City of God [Soundtrack]

Antonio Pinto (Composer), Ed Cortês (Composer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 14, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Milan Records
• ASIN: B00007L9OA
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #73,144 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

In telling the story of two friends from a tough Rio de Janeiro barrio whose lives can never seem to escape the favela where they were born and raised, the acclaimed film by Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund has drawn comparisons to such modern touchstones as Martin Scorsese's GoodFellas. Taking his inspiration from the filmmakers' daring gambit to cast real people in the roles and the film's '60s-'70s milieu, composer Antonio Pinto (assisted by partner Ed Córtes) has concocted a smart, rhythmically intoxicating cocktail of Brazilian jazz and samba, shaken with a little '70s American funk and R&B and served with cool, tropical flair. Those various styles often melt into each other with a liberating sense of postmodern possibility, giving listeners an experience that's as exotic as it is deceptively familiar, the worthy equatorial flip side of David Holmes's jazz-funk collaborations with Steven Soderbergh on Out of Sight and Ocean's Eleven. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars First rate set of Brazilian soul, samba and psychedelia, May 3, 2003

By 

DJ Joe Sixpack (...in Middle America) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: City of God (Audio CD)

The soundtrack to Fernando Meirelles' hard-hitting, gritty feature film about life in Rio de Janeiro's favela slums. An excellent collection of vintage "Black Rio" Brazilian soul, including tracks by funk pioneer Tim Maia, crooner Hyldon and Wilson Simonal's hipsterdelic, Ray Charles-ish "Nao Vem Que Nao Tem," which was previously anthologized on the Six Degrees "SAMBA SOUL '70" compilation album (which is also very good). Also included are sweet samba tunes from songwriter Cartola," an elder of the Mangueira samba school, and the anthemic "Metamorfose Ambulante," by rocker Raul Seixas (who was a pretty amazing character). It's a fine set of classic songs to start with, but the new material that augments and connects these tracks is also pretty cool, '70s-styled funksploitation instrumentals by Antonio Pinto and Ed Cortez, along with a new samba-soul song by Seu Jorge, one of the best new artists in the style. This is a really groovy collection, definitely worth checking out!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Decent., August 27, 2006

By 

ph2072 "Me Myself & I" (New York City) - See all my reviews

This review is from: City of God (Audio CD)

I like it, but I wish there were more Brazilian songs like tracks 11 and 12. That's the only reason I gave this product 4 stars instead of 5. This and the movie itself fascinated me enough to make me want to visit Brazil and learn Portuguese even more.

4.0 out of 5 stars Tropicalismo Samba soul circa 1970's, January 12, 2007

By 

Momentum (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: City of God (Audio CD)

A great soundtrack to a superb, first-rate film. "City of God Soundtrack" is infused with so much soul, you'll be moving...and grooving! Okay, I had to say "grooving" because what else can you expect from the 70's?

This movie was absolutely perfect in its delivery, and the beats and sounds that this soundtrack carries makes everything come alive. I mean you really feel the atmosphere. Its very '70's and very cool. The best cuts are "Metamorfose Ambulante" (stellar and sexy) and "Do Caminho Do Bem" (my brother who thinks listening to a language you don't understand is silly, thought this track was "real tight") and the reason I bought the album, "Convite Para Vida" is a traditional samba. Play this music when you're lounging, in the car or at a barbecue. Believe the hype with this movie and go buy it, along with a great soundtrack that will remain a classic.

Also recommended: Cibelle's "Cibelle", Sergio Mendes' "Timeless", Lura "Di Korpu Ku Alma."