Archive for 'Music'
New Music: Café Funquê Posted by Rachel on Jun 16, 2009
Café Funquê is a Rio de Janeiro-based that describes itself as a “vigorous mixture of funk, rock, bossa nova, samba and jazz” featuring lead singer Cacau and four instrumentalists. They have a very unique sound (in the first clip, it sounds a lot like American ska) and have a really cool blend of a variety…
New Music: Okê Arô Posted by Rachel on Jun 10, 2009
In this new series, I’ll feature cool new bands and singers from Brazil. If you have any suggestions, please leave a comment and I’ll include it in the next post. Okê Arô is a band based in Sao Paulo, featuring lead singer Paula Pretta. They play African-influenced music associated with Afro-Brazilian religion, blended with modern…
Caetano Veloso Releases New CD Posted by Rachel on Apr 22, 2009
Caetano Veloso, one of Brazil’s most beloved musicians and songwriters, has released a new CD, Zii e zie. It’s now on sale in Brazil and abroad (see here and here). Caetano composed the songs in Rio de Janeiro last year, when it was very rainy, and was inspired by the weather. He also includes aging…
Video Learning Series: Ivete Sangalo Posted by Rachel on Apr 10, 2009
Today, to practice listening comprehension, we’re going to take a look at some interviews with Ivete Sangalo, one of Brazil’s biggest pop stars. Ivete sings axé music, a pop-like genre from Bahia. Ivete is from Salvador, and performs there during Carnival every year.
Madonna Madness Hits Brazil Posted by Rachel on Dec 12, 2008
Madonna arrived in Rio de Janeiro this morning, on the Brazil leg of her international tour, where she will perform several sold-out shows in Rio and São Paulo. She’s currently staying at the Copacabana Palace, where fans have gathered to try to catch a glimpse of the singer. Outside of Maracana Stadium, where the Rio…
Brazilian Profile: Elza Soares Posted by Rachel on Nov 24, 2008
One of Brazil’s greatest samba singers, Elza Soares is not only a Brazilian cultural icon, but a symbol of endurance and courage. Born in 1930 in the Água Santa shantytown in Rio de Janeiro’s Zona Norte, Elza grew up in extreme poverty. Her mother was a washerwoman, and sometimes forced her to nurse from a…
Top Fifteen Best Brazilian Albums Posted by Rachel on Nov 12, 2008
Musician and author Charles Gavin picked the top fifteen Brazilian albums for a Globo music special, choosing the albums he considers “essential” to understanding and appreciating Brazilian music. The list encompasses various genres, including rock and samba. You can listen to samples from the fifteen albums here. Let’s take a look at the list: João…