When I was a kid I used to hate Bossa Nova and Popular Brazilian Music (known as MPB - Musica Popular Brasileira). It felt like something only old people would listen to, it felt boring.
Boy did I change. Today, Bossa Nova is my favorite kind of music.
If you don't really know what Bossa Nova is all about there is no better way to start than with the two best CDs I have in my collection: Nara Leao's Garota de Ipanema, and Joao Gilberto's Joao Voz e Violao.
Nara Leão is one of Brazil's greatest artists. She died in 1982, leaving behind a great collection of first-rate songs.
Now,
Joao Gilberto is a world-class asshole. He is always late for his shows and he is bothered by any noise in the audience. Even applause and air-conditioning (and you can only imagine how that is important in most Brazilian cities). You would expect that by now he would have changed his ways, but I don't know. He still performs all the time to sold-out audiences, but I am not willing to try one of his shows -- although I think it would be entertaining anyway, either because of his music, if he does perform, or because it is always fun to see someone making an ass out of himself (check out the video after the jump).
Having said that, if you listen to his music you may well forget that he is a prick. Here he sings Diga with his daughter Bebel Gilberto (who is also one of my favorite singers):
Okay, now since I already trashed his personality, you may also want to see one of the most embarrassing moments in the history of music in Brazil. Joao Gilberto was complaining about something and the audience started to boo him. He walks out. Watch the embarrassing moment:
The booing in the video above was also said to have political overtones...
iTunes has a partial version of Gilberto's CD.
One should never say: «Dessa água não beberei!»
At this very instant, my copy of Nara Leão's CD is right here on my desk... And I'm going to listen to her for a long, long time... I love Bossa Nova, much more than Samba.
Posted by: Ricardo | Nov 03, 2006 at 09:39 PM
Yes, he is a great musician and yes he is a great asshole heheh
I bet u changed a lot since u was a kid LOL
Posted by: marcus | Nov 03, 2006 at 09:36 PM