Customer Reviews

Aquarela Do Brasil

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I enjoyed this CD very much because Dionne braved the waters and recorded Brazilian Music even singing in Portugese. I was a nice break from her traditional standards. I instanly fell in love with the beautiful track # 9, Brazil (Aquarela do Brazil). I was fortunate enough to catch Dionne in concert in Houston and she sang 'Brazil' and '10,000 Words' in concert and she was so energetic and excited with these Brazilian tunes that it was simply oozing out of her pours. She sang the songs with so much gusto and fire that when I came back home I had to listen to the CD again to see if it was the same songs. Dionne is the consumate performer and singer and one can readily experience the love she has for Brazil by listening to these songs.

From the haunting and atmospheric Jobim opening medley, you know that this is going to be the ultimate Brazilian musical journey! Dionne's voice is the perfect blend of delicate tones that have a passionate and deeply soulful feel to them. Mellow rhythm flows you through a glorious "Virou Areia" and the fascinating native tropical feel of "Oh Bahia" is stunning with a richly varied vocal from Ms. Warwick who has never sounded as exotic as she does here!! How was a masterpiece such as we have here so overlooked as this is a truly brilliant musical tour of what feels like a topical paradise here. Antonio Carlos Jobim "Piano Na Mangueira" has a beautiful percussion and piano arrangement with a flowing Portuguese duet that takes you on a nice ride to another land!! Burt Bacharach goes Brazilian on the gorgeous "Captives Of The Heart" which in better musical times would have been a huge hit as this richly romantic song has a classic Warwick vocal. Dionne's own "Samba Dobrado" is a rich mix of wonderful flowing piano with an inspired English-Portuguese duet that is captivating. An epic "Heart Of Brazil" is a richly woven tropical musical tapestry that has a haunting and rich vocal by Dionne flowing beautifully through it. To the jungle we go in "N'Kosi Sidelel'i-Afrika/So Bashiya Bahlala Ekhaya" and what a great musical adventure this is! Chanting beautifully mixed with unusal percussion instruments showcase a totally mesmerizing vocal from Dionne. Stirring guitars surround an enchanting vocal for the title song of this brilliantly original set and "Brazil (Aquarela Do Brasil)is a stunning work. Epic is Legendary Duke Ellington's "Caravan" as wild pounding rhythm's showcase another brilliant vocal from Dionne that finds her at her absolute peak in this great musical celebration!! This monumental masterpiece of authentic Brazilian songs is the greatest work ever from an American Singer and Dionne Warwick should be very proud of her incredible accomplishment. Gorgeous melody flows romantically through the beautiful and haunting "Flower Of Bahia" with a hypnotic vocal from Dionne. My favorite is saved for last and what a cooking classic "10,000 Words" is!! Hold on for the celebration of a lifetime that is composed by the great Brenda Russell who along with the great Siedah Garrett contribute to alot of the brilliant background vocals throughout this inspired collection! Be ready to use your repeat button alot throughout this wonderous set of the best from Brazil!! Bravo to Dionne for this great masterpiece and to her brilliant supporting cast which includes Dori Caymmi and so many others that are all so great but way too many to mention. If you love the beauty and romance of music from Brazil do not miss this classic!! This is as good as it gets!!!!

I purchased this CD on the basis of another reviewers comments. I was a little wary of Dionne Warwick singing brazilian tunes (some crossovers are terrible). I really like this CD. My only complaints are with the "Jobim Medley" and "Caravan" tracks. I love the music of Jobim, but this medley seems heavy, wooden, and far too rhythmically square. "Waters of March" in particular is so even, rhythm-wise, it's hard to listen to. "Caravan" is a great idea, but not executed very well. The mix is too heavy on percussion and too light on vocals.

Having said those things, the rest of the CD is wonderful. I love that she sings in Portuguese at various times. I love the arrangements-tasty and rhythmically interesting. My current favorite track is the "Heart of Brazil." I'm still singing it to myself days later. I'm very happy I purchased this CD.

This Brazilian masterpiece is delicately rich like a fine tapestry. Dionne's vocals are very fine. She never has to work hard to reach those highs and lows. She is masterful throughout.

The opening number, which is a Jobim Medley, is gently stirring. The bosa nova style arrangement has gorgeous undertones. "Virou Areia" sweeps into a tropical fantasy and a moral message. "Oh Bahia" begins deep and brooding and very subtly builds into a softly sweet Latin ballad. "Captives Of The Heart" is a mature and satisifying love song. Dionne's vocal is tender, building to gorgeous highs, and backed by a sweeping arrangement. "Samba Dobrado" has a jazzy Latin feel. "Heart Of Brazil" has a message of environmental responsibility and yet musically delicious! "Brazil (Aquarela Do Brasil)" is a total tribute to Brazil as well as being the title song. Listening to "Flower Of Bahia" you almost feel that you can smell the tropical flowers and taste the tropical fruits. The finale "10,000 Words" is an upbeat Latin anthem!

This cd takes me on a journey to another place. To hear it is to feel like I'm on vacation! Don't just listen to it, FEEL it!

There aren't enough stars for this one! Fantastic, fantastic! Oh, well, there's one song I hate, that South African anthem; but I can program around that one easily enough. Anyone who loves the music of Brasil, as I do, and who loves Tom Jobim, who loves Stan Getz, who loves Djavan, and who loves the incomparable voice of Dionne Warwick, will absolutely be blown away by this recording. It's a shame this CD wasn't more popular. I consider it her best!

...maybe puffing on a long cigarette through painted nails and watching lovers walk by. The air is fragrant with exotic flowers. Life should be full of dreams and beautiful romantic glamorous intrigue and certain songs and albums have the powers to evoke such a sweeping, exaggerative feeling. This is one such intoxicant!

Since being a young impressionable child and finding this colourful, slightly odd and slightly naff looking CD in a store bargain bin before a college trip to Paris in the late 90's = I have coveted and hung off every single smoky syllable of Dionne's delectable Brazilian lovin' voice on this 'selection'. (Yes, my French trip had a serendipitously glorious Bossa-Nova, Brazilian summery soundtrack!)

Her collaboration with Teo Lima left me simply gagging for more....so I also bought his lavish album called 'Batacoto' that has a similar affect. Beautiful.

I'm listening to 'Aquarela' as I type (in diamante) and it never fails to take me away to such a wonderful beautifully melancholic, pensive land. Where old money have new faces and poodles 'bark d'francais' through diamond Chanel collars. Go on, buy it and lay back on the sofa a-la Dionne with a glass of heady wine and feel FABULOUS!

Okay, so not every song is about Brazil but let Dionne do her 'thang'; it works! 'Oh Bahia' is sang so eloquently, the little piano flutters in the background are like butterflies at sunset. 'Piano na Manguera' with Antonio Carlos Jobim is flirtatious and sleepy and '10'000 words' is a catchy finish to the album. I dont want to harp on because it will unravel itself but I hope you all enjoy it as much as I do!

It's truly Lush!;-)

each cd is a work of art. the lady has still got it and proves that she gets better with age. i can't really say that any cut is better than another. dionne is poised and elegant in her song and in her presence.

Don't know if the troubles Dionne had in the mid-ninties(I.R.S.) inspired this album: or this album inspired the troubles. Anywho, Artist must suffer and this cd is truly a work of art. It's not often that a star of this stature devotes themselves to causes so frevrently. These songs dispite their romantic intonations really deliver quite a whallop,politically and culturally. Basically,Quit Killing the Planet. Quit the exploitation of the rain forests. You know something, She was right. A third of the Amazon has been denuded. Now days we wonder where we went wrong with our climate change. I've got a feeling it started here almost 20 years ago. Enough said. Let's talk music.

Antonio Carlos Jobim, Dori Caymmi, Claudio Jorge, Duke Ellington,Brenda Russell,Teo Lima,Burt Bacharach(did Burt and Dionne have an affair-I'd like to think so)...what a list of songwriters. This cd is wonderful Brasilian sambas done with then state of the art percusions very daring and bold. My favorite cuts,Jobim Medley, Viro Areia,Oh Bahia,Piano na Magueria, Samba Dobrado, Heart of Brasil....and the extra special Flower of Bahia. The world owes you a debt of gratitude for this cd,Dionne.

Thank you for vision. Nice cover art,too. I give this record an 85, You can dance to it too.'Caravan',Dionne sings accapella backed by a line of drums evoking the spirit of a marching Carnival band. Very different,indeed. I like it!

Dionne Warwick is never one to sit back and rest on her laurels. She always pushed and stretches her talent, something I find very admirable. But sometimes we can all go a little too far. This CD is a good example. Although it has a few good moments, in general it isn't very satisfying. Warwick's vocals sound particularly worn and thin on this one, and she doesn't seem to put much effort into sounding her best. Also, some of the arrangements are curious, such as "Caravan", among others. Real fans of Dionne should buy her latest album, "Dionne Sings Dionne." She sounds rejuvenated and much more enthusiastic, and she is more at home singing HER kind of songs - plus she even does a re-make of Aquarela do Brasil that is far better than the one on this album.