Brazilian Music--101

Today's mix is brought to you by the letter "T" (for Tatiana). Tati and I like to have what we call "ordinary" fun. It's hard to describe, but sometimes it involves spinning on roller carts at Ikea:

Enter Tati:

This is a peculiar introduction to Brazilian music. Peculiar because there are some very, very basic artists missing from playlist.com's catalog, and because I tried to include as many English versions as possible.

1. - Aguas de Março (Waters of March) - Tom Jobim and Elis Regina: While there's an English version of this song, the Portuguese version is so awesome that I had to include it. It features Elis Regina, considered by many the best Brazilian singer of all time, and Antonio Carlos Jobim, consider by many the best Brazilian composer of all time. The lyrics, along with an English translation, can be found here.

I was looking for an English version of this song on Youtube but

instead fell in love with this rendition of the song by Lisa Hannigan and Damien Rice (the second half of the video). I know...You're welcome.

2. - I Feel A Little Spaced Out - Os Mutantes: Brazilian Psychedelic Rock at its best. Os Mutantes were part of the Tropicalia movement of the late 60s. I listened to them a lot during my college years...

3. - Samba A Dois - Los Hermanos: I love the beat of this song. Every time I listen to it I get up on my feet and start dancing. C'mon, I know you wanna do it too...

4. - Jack Soul Brasileiro - Lenine: Great guitar and percussion beats. Much influence from northeast Brazil, where Lenine is from. Trivia: Lenine's full name is Osvaldo Lenine Macedo Pimentel - the "Lenine" part is a homage of his communist father to Lenin. "Jack Soul" is a word play with Portuguese expression "Já que sou brasileiro", which means "Since I am Brazilian"...

5. - Mas Que Nada - Sergio Mendes & Black Eyed Peas - Version of this classic song by Jorge Benjor. Here's a video of the original if you wanna see it.

6. - Carolina - Seu Jorge. This is the guy who wrote the soundtrack for Wes Anderson's "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou". This is a love song to Carolina (of which there are thousands in Brazil). I find this track really addictive!

7. - The Girl From Ipanema - Pizzicato Five: Their version of Antonio Carlos Jobim's famous song. Here's the classic video of Frank Sinatra and Tom Jobim singing it. And here's a very Brazilian rendition of this song, by Brazilian musicicons Joao Gilberto and Caetano Veloso. Smooth, huh?

8. - Preta Pretinha - Novos Baianos: Classic song by band Novos Baianos, big in the 70s. I included this song also because the lyrics make little sense, so it doesn't really matter that it's in Portuguese. Just think of Carnival, whatever your idealized image of it is...

9 - Baby - Os Mutantes: Them again! This song was written by Caetano Veloso (originally in Portuguese), and I had to include him in this mini mix. Here's Caetano Veloso singing the original version in Portuguese.

10 - So Tinha de Ser Com Voce - Fernanda Porto & DJ Patife - Electronic version of another bossa nova classic. The title translates as "It could only be with you", and it's about....love. The classic version is by Elis Regina (the lady from track # 1). Here's the video. Pure bossa nova!