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Every episode is a different song. This is the song today:

"A Nível de...", by João Bosco (Bosco/Blanc)

We're celebrating the 80th birthday of João Bosco, born on July 13th, 1946, in Ponte Nova, Minas Gerais. "A Nível de..." is my favourite Bosco's song, released on his ninth album, Comissão de Frente, with lyrics written by Aldir Blanc, using humor and irony to address the frustrated attempts of two couples to resolve marital problems.

The song pioneered talking more freely about sexuality, and to top it off, Bosco presents his instantly recognizable signature guitar as if combining percussion, bass, and melody into a single instrument. While Bosco crafted highly inventive melodies and harmonies, Aldir Blanc crafted lyrics filled with characters, irony, and social commentary.

Check out the translation provided by Translationsmith.

In episode #95, we celebrate the centennial birthday of maestro Moacir Santos. Born on July 26th, 1926, in Flores de Pajeú, Pernambuco, he arrived in Rio de Janeiro at the age of 22 to work at Rádio Nacional and study music with conductors such as Guerra-Peixe and Claudio Santoro. He became a mentor himself, and amongst his pupils are the likes of Baden Powell, João Donato, and Sérgio Mendes. Powell was the first to record Santos' themes named after "things", with Coisa N°1 and Coisa N°2 on his 1963 album. It was long after he also started composing for films, such as "Ganga Zumba".

This episode takes a deep dive into the story behind the recording sessions of Coisas, Moacir Santos’ 1965 masterpiece released on the Forma label. Recorded over three consecutive days at RCA Victor Studios in Rio de Janeiro, the album brought together two distinct ensembles. These groups alternated deliberately between more intimate, chamber-like arrangements and expansive, big band–inspired formations. Although Coisas is entirely instrumental, several compositions later received lyrics. One notable example is “Coisa N°5,” also known as “Nanã,” which was co-written with Mario Telles.

Check Translationsmith for the translation of many songs from the album.

Follow our playlist ⁠Brazuca Sounds Soundtrack.

Salve! This is a preview of our bonus episode exclusive for paid subscribers!

Every episode is a different song. This is the song today:

"Maria Maria", by Milton Nascimento (Nascimento/Brant)

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Nascimento was 36 years old, with 10 studio albums, an international career, and a collaboration with Wayne Shorter behind him. Yet it wasn't until then that he released what would become his most famous song. "Maria, Maria" appears on Clube da Esquina 2 as the second track on side D of the double album, and against all odds, it became the album's biggest hit. Originally written for a musical about slavery, the piece had no lyrics at first—only Nascimento's voice. The words were later written by Clube da Esquina collaborator Fernando Brant, inspired by the true story of a woman who lived by the railroad tracks in the town where he grew up.

"Maria, Maria" is structured like a classic folk song, but instead of the traditional verse-chorus-verse format, it follows a verse-verse-chorus-chorus pattern. The song became even more famous through Elis Regina's recording, and Nascimento later recorded it again for his live album A Barca dos Amantes, featuring Wayne Shorter.

Check out the translation of this beautiful song, provided by Translationsmith.

José Mauro was a singer, songwriter, and guitarist from Rio de Janeiro who recorded all of his music in a single session in 1970. That resulted in his debut album "Obnoxius", under Roberto Quartin's record label, and a second album, "A Viagem das Horas", released six years later, with the leftover songs. "Rua Dois" is from this second LP, reissued in 2021 by Far Out Recordings, a beautiful folk, jazzy, psychedelic journey that sounds as much like a tropical version of Serge Gainsbourg as it does a foggy Gerlando Vandré.

A prodigy guitar student of Baden Powell, and doted on for an anti-bossa approach, in this episode we'll talk about José Mauro's enigmatic career, why he disappeared, and when he was rediscovered, his collaboration with writer/journalist Ana Maria Bahia, who wrote all of his lyrics. Check the translation of this beautiful song provided by Translationsmith.

In episode #93, we are celebrating the Queen Bee of Brazilian music, Maria Bethânia. She has released 50 studio albums and is among the 10 best-selling music artists in Brazil, having sold more than 26 million copies. Born on June 18th, 1946, in Santo Amaro, Bahia, we honour her 80th birthday with a song-by-song analysis of her album "Pássaro Proibido" (1976). This was the first album to expand her from cultural elite to mainstream, ignited by an AM radio phenomenon of "Olhos nos Olhos" written by Chico Buarque.

