Search - Petrol Presents :: Greatest Songs Ever: Brazil

Brazilian boredom

Amaranth | Northern California | 10/08/2006

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I'm a big fan of Brazilian music,don't get me wrong.I have 5 Putumayo Brazilian compilations (Acoustic Brazil,Brasileiro,Brazilian Groove,Brazilian Lounge,Festa Brasil),and albums by Bebel Gilberto,Suba and Chico Cesar.



Needless to say,I'm disappointed with Petrol Presents' dumbing down of Brazilian pop.Instead of presenting "The Greatest Songs Ever!!!" it reduces the richness of Brazilian pop music to boring,bland background music.It wouldn't be out of place at a tropical-themed clothing store,such as Banana Republic (even the cover fits!),but as something to LISTEN to?No.It's too dull&stereotypically Brazilian,Carmen Miranda fruit hats&all,to be good to accompany writing,cooking,and so on.



Djavan&Chico Buarque,who are great singers on their own,have a dull duet.Carlinhos Brown,whose percussive talents are on Bebel Gilberto's self-titled album&on a track of "Brazilian Groove" has a boring,forgettable song.Marcos Valle's version of "Summer Samba" is solemn&dirgelike,unlike Bebel Gilberto's new version of it.Wilson Simonal's "Pais Tropical" sounds like something for the Brazilian Travel Bureau rather than a tribute to the beautiful,diverse country.The late Clara Nunes,whose samba singing endeared her to the nation,has the bland "Nacao." Leila Pinheiro's version of "Girl from Ipanema" (unlike that of Astrud Gilberto)is painfully sloooow.Looking at this compilation,one wonders-Where's Sergio Mendes?Carlos Jobim?Bebel Gilberto?Ivete Sangalo?Like the cheap classical compilations that have unknown orchestras,this compilation has mediocre songs by great musicians,and the giants in Brazilian music are missing.



If you enjoy Brazilian music,go for any of Putumayo World Music's Brazilian compilations,explore Bebel Gilberto,Suba,Chico Cesar,Ivete Sangalo,and Ana Rita Simonka (who blends Indian classical music with bossa nova).There's plenty of great Brazilian music out there,just not on this album."