Doces Bárbaros [IMPORT]

Gilberto Gil, Maria Bethania, Gal Costa, Caetano Veloso

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 20, 2004)
• Original Release Date: 1976
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Import
• Label: Polygram Int'l
• ASIN: B00000GACE
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #162,771 in Music (See Bestsellers 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.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unpolished gem, May 7, 1999

By A Customer

Technically flawed with mediocre recording quality, the warmth of this double album, especially the vocal harmonies, make this a priceless set. Mostly obscure songs, the set has a loose and lively groove which culminates in a free-form batucada jam. (And if you like this sort of thing, don't miss the Gilberto Gil/Jorge Ben collaboration from a couple of years later: "Gil & Jorge") Probably won't make new converts to MPB, but unforgettable for any fan of Gal, Gil, Bethania, or Caetano.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mature tropicalia at its best. Political and passionate!, January 26, 1999

By A Customer

Released in the 70's this is the album to listen to and enjoy the cultural, political and artistic atmosphere of Brazil under its dictatorial cloud. Faca amolada! A sharp knife cutting through the heart of the Brazilian People. Poetical, sensual and absolutely honest. The lyrics and rythms will stay in you mind and heart forever. The songs can be also romantic and full of passion only lovers in danger can feel... Have a listen!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very serious encounter of the first degree in Brazil, May 18, 2003

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

Two singers - Maria Bethânia and Gal Costa- and two composers/singers - Gilberto Gil and Caetano Veloso -- they were the main leaders and performers of the Brazilian cultural movement known as "Tropicália".

This album is a rare show when they decided to play together with music and lyrics by Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil.

It's a live recording with limited quality but it's a doc of an era, full of politics coded message.

Maybe a disc for those who understand the Portuguese language and the political hints of those times.