We also talked about her introduction to the scene, by replacing Nara Leão in a musical with a voracious performance of "Carcará", and her notorious collaboration with her older brother, Caetano Veloso. We also put together a playlist with 50 of her best songs, one for every year of her career!

Check Translationsmith for the translation of many songs from the album.

Follow our playlist ⁠Brazuca Sounds Soundtrack.

This is the preview for a bonus episode for paid subscribers!

Every episode is a different song. This is the song today:

"Que Maravilha", written and performed by Toquinho, featuring Jorge Ben

This episode celebrates the 80th birthday of Toquinho, born Antonio Bondeolli Pecci. He started his career as a virtuoso bossa-nova guitarist, but that changed when he met Chico Buarque in Italy, and later Jorge Ben in his hometown São Paulo, and became a prolific songwriter. "Que Maravilha" (and its B-side "Carolina Carol Bela") were written for a Tropicalia TV show, Divino, Maravilhoso, in 1969, and later released as a single.

Both songs are about the same girl (Carolina, there is), who had a brief romantic relationship to Toquinho. A fusion of samba, tropicalia, and sambalanço, "Que Maravilha" became one of the most successful Brazilian songs of all time. We talked about how the song was written, its melody, lyrics, and how it connects to "Carolina Carol Bela".

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Every episode is a different song. This is the song today:

"Lígia" (Jobim/Buarque), performed by Tom Jobim

Tom Jobim wrote this song based on a real story about a girl he met in a bar in Rio de Janeiro, who turned out to be his daughter's teacher. They were never in a relationship, but this song reflects the possibility of one, with two different interpretations or endings. One lyric by Tom Jobim was performed by João Gilberto, while the more famous version was written by Chico Buarque, who arguably strengthened the narrative. Tom Jobim recorded this version on his 1976 album Urubu, while Chico recorded it on Sinal Fechado.

In episode #93, we celebrate 50 years of Cartola's second album, released in 1976 by the record label Marcus Pereira Discus. Nearly 50 years into his career, Cartola released his debut featuring many of his early sambas and chorinhos. This follow-up is completed with songs written exclusively for this album, such as "As Rosas Não Rosam", arguably his most popular song.

Among other famous iconic samba standards are "O Mundo é um Moinho" and "Preciso me Encontrar" (written by another amba legend, Candeia). Although with a very similar approach to his debut album, this 1976 sophomore album is definitely a step forward that finally gave Cartola the stardom he deserved.

Check our episode about his debut album, Cartola (1974).

Check our episode History of Samba in 10 Albums.

Check Translationsmith for the translation of many songs from the album.

Follow our playlist ⁠Brazuca Sounds Soundtrack.

Salve! This is a preview of our latest bonus episode exclusive for paid subscribers!

Every episode is a different song. This is the song today:

"A Noite do Meu Bem", written and performed by Dolores Duran

Dolores Duran is one of the most important figures in Brazilian music. She wasn’t just a crooner or a performer, but was also a prolific lyricist, including words written for Tom Jobim. "A Noite do Meu Bem" is probably Duran’s biggest hit, with all the lyrics and music written by her, just a few weeks before her passing. That matters greatly because, at the time, very few women had the space or recognition to write. Dolores Duran carved out that role for herself with remarkable talent and presence before tragically dying while sleeping at the age of 29. "A Noite do Meu Bem" was voted one of the 100 Best Brazilian Songs of All Time according to Rolling Stone Brasil. 

Check for the song's full translation at The Anvil, by Translationsmith.

In episode #92, we will feature the last 25 songs that mention Brazilian places in their lyrics. This time we traveled all over Brazil with a contemporary approach, and music produced in the 1980s, 1990s, and until now. Among the artists featured are heavyweights such as Marcos Valle, Emílio Santiago, Moraes Moreira, and present-day greats like Criolo, Racionais MCs, and Ed Motta. We finished this episode uncovering the 4,175.72 km extension of land from the Northernmost part, with Nazaré Pereira, singing about her homeland of Pará and the Marajó Island, to the South region where Brazil meets Uruguay. Check the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Translationsmith ⁠⁠⁠⁠for lyrics!

A Trip to Brazil in 100 Songs: ⁠PART 1⁠; and ⁠PART 2⁠; and PART 3.

Listen to our playlist ⁠'A Trip to Brazil' ⁠on Spotify.

Follow our playlist ⁠Brazuca Sounds Soundtrac⁠k on Spotify.