Search - Simone :: Emi Years

Simone: This Is As Good As It Gets

Manilow fan | Peoria, Illinois USA | 07/04/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I should preface my comments about this cd by telling you that I lived in Brasil for a short time in 1980. This influences my review because I am already familiar with the six cuts on this cd from the album "Pedacos". I loved this album so much that I even sent away to purchase it when I returned to the U.S. Unfortunately, I no longer have a turntable, so I was delighted to find this material available on cd. Having said that, the music on this cd is a very good sampler of the Simone that I loved (like I said, six cuts from the album that I already knew, "Pedacos") with more in a similar vein. The liner notes (in English, since the cd is an American compilation) say that this is an attempt to showcase her interpretive skills. She covers songs by Brasilian composers like Milton Nascimento ("Paixao E Fe," "Itamarandiba," "Povo da Raca Brasil," etc.), Chico Buarque ("Pedaco de Mim," "Sob Medida"), and Gilberto Gil ("Entao Vale a Pena"). Boy, does she ever cover them! She's all over them and actually makes them her own.The songs are all in Portuguese, but even if you don't speak the language, the melodies and her beautiful voice will blow you away! I would recommend this cd without reservation as a starter/sampler cd of Simone's music. It will lead you to discover for yourself the world of MPB, as Brasilian music is known. This is as good as it gets, folks."

Pure Brazilian Beautiful

World Traveler | New York Metro Area, United States | 05/10/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is early Simone when she was singing pure Brazilian music. This is a mixture of hauntingly beautiful songs such as "Pedaco de Mim" a dirge about her child that she is burying. Interior Brazilian folkloric music by Milton Nacimento and Gonzaguinha. As well as, upbet samba influenced music like "To Voltando". This music highlights Simone's incredible passionate alto voice with an array of acoustic instruments rather than the sentimental strings and loud electric guitars she added in her music in the 1980s. This is pure, beautiful Brazilian music. You don't need to speak Portuguese to feel the emotion in it."