Customer Reviews

Vida

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

 

 

The title of the CD, which means "Life", as well as the serious expression in Chico's face in the cover, give us a first approach of the contents of this album, where he tells us about all those little things which make up life and human feelings. Chico's lyrics are oddly sincere and at the same time full of an exquisite sense of poetry, something that no songwriter has ever achieved in such a graceful manner as him -we're talking about a genius. The album begins with "Vida", a dramatic reflection about the meaning of life. The second track, "Mar e lua", talks quite overtly about lesbian love and is a claim against intolerance, demonstrating the courage of this man if we consider that this album was released 20 years ago. Afterwards, in several touching ballads, as "Ja passou", "De todas as maneiras" and the sublime "Cualquer canção", Chico sings the vicissitudes of love in a forthright manner, deepening in both partners' feelings (in fact, some of the songs, as "Bastidores" are sung in feminine). The album also includes a couple of joyful sambas, "Deixe a menina" and "Morena de Angola", which break a bit the mainly serious, melancholic trend of the album. Very good, both musically and poetically.

Well, here's Chico Buarque after more than 15 years of composing... And it's becoming always better! Vida is the first song in the album... well... it's one of the most amazing songs that i've ever heard in my life about Vida(Vida means Life, in portuguese). It's a passionate song sang with a unique passion that make any person vibrate. There's no electric guitars, digital efects and (as the whole album and Chico whole career) all that stuff... it's a gem in its accoustic simplicity. The others songs are quite great and reveals a brazilian composer that is simply a genius and an album that's simply one of Chico's best.

Most (talented) composers would have to live about 100 years and write a few hundreds songs only to be able to release his/her lifetime's "Best of" with the quality of "Vida". What seems even more amazing is that for Mr. Buarque it seems a humdrum work. He is really a genius that I hope one day the whole world will know.