ARTS
The Michigan Daily
Page 9
Wednesday, February 8, 1989
uente
no
inverno
(Hot in the winter)
It may be Ash Wednesday, but Brazilian music will
keep burning long after the end of Carnival.
BY S-fEALA DURANT'
MILLIONS of people from parts of
the U.S., the Caribbean and Brazil
have stopped singing and dancing and
have gone into the solemn- obser-
vance of Ash Wednesday, marking
the start of 40 days of good behaviorj
until Easter. But just because the
celebrations have stopped, the music
STATE OF THE
AR T.
doesn't have to - especially when
it's the unique blend of Brazilian pop
music.
The Brazilian Carnival has been
one of the most popularized of all the
celebrations, and with good reason. It
is enhanced by the amazing and
spellbinding Brazilian samba
rhythms which are mainly extracted
from the African heritage of a size-
able segment of Brazil's population.
In the past, Brazilian music was
considered to be light or trendy,
associated mainly with Carmen Mi-
randa or Tom Jobim's "Girl from
Ipanema." But although it may be
hard to imagine Brazilian music as
dangerous, during the early 1960s (a
period of harsh military rule), several
of Brazil's most popular "sambistas"
and popular songwriters, such as
Gilberto Gil and Caetano Veloso,
used enough social commentary to be
considered dangerous by the govern-
ment. Even though they were not di-
rectly political in their music, GilI
and Veloso were arrested and spentl
three months in solitary confinementI
before being released to exile int
London, where they lived for several
years.
Gilberto Gil is a Black Baiano
from Bahia, Brazil's most African1
region, and the LPSoy Loco Por Ti
America (Braziloid), is the latest ef-
fort by the Brazilian musical super-
star. Gil offers the listener a cocktail
of bouncy, funky Brazilian music -
plus he sings in English, Spanish
and French as well as his native Por-
tuguese. This particiular album fea-1
tures undeniably strong reggae over-;
tones throughout; for instance,
there's the French chanson "Mardi 101
Mars" and "Jubiaba," the song from
his soundtrack score for a recent1
Brazilian film adaptation of a novel'
by popular Brazilian author Jorge
Amado.
Gil's tune "Vida" has a calypso1
feel, while "Mamma" is reggae, pure
and simple; he couldn't have made
this smooth and mellow number
sound any more Caribbean than it
already did. The title track is a truly
enlivening salsa groove sung mostly
in Spanish. "Mar De Copacabana"
features more traditional Brazilian
fare. In this breezy carefree samba,
Gil sings about Copacabana in such
a way that he actually takes the lis-
tener there for all of three minutes
and 47 seconds.
Singer/songwriter Djavan has
been called the Stevie Wonder of
Brazil. Come to think of it, his first
U.S. released LP, Djavan, featured
perfomances by Stevie Wonder on
harmonica. Djavan's latest album,
Bird of Paradise (CBS), shows his
heavy borrowing from American
music. Djavan sings in English for
the first time on three of the LP's
songs, but despite his inherent
Brazilian musical influences, Bird of
Paradise features a strongly contem-
porary jazz feel.
The title track is a slow breezy
tune in which he sings about being
near an azure blue lagoon with jas-
mine and frangipane. The tune's En-
glish translation was written by
Michael Franks - perhaps why it
sounds so familiar. "Stephen's
Kingdom" commences with the call
and response of a Yoruban African
chant which is abruptly interrupted
by a heavy funk backbeat provided by
Harvey Mason on drums and Greg
Phillinganes on keyboards. In
"Stephen's Kingdom," Djavan sings
of hope and liberation ("The sound of
rifle and drum/ Stephen's kingdom
has come and has overcome/ There's
no power like the might of tomor-
row's dream.")
"Bouquet" is by far the most
peaceful and beautiful ballad on the
album, featuring, in addition to Dja-
van on guitar, George Duke on
acoustic piano and a mood enhancing
string arrangement by George Del
Barrio.
Brazil is Back Vol. 1
(Braziloid) is a showcase of fairly re-
cent hits by a potpourri of Brazil's
hottest musical exports, i.e., Obina
Shock, Sandra Si, Lobao, Martinho
Da Vila and Paulo Moura among
others. Obina Shock is a quartet that
has a heavy horn section and at
times, almost a disco beat. Their
tune, "Vida," is reminiscent of the
1970s groups Chic or Heatwave -
excellent music to rollerskate to.
What can one say about soulful
Sandra SA? She has been referred to
as "Queen of Soul-Funk." Her husky
voice is accentuated on the ballad,
"Joga Fora." Alan Ryan, of the Reg-
gae and African Beat, referred to Sa's
sound by saying, "Brazilian Funk
this good could make you run out
and buy a plane ticket. Or stay home
and throw a party." MartinhoDa
Vila's samba, "Batuca No Chao,"
captures the traditional folkloric
rhythms of Brazilian music. "Lobao
(The Wolf)" offers the listener a taste
of rock 'n' roll in Portuguese.
The tunes from Brazil Clas-
sics 1, Beleza Tropical (Sire)
feature a collection of artists like
Jorge Ben, Veloso, Maria Bethania
(Veloso's sister), and Chico Buarqe
to name a few. The songs, mostly
representative of the 1970s Tropical-
ismo movement, were compiled by
David Byrne of Talking Heads fame.
Could it be, another compilation
featuring Gilberto Gil? Oh well, his
tune "S6 Quero um Xod6" has a dis-
tinct country twang. I could have
sworn I heard an accordion in the
The Brazilian Carnival has
been one of the most pop-
ularized of all the celebra-
tions, and with good rea-
son. It is enhanced by the
amazing and spellbinding
Brazilian samba rhythms.
background, but then again, it may
have just been interference from a
neighborhood CB enthusiast.
