Customer Reviews

Miss Perfumado

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Cesaria is a diva that is without doubt. Miss Perfumado is a wonderful blend of everything that you would imagine Cape Verde to be; African and Portugese, hot and beautiful. When you listen to this album, close your eyes and you can almost smell the sea, feel the sand on your feet and the sun on your back. Equally you will feel that you share the anxieties, pleasures and pain that Diva Evora sings about. The rhythms in the track Angola are delicious. Do not be surprised if you find that you cannot stop your toe tapping and if your body just gets up to dance just enjoy. Listening to Miss Perfumado will make you want to go to Cape Verde (or find out where the hell it is if you don't know already). Do you get the impression that I like this cd? I love it and always will!

A voice has never moved me as much as cesaria has. Her voice is so seductive and passionate that it takes your mind to another place. Her other albums are great, but this is the best. a definite must hear and must have for any collection

I first heard this CD as I was sampling artists on Amazon.com. Thank you! I have not been so enthralled with an artist in the last 25 years! Her music is haunting, seductive, it slips into your soul and is unforgettable. A few rare artists have the ability to instantly take you into a different place with the spirit they convey through their voices; Cesaria Evora is one of these. I am going to see her in concert in four days and can't wait to see what happens in her live performances! Each song is a jewel, her voice flashing brightly against the dark background of morna. I encourage others to listen and enjoy.

It is simply like a Billie holiday from Capo Verde, a perfect blend between portuguese Fado and African music (although the African side is a bit less present and the portuguese side tends to predominate..). You should buy the CD if just for the first song, Sodade, which is a masterpiece on its own. It is worth not 13$ but 1300! The songs are very sad, sad and beautiful. Don't listen to it when you're sad, it will make you cry, but do listen to it when you are coming home and the sunset makes beautiful colours in the sky, and you wish you were in a far-away african island....this record makes you want to go and see what Capo Verde must be like, if they make such a beautiful music....

Cesaria Evora is one of the great stars of world music, and this CD is on many lists as an "essential recording" in this genre. Born in 1941 in Sao Vicente (Cape Verde Islands), Cesaria has known the toughest of times in her youth, and was a mature woman before reaching the recognition she so richly deserved. "Mis Perfumado" was recorded in 1992, and is one of her very finest albums; with her soft, warm honey voice, and a heart well acquainted with the sorrow of lost love, she is undoubtedly the quintessential interpreter of "morna", a style of song reminiscent of the Portuguese fado combined with the rhythms of West Africa.

The songs on this CD are lilting, melodic gems, most with a nice slow swing to them, with a few that are more up-tempo, like tracks # 3, 10, and the fabulous "Angola" (# 6), which is my favorite number on the CD.
Four of the tracks (# 2, 7, 9, 11) were written by Cesaria's prolific uncle Francisco (better known as B. Leza), as well as three by one of Francisco's followers, Manuel de Novas (# 3, 4, 12). The musicianship is marvelous throughout this recording, and a lot of the world-wide success of this CD is owed to the masterful arrangements and piano artistry of Paulino Viera, whose solos add much to the beauty of the music, as does the haunting violin playing by Malaquias Costa featured in the final "Tortura".
A good place to start your Cesaria Evora collection, the sound is quite good and total playing time is 59'29.

I was introduced to Miss Perfumado while on vacation in France. I was completely transformed by this oustanding and eclectic blend of musical styles and rhythms. I recommend Miss Perfumado to anyone who appreciates or is interested in world music. It captures your soul.

I was recently on holiday in France visiting my cousin and her husband in their vacation home. One day I was assisting my cousin's husband with a building project and he put this album on the player and I immediately became completely transformed by the sounds and rhythms of this incredibly original blend of musical styles. An otherwise routine project took on a whole new dimension! I highly recommend this album!

You get the idea at times that there is hundreds of years of heartache and emotion bottled up inside Cesario and she truly does have a great voice and a great sound all around. This CD is a pretty good collection of just heartfelt sounds that truly touch your heart. My biggest problem with it is that it all seems to play off a similar emotion and by the end of the CD I feel like I've been listening to very similar stylings all along. Overall though a very decent piece of work from this powerful voice.

I have only words of praise for this CD. The more I listen to it, the more I like it. However, I haven't managed to like her other CD's. This one, i think, is the best music she's ever created.

You know the Dos Equis commercial, 'The Most Interesting Man in the World'? Well here's the most interesting woman. I happened upon Evora's album 'Sao Vincente' at the public library and was blown away. 'Miss Perfumado' is no less. Ms. Evora's voice is its own living thing, the essence of womanhood. All the mystery, heartache, and nurturing of your favorite aunt is there. Men want to know what she's thinking, and women hope to be that alluring.

My favorite track is Cumpade Ciznone, where a 1930's seaside night club comes to life. I hope Ms. Evora sings until her last breath because I'll be listening. If you want to broaden your horizon but don't have the money to travel, pick up 'Miss Perfumado'. Once Ms. Evora hooks you in, you'll never be the same.