 |
Free Music Notes for Elis & TomFree Music Review: Life should be like this... Hit: 5 StarsThis record is above any review. Life should be like this; simple, beautiful, pure!
A special record for special people and special moments.
Paulo Domingos, Portugal
Free Music Review: A Classic, But... Hit: 5 StarsAt the risk of being accused of massive heresy, I'd like to point out a few things that the potential buyer should be aware of: 1) if you're of a certain generation(younger than say, 40)and aren't accustomed to hearing sacharrine-like string arrangements then there will be about 4 or 5 slow orchestra + singer tracks(non-bossa) on this album that will drive you nuts and distract from Elis's amazing voice. For example, if you get the chance, listen to the version of "Modinha" on this CD vs. the version with just Elis and Cesar on piano in the Elis DVD. I always skipped this song on the CD and now I'm realizing how sad it is that it was orchestrated...Good heavens just get out of the lady's way and let her sing. This song sounds so much better 'unplugged'! I bet the same would happen with the other tracks. It sounds a bit pretentious since the strings are not needed to make Elis 'better', due to the inherent greatness of the songs...thus, sublime songwriting by Jobim...but he should've nixed the 'ambitious' arrangements! Btw, I also dislike the version of Corcovado here...and I'm not so sure it's the definitive vocal version...I think that honor should go to Joao Gilberto...and once again, I bet if Elis has/had an unplugged version, it probably would be the among the best. Anyhow, just a controversial opinion of mine. I'm sure many disagree!
2)Many are calling this a quintessential bossa album...but nearly half the tracks are not bossa nova but modinhas...slow-tempo dramatic songs that may sound a bit 'over-the-top' to modern ears.
3)This is not my favorite singing by Elis...for my taste she is too polished and restrained on a few of the songs here(with some very notable exceptions such as Aguas de Marco)...although her singing is indeed flawless and unmatched. Call me crazy, I'd much rather hear the relaxed, soulful, or fun Elis in "Como Os Nossos Pais", "Upa Neguinho", or "Sou Caipira Pira Pora Nossa"(not sure about the title), or "Alo, Alo Marciano". At any rate, Elis was soooo much more than a bossa nova or jazz singer. She was and could be anything!
Now, as for the priceless songs...these are the ones that I pick as my faves on this CD:
1) Aguas de Marco (btw, the end part, in which Elis starts laughing is I think due to the fact that, based on my limited understanding of Portuguese, Elis and Tom start chopping off the first letter of each word starting the refrain phrases...it's onderful!)
2) Triste: So sexy...tua beleza e' um aviao, Elis!
3) Retrato em Branco e Preto- Just amazing! The strings aren't as obnoxious here, either.
4) Fotografia: brilliant!
5) Chovendo na Roseira: One of my favorite songs ever!
6) Inutil Paisagem: Great song for when you're feeling depressed...very cathartic!
Free Music Review: Elis & Tom Hit: 5 StarsThis album is considered THE BEST album ever released in Brazil! The performance of Elis Regina and Antonio Carlos (Tom) Jobim in this album are absolutely impeccable!!!
Free Music Review: Magnificient Hit: 5 StarsWonderful stuff....both of these folks were masters.
I am so glad that I have discovered Elis, and feel
sorry that I was not familiar with her long ago.
She passed away at age 36 in 1982, and brought
enlightening moments to so many.
Their collaboration gave birth to a rich and magical thing!
Free Music Review: Genius! Hit: 5 StarsThis record is a true jewel, a century-recording. It's like you enter a place with stagnant energy in which, suddenly, a beautiful woman who dropped from nowhere lights a cigarette, and not voluntarily, but because you let yourself go, you inhale the smoke, and thereby inhale the woman's perfume and all her being ...
It has the incredible presence of touch, of life, of emotions that only analog recordings have and the digital era has buried in 'clean' sound anaestetics. The talent of the musicians is nothing less than genius, not to talk about Jobim's music which is not of century, but of millennary genius. The inner harmony and synergy between Jobim and Regina is not to put in words. It's one of those rare encounters between artists that are truly blessed by heaven.
This unique music has transformed me an evening of utter depression into one of wonder and inner peace. This music is truly religious, in a non-religious sense.
What Brazilians teach us is that musical genius, when you encounter it incarnated in a human being seems to be simplicity. This simplicity is the outer shell of high inner complexity. Brazilians are all gifted for music, as they have it in their blood. This is because they are one of the most emotionally intelligent cultures on earth, together with Cubans and Italians.
One last word: there is today lots of Samba and Bossa Nova around. Don't let yourself fool by all these copy productions. This CD has the originals!! And you may be surprised at the romantic slowness of some of the pieces that you heard played like clockworks and with digital robotic perfection. And also you may be surprised about the natural pathos of the Brazilian soul. What most people confuse with 'bar music' truly is a religious expression. It's people presenting themselves without a shell, without an emotional armor, and with a totally open heart. And the Brazilian language, that has almost totally transcendented Portuguese is next to Indonesian and Italian one of the most beautiful languages for chant.
To play this music like nightclub candies, which is (unfortunately) the understanding most Westerners have of Brazilian music, is based on a cultural misunderstanding. For Brazilians their music is sacred, no less than that. And perhaps, this CD will convince you of this truth!
This CD merits 50 stars, not just 5.
More Free Music Notes: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
|
 |