, who played with João Gilberto among other famous Brazilians.
I have been in one of her concerts before and I simply loved her band. They are all very talented musicians. For those who are bossa nova or jazz fans, this is a must see concert! Have I mentioned she also plays beautifully the guitar? So, check this video out!
