Search - Evert Taube :: 22 Basta

Evert Taube - THE Swedish folk musician of the 20th century.

Mr. Cecil Ponsaing | SE Queensland Au | 01/10/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The title of this album is "Evert Taube's 22 Best Songs". There are many of his that are interesting, and I would assume that the word "Best" in that phrase refers to "most popular", which absolutely not necessarily is the same thing. I am sure I would list the best of his to some extent off this list of 22 songs.



Evert Taube is THE Swedish folk -singer and -composer of the 20th century. He lived in South America (the Spanish speaking part) for a long time and wrote many songs with a strong influence from Latin American music, but they were in Swedish. Still, his songs of Swedish subjects are the more numerous. His Latin American flavoured songs usually have quite a long tune, which is a feature of that style; "Fritjoff och Carmencita" or "Samborrombon" is a prime example. The drama and exaggeration of emotion of Latin American songs is primarily shown in his song "Min älskling (du är som en ros)/My Darling (You Are Like a Rose)".



I don't think he recorded anything that somebody else had written. All the ones on this album should be his own, as they are formal recordings. Unfortunately in his older days he was quite toothless, and he must not have liked dentures, as he sang a great many songs on recordings without dentures; the times or his wealth apparently allowing it. Due to this he would be rejected by many younger people of the culture; well at least one, my sister. I agree the tooth situation is unfortunate, but I still have a lot of time for this genius. His tunes are exquisite and his insight, his life comments and the stories in his songs are very realistic, which helps make them interesting. The recurring foreignness of the content and style of the songs (to a Swede!) adds to the interest."