Jorge Ben's "Ponta de Lance
Africano (Umababaruma)" is hot,
guaranteed to bring back memories of
early '70s Black American music like
the Temptations' "Ball of Confu-
sion." On "Umababaruma," Ben tells
Adiin andOporunti
Reach 40,000 readers after class,
advertise in
talct lidilgan ta
MAGAZINE
..Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 8 and 9
Breaking Inertia and The Youngstown Rose, two
student written one act plays. Auditions will be in the
Arena Theatre from 6-7:30 p.m. There are 7 male and
4 female parts. Bring a short prepared monologue.
Sign up in the Greenroom in the basement of the
Frieze Bldg. Call Steve at 995-5578 or David at 761-
1561.
.-.Thursday, Feb. 9
Black Theatre Workshop in conjunction with the
Department of Theatre and Drama is inviting the
public to meet with Broadway star Andre De
Shields, at the Angela Davis Lounge inside Mary
-I
Markley Resident Hall, located at 1503 Washington
Heights.
De Shields will be on hand to greet the public from
5-6:30 p.m. Part of the evening's entertainment will
include a special presentation of De Shields' Emmy
Award-winning performance in the NBC-TV telecast of
AIN'T MISBEIIAVIN'. Admission is free and re-
freshments will be served.
...Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, March
6, 7, and 8
Auditions for Mame at the Ann Arbor Civic The-
atre (AACT), 1035 South Main Street. Must be there
at 7 p.m. sharp. All, above the age of 8 years, are
welcome to come. For further information, call 662-
7282.
Auditions and Opportunities appears every Wednes-
day in the Michigan Daily's Arts section. If you have
information regarding any auditions or performance- or
theater-related events, contact Cherie Curry at 763-
0379.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Don't tet your
coved one
with a song,
r
Sat L with a
Datici vacentine!
fishbowl: feb. 6,7
South & West Quads:
reb. 7-9
illum- Ipm
ANNOUNCEMENTS
DIAL-A-JEWISH-STORY: a new story ev-
ery week. 995-5959. A Chabad House pro-
ject.
WANT TO LEARN WORD PROCESSING?
At the Academic Resource Center (AR
we'll show you how easy it is to master
WORD, MACWRITE & spelling checkers.
Drop by the ARC Mon.-Thurs. from 1-7 pm
and from 1-5 pm on Fri., Sat. and Sun. It is
located in room 219 of the Undergraduate
Library.
ROOMMATES
Seeking 2 female nonsmokers to share East
University House Sept-Sq., from $220-270
a month incl. utilities call 764-7071.
TICKETS
$400 Ticket Voucher For ContinentalAir-
lines. Call Ellen, 747-9428.
DETROIT METRO-NYC LAGUARDIA or
White Plains on Feb. 25. $95. 764-7826 after
5.
MUST SELL ONE WAY TICKET to NY's
LaGuardia airport Feb. 24 5:40 pm. Price ne-
gotiable. Call 764-4972.
ONE WAY: WASH/DULLES-Detroit/Metro
Leaving March 5. 763-1747.
ROUNDTRIP TKT. Det. to Lauguardia leave
2/25 re. 3/5. Best offer 764-9018 Tom
WANTED: 2 U-M Bsktbl tickets (far a
child's gift). Call 747-0530 after 6 pm.
TI
Read
Ube
DVaieq
C&ei~ied6
JOSTENS
GOLD RING SALE
IS COMING!
the story of a soccer player drawing
from the sambas of Rio's favelas or
slums to Afro-American rhythm and
blues. "Umabarauma, homem gol
(Umabaruma, goal man)/ Joga bola,
joga bola corocondo (play ball, play
ball corocondo)/ Ohla que a cidade"
toda ficou (see how the whole city
empties out)/ messa tarde bonita (on
this beautiful afternoon)/ so pra te
ver jogar (just to see you play)."
Caetano Veloso's "Um Cando de
Afoxe para O Bloco do Ile (IlAye)"
adds a jovial feel to the compilation
LP, featuring a diverse chorus of a
capella voices, including a child's.
So, here it is, a kit for a last
minute carnival fling - four albums
that exhibit the exuberance of the
Brazilian spirit. To further the
Brazilian atmosphere, it might not be
a bad idea to rent the movie Black
Orpheus.
Tschao.
University of Wisconsin
Platteville
4Y
Study in
Emphases in
Liberal Arts
International Business
Courses available in Spanish
and in English
Fluency in Spanish not required
All courses approved by UW-Plateville
and validated on an official
UWPlatteville transcript
$3425 per smester for Wixonain &
Minnesota residents.
$3675 per asmeter for non-residents.
Costs include
Tuitionand Fees
Rom nd BoardTi with Snanih famiie
A"tf4'iks Gt6EC1EtR!
Charley's thinks W' should buy you
more than just a great salad bar.
Our specials start with a fresh salad and end with
a whole lot more!
1
r
Sunday. Salad bar and a tasty soup.
Monday. Salad bar is only $2.00 per person when purchased
with one of our popular pizzas, which are 1/2 regular price!
Tuesday. Feast on a salad bar and barbequed chicken wingers.
Wednesday. Salad bar and some irresistible lasagna.
Order your college ring NOW.
Stop by and see a Jostens representative.
Wednesday, Feb. 8-thru Friday, Feb. 10,
11:00a.m. to 4:00p.m.,
o select from a complete line of gold rings,
A $20.00 deposit is required.
t
. I
i