Brazil Classics 3: Forro Etc

Various Artists (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 22, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Luaka Bop
• ASIN: B0007XT84E
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #127,364 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #31 in Music > World Music > Latin Music > Brazilian > Afro Brazilian

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Enjoyable Introduction, July 10, 2005

By 

Jess - See all my reviews

This review is from: Brazil Classics 3: Forro Etc (Audio CD)

First off, this poor page needs a tracklisting, so here's that for whom it may concern:
1) Luiz Gonzaga - O Fole Roncou (The Bellows Roared)
2) Gal Costa - Festa do Interior (Party of the Brazilian Interior)
3) Jackson do Pandeiro - Tum-Tum-Tum
4) Luiz Gonzaga - Danado de Bom (Damn Good)
5) Dominguinhos - Querubim (Cherb)
6) Anastácia - O Sucesso de Zefinha (Little Zefa's Sucess)
7) Nando Cordel & Amelinha - É de Dar Agua na Boca (It makes my mouth water)
8) Dominguinhos - Vou com Você (I'll Go with You)
9) Gonzaguinha - Asa Branca (White Wing)
10) Clemilda - Recordação de Vaqueiro (Recollection of a Cowboy)
11) Jorge de Altinho & Domiguinhos - Bom Demais (Too Good/So Good)
12) Marinalva - Tarde Nordestina (Northeastern Afternoon)
13) Luiz Gonzaga - A Feita de Caruaru (The Market of Caruaru)
14) Genival Lacerda - Aniversário do Seu Vavá (Mr's Vavá's Birthday)
15) Jackson do Pandeiro - Chiclete com Banana (Bubble Gum with Bananas)
16) Trio Nordestinho - Rejeição (Rejection)
17) João do Vale - Estrela Miúda (Tiny Star)
18) Luiz Gonzaga & Elba Ramalho - Sanforinha Choradeira (Little Weeping Accordion)

This is a sampling off the music of the Brazilian northeast, which is a dry, impoverished region of the country near and on the equator. It's presently very popular throughout Brazil and is usually danced to by couples. Although it's not my favorite genre of Brazil music, it's still worth giving a go if you are interested in Brazilian music and culture. You really need to hear it for yourself because anything it could be compared to is just that, a comparision. I've heard people compare it to ska, polka, tejano, but it's not really any of those things. It's its own unique thing.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Authentic Brazilian FORRO!!, June 20, 2006

By 

Teresa J. Nunes (Indiana) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Brazil Classics 3: Forro Etc (Audio CD)

I grew up in the Northeastern region of Brazil, listening to and dancing the "Forro". This CD is as close to authentic Forro as you will get! I play it for my 8-month old daughter so that she will get used to these Brazilian rythms. I agree with the reviewer who said that if you like Zydeco music, you will probably enjoy this.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Interesting Primer, July 11, 2008

By 

Robert Keith "Baskervilles" (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Brazil Classics 3: Forro Etc (Audio CD)

David Byrne is a saint for releasing this. I knew that there was a particular type of Brazilian music that I was interested in. I heard snatches of Forro in Tropicalia and MPB, but I didn't know what it was called. Since purchasing this CD, I have happily discovered multiple great artists and hundreds of fantastic Forro albums.

Forro is typically sung. The accompanying music is usually, but not exclusively, played with 3 instruments: Zabumba (leather bass drum head on one side and a plastic snare-like membrane on the other), accordion and triangle. In other accordion musics, the accordion typically drives the beat. Forro doesn't sound like Polka or Zydeco because the percussion provides the thrust and the accordion is the counter beat or melody. Its unique and works amazingly well.

Luiz Gonzaga's O Fole' Roncou is an awesome opener. 1968 - 1976 is the prime era for Forro, and this is perhaps the greatest song ever from the genre. Milton Miranda's production is stellar and the song absolutely ROCKS. Chiclete Com Banana by Jackson Do Pandeiro is also a stone classic.

If there is a problem with the CD, it is that there are a lot of 80s Forro songs which are badly produced. There are enough classics here to make this a worthy purchase. It's also interesting to hear the differences in production styles.

Let me be clear. Although many of Forro's greatest artists are represented here, many of their best songs and periods are definitely NOT.

I highly recommend exploring late 60s / early-to-mid 70s Luiz Gonzaga, Os 3 Do Nordeste, Jackson Do Pandeiro and Genival Lacerda if you want to hear more Forro after this.

Enjoy. Thanks David Byrne!