The release Red Hot + Rio 2 is fast approaching and everyone at the office is getting really excited. I’ve been listening to 1960s Brazilian music all day and figured I’d post about the Tropicália movement.
In 1964, Brazilian Armed Forces executed a coup d’état to remove João Goulart, or Jango, from power. The result was the instatement of a military government that promised Brazil a bright future.
Naturally, the people of Brazil were less than thrilled by the idea of a controlled military regime, so, in 1968 an all-star group of musicians released Tropicália: ou Panis et Circencis. This historical album features Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, Tom Zé, Os Mutantes, and other heroes of Brazilian music. (Tracks from the album including “Panis et Circencis”, “Baby”, and “Bat Macumba” are covered on RH+Rio 2!)
The emergence of Tropicália was the ultimate counter-cultural statement. The artists invented new lyrical and musical styles that inspired the people of Brazil comparatively to the effect of American protest songs written during the Viet Nam War.
Tropicália: ou Panis et Circencis is considered the Tropicália Manifesto and is listed as #2 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 greatest Brazilian albums of all time. (#1 went to Novos Baianos – Acabou Chorare, whose title track is also covered on RH+Rio2!)
A year after the release of Tropicália: ou Panis et Circencis, Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil, leaders of the movement, were exiled to London. The movement was short-lived, but its message has continued to resonate throughout Brazil.
Though the Tropicália movement did not effectively bring down the military regime, it is still celebrated because it managed to give the people of Brazil a sense of identity during a period of uncertainty…and it produced some kick-ass tunes.
Wow! Eric! Very nice! I’m proud of you!
Nice job, Eric — interesting!
I’m really curious about who covered Acabou Chorare… that’s one of my favourite songs ever.
BEBEL GILBERTO (http://www.bebelgilberto.com/) — daughter of João Gilberto –covered Acabou Chorare.
terribly poor description. plus you say there is a message but what was that message?
It was a countercultural movement influenced by everything around it, in accordance with their adopted manifesto the Cannibal Manifesto, an important cornerstone of the whole movement and the reason why the music sounds like it does! They cannibalized all sorts of outside cultures and mixed it with brazilian culture to make their own rebellious cultural and political statement which scared the government. People were exiled, some were mentally tortured by the government, do not let them and their sacrifice be forgotten in the short version of “what is tropicalismo”, tropicalismo did not end after the two leaders went to London.
[...] エイズ撲滅のチャリティープロジェクトとして数々のコンプレーションアルバムをリリースしているRED HOT。最近では豪華なコラボレーションで話題となったDark Was the Nightが記憶に新しいと思うけど、今度はトロピカリアを題材に「Red Hot + Rio 2」というコンピをリリースします。（「Red Hot + Rio」は96年にリリースしている） はい、それにBeckさんが参加です！ Beckの他、Devendra Banhart、St. Vincent、Dirty Projectors、of Montreal、Neon Indian、Beirut、Madlib、José González、John Legendなど（？） pitchfork.comでは、BeirutによるCaetano Velosoのカバーが聴けます。 [...]
I’m very glad that alex exists.
[...] classic and I love every minute of it. Look for this song on the new Red Hot Organization CD Red Hot + Rio 2, in stores June 28. Peace. -M. [...]
Hi! I’m brazilian, and I loved the article, but I strongly agree with Alex.
I’m very happy seing you guys playing tributes to those heroes, as you said, that inspire us even today!
Nice job! I’m looking forward to listen to the CD!
BTW, when will it arrive in Brazil?
[...] classic and I love every minute of it. Look for this song on the new Red Hot Organization CD Red Hot + Rio 2, in stores June 28. Peace. - M. [...]
[...] This month, Red Hot are set to release their latest compilation album, titled Red Hot + Rio 2. This album is set around the celebration of the 1960′s Brazilian genre Tropicália. [...