Aquarela do Brasil [Import]

Gal Costa | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 8, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Universal Import
• ASIN: B000004780
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #409,951 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist

Dona Mariah's only daughter, Maria da Graça Costa Penna Burgos, was born in Salvador, Bahia and was brought up listening to music - on the radio always turned on in the house, in the record store where she worked as a teenager, at the Tenis Baiano Club - with friends, until she got in touch with the group of rising stars, such as Caetano Veloso who in the early '60s was already pioneering towards the new Brazilian Popular music. Later came the courage to come down to Rio and São Paulo. The first show in São Paulo, "Arena Canta Bahia", wasn't exactly a hit but who ever saw it, will never forget it: Gal still called herself "Gracinha", was quiet and thoughtful, listening most of the time and being only listened when she sang Bossa Nova standards. When everything became psychedelic and marvellous with Gilberto Gil's, Tom Ze's, Torquato Neto's antropophagic Tropicalismo, Maria de Graça turned into Gal (from the nickname "Gau", given by a younger cousin), Brazil was going through a dictatorship totally against new ideologies and concepts, and while Gil and Caetano chose to become political exiles in London, Gal took part in politically radical concerts, thighs and hair swaying to the sound of Jorge Benjor, Adoniram Barbosa, Luis Melodia, Roberto and Erasmo Carlos. Even then Gal already had the ability to turn any song immersed in prejudice, such as the wishy-washy romantic songs on the hit parades and the almost forgotten sambas by old composers, into dark jewels of unbelievable value for the cultural Brazilian soul. She started using words more and more, preferably to sing, to express herself through other composers' lyrics, she never wrote a song. The habits were changing and Gal was showing the change. She went through several periods: the belly button, and the barefoot periods, changing and trying to find the right temperature of a country made of miracles, highways, sugar cane, soccer World Cup, feathers and high-rises. Gal gave her name to the dunes of a beach in Rio. She was known to all who had long hair and colorful necklaces. She started to guide the camping groups of the first and last Brazilian hippies, natural rice and bananas - and set up a trademark, an enormous mouth with bloodred lipstick, bleeding over the Carnivals, bathed by the merry sounds of its music, the sun and an ever rising success. The campus stages and those of alternate show places suddenly became too small. It was time to cross the borders. And in the early '80s, several countries received her setting up an international bridge, with concerts in Japan, France, Israel, Argentina, USA, Portugal, Italy... "O Sorriso do Gato de Alice is the twentieth album of a career that confirming João Gilberto's omen, turned into one of the most successful in the international music world. Actually, as was previously said, Gal Costa's voice is our best exportation choice.

Product Description

COSTA GAL AQUARELA DO BRASIL

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Lovely, sumptuous Sunday morning music, April 9, 2002

By 

Tom B "handydandy" (Westport, CT USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Aquarela do Brasil (Audio CD)

Gal Costa is blessed with a voice that at once soothes, energizes and pleases in a lyrically tuneful way. It's no wonder she is so popular. This recording is a collection of lovely and lush songs, a perfect accompaniment for a sunny Sunday or to brighten up a cloudy morning. Even on the faster, brassier numbers like the first cut, E Luxo So, Costa massages you with her breathy seductiveness. Perhaps not as brilliant as the great samba masters, this is nonetheless a prize of a recording that my wife and I have enjoyed many times, while sipping coffee and reading magazines, etc. It never fails to please, even after repeated listening. An excellent purchase.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Gal Costa sings Ary Barroso in her cool style, May 18, 2003

By 

Carlos from Rio "Carlos from Rio" (Rio de Janeiro, RJ Brazil) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Aquarela do Brasil (Audio CD)

Ary Barroso was one the great traditional composers in Brazil. His only international reference is his song "Brazil" as recorded by Frank Sinatra besides Carmen Miranda's renditions of some of his songs.

So this is an Ary Barroso songbook album.

Features Caetano Veloso on "No Tabuleiro da Baiana" in a delicious duet with Ms. Costa.

Overall, you'll hear Gal Costa in her cool performances of Barroso's material. No brilliant arrangements to feature.

5.0 out of 5 stars Refreshing Gal does Ary, April 18, 2005

By 

Antonio M Vazquezpausa "amvp" (Miami, Fl United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Aquarela do Brasil (Audio CD)

Gal Costa,one of Brazil's greatest female vocalists released this album in 1980 as a tribute to Brazilian songwriter Ary Barroso.The product was an interesting and refreshing collection of 1940-1950 classics that were born again in Costa's unusual voice.Check out E LUXO SO and the duet with Caetano Veloso,NO TABULEIRO DA BAIANA.The ballad TU and the danceable FACEIRA only boast Gal's ability to perform a wide array of genres.