Brazil

Rain has inspired some of the world’s most beautiful songs, from “Rhythm of the Rain” to Led Zeppelin’s “The Rain Song” (the logical introduction to Led Zep’s “When the Levee Breaks”). Latin rain drops shimmer on the lyrics of “Rain,” one of Jose Feliciano’s most hauntingly beautiful songs.

In early 1939, a powerful storm kept Ary Barroso - a multi-talented Brazilian - housebound. Barroso was inspired to write two songs - “Trés Lágrimas” (“three teardrops”) and “Aquarela do Brasil” (“Watercolor of Brazil”).

The second song now ranks with “The Girl from Ipanema” and “Mas Que Nada” as one of the most famous Brazilian songs of all time. In fact, it’s so famous, it’s known simply as “Brazil” in the English-speaking world. (The song’s English lyrics were written by Bob Russell.)

History

In an interview with Marisa Lira of the newspaper Diário de Noticias, Barroso said that he wanted to “free the samba away from the tragedies of life, of the sensual scenario already so explored.” The composer added that he “felt all the greatness, the value and the wealth of our land,” reliving “the tradition of the national panels.”

Barroso initially wrote the first chords, which he described as “vibrant,” and a “plangent of emotions.” The original beat “sang on [his] imagination, highlighting the sound of the rain,on syncope beats of fantastic tambourines.”

Recalled Barroso, “The rest came naturally, music and lyrics at once.” He said he felt like another person after writing the song.

Release and Reception

Aquarela do Brasil was first performed by Aracy Cortes on June 10, 1939, at the premiere of the musical play Entra na Faixa, by Barroso and Luis Iglesias. Despite Cortes’ huge popularity at the time, the song flopped, perhaps for not adjusting well to her voice. A month later, it was performed by the baritone Cândido Bothelho on Joujoux e Balangadans, a benefit concert sponsored by Darcy Vargas, then First Lady of Brazil. It was then recorded by Francisco Alves, arranged by Radamés Gnattali and his orchestra, and released by Odeon Records on August 1939.

Aquarela do Brasil took a while to succeed. In 1940, it was not among the top three songs of that year’s Carnival in Rio.The president of the jury was Heitor Villa-Lobos, and Barroso, offended that his masterpiece was not on the list, ended his relationship with him.The two men would only speak to each other again fifteen years later, when both received the National Order of Merit.

The song only became famous after it was included in the 1942 Disney animated film Saludos Amigos. After that, the song became known not only in Brazil, but worldwide, becoming the first Brazilian song to be played over a million times on American radio. Due to the huge popularity achieved in the United States, it received an English version by songwriter Bob Russell.

Politics

Aquarela do Brasil’s exaltation of Brazil’s great qualities inspired a new genre within samba known as samba-exaltação (“exaltation samba”). Many viewed this patriotic musical movement as kowtowing to the dictatorship of Getulio Vargas. Barroso’s family pointed out that Ary also wrote an anti-fascist song named “Salada Mista” (“Mixed Salad”), recorded by Carmen Miranda in October 1938.

Moreover, the Departamento de Imprensa e Propaganda (Department of Press and Propaganda), the regime’s official censorship body, censored a line before the song’s release, claiming that the verse “terra do samba e do pander” (“land of samba and the pander”) was “derogatory” for Brazil’s image. (Barroso persuaded the censors to save the line.)

Ary’s composition flirted with politics again when it was featured in the film Brazil (1985), which had little or nothing to do with Brazil - though it’s one helluva good movie for the relative handful of people who actually understand politics.

Brazil is currently a rapidly growing world power, as represented by the acronym BRIC - Brazil, Russia, India and China. As Brazil prepares to host the next Olympics (date?) and World Cup soccer games (date?), more adventures may lie in store for its unofficial national anthem, especially with the United States’ ruling class gnawing its teeth in envy at Latin America’s economic boom and growing independence from Yankee imperialism.

Versions

Brazil has been recorded by many artists in a wide array of styles. There are Brazilian Portuguese versions, English versions and instrumental versions.

MP3 Downloads (Amazon.com)

• Exis
Instrumental
• Jorge Campos and His Orchestra
• Geoff Muldaur
• Django Reinhardt
• The Ritchie Family
• Ada Cavallo
• Copacabana Strings Orchestra
English Lyrics
• Pink Martini
• Frank Sinatra
• Johnny Mathis
• London Studio Orchestra

My current favorite version of “Brazil” is the version recorded by Pink Martini, which doesn’t sound arrogant or political at all. In fact, it features the voices of the children the global elite have long exploited, as if Brazil is thumbing its nose as at the global elitists who have long exploited children around the world. Or perhaps the children are simply celebrating Brazil’s economic boom and arrival as a world power - perhaps the best way to thumb one’s nose at Yankee imperialism.