Romantic Pop
It does not come to me as a surprise that Simone’s follow-up album to Amigo É Casa is another incursion into a pop repertoire. Like other similar releases of the Cigarra, e.g., Seda Pura (2001), Na Veia explores some of the best pop Brazilian songwriters along with traditional samba and MPB composers. In this release we have names such as Adriana Calcanhotto, Erasmo Carlos, Martinho da Vila, Marina Lima, Gonzaguinha, Marcos Valle, Abel Silva, Nonato Luís, Hermínio Bello de Carvalho, Paulinho da Viola, Elton Medeiros and even an original by Simone herself. This eclectic combination might seem incongruous at a first glance, but Simone and Rodolfo Stroeter actually produced a very pleasing and solid album.With arrangements by Luís Brasil, Julinho Teixeira, Nelson Ayres, Rildo Hora and Simone herself, Na Veia is a strong addition to the Cigarra large discography (this is her 39th solo album). Topping these arrangements, the presence of musicians of the caliber of Carlos Malta (tenor sax), Luís Brasil (guitars), Sidinho Moreira (percussion), Jurim Moreira (drums), Marcos Suzano (pandeiro), Ricardo Silveira (guitars), Jorge Helder (bass), Marçal (percussion) and several others add up to a good musician base.
There is plenty of samba to go around in this album: the opener “Love” is a good samba funk; the pure Martinho da Vila samba that gives title to the album, “Na Minha Veia”; a Paulinho da Viola and Elton Medeiros’ classic “Ame”; and the Agepê’s closer, “Deixa Eu Te Amar.” Simone feels quite at home with this repertoire. Her voice, like wine, gets better with time. Her renditions bring the quality of an artist that enjoy what she sings.
Two Adriana Calcanhotto’s songs are present in Na Veia. Whereas “Certas Noites” is more upbeat and pop with Marcos Suzano’s unmistakable pandeiro featured along with Fernando Souza’s electric bass, “Definição da Moça” has a more typical Calcanhotto bluesy feel with Luís Brasil’s and Walter Vilaça’s guitars and an amazing cello solo by Yura Ranewsky. Even more blues is the Abel Silva and Nonato Luís’ “Pagando Pra Ver.” Ricardo Silveira’s guitars and Jorge Helder’s bass shine in this track. Erasmo Carlos is another double presence here. First, “Migalhas” is a romantic ballad with the lyrics being its strong asset. In order to be happy, the songs demands no more love crumbs. The other Erasmo Carlos tune is co-written with Bossa master Marcos Valle, “Hóstia.” The love theme goes up a notch and gets Simone’s most heartfelt performance in the album. She is again at home when singing about love. The best moment and most surprising arrangement in the album, though, comes through Gonzaguinha’s “Geraldinos e Arquibaldos.” Luís Brasil’s arrangement here hit the jackpot. The song is revitalized and given new life with Sidinho Moreira’s percussion and a brass accompaniment with Zé Canuto (alto sax), Marcelo Martins (tenor sax), Aldivas Ayres (trombone) and Bruno Santos (trumpet). The Caribbean flavor is perfect, especially since Gonzaguinha’s lyrics already make reference to Harry Belafonte’s “Matilda.” The track is inebriatingly catchy.
For die-hard Simone fans, this repertoire might take a couple of plays to catch your attention, and the romantic pop combination might not be your cup of java. Do not be fooled, though. Na Veia has several good moments that you will be listening to over and over.
ALBUM INFORMATION
Simone
Na Veia
Biscoito Fino BF936 (2009)
Time: 44’15”
Tracks:
- Love (Paulo Padilha)
- Certas Noites (Dé Palmeira – Adriana Calcanhotto)
- Migalhas (Erasmo Carlos)
- Na Minha Veia (Zé Catimba – Martinho da Vila)
- Bem Pra Você (Dé Palmeira – Marina Lima)
- Geraldinos e Arquibaldos (Gonzaguinha)
- Hóstia (Erasmo Carlos – Marcos Valle)
- Pagando Pra Ver (Abel Silva – Nonato Luís)
- Vale a Pena Tentar (Simone – Hermínio Bello de Carvalho)
- Ame (Paulinho da Viola – Elton Medeiros)
- Definição da Moça (Adriana Calcanhotto – Ferreira Gullar)
- Deixa Eu Te Amar (Agepê – Ismael Camillo – Mauro Silva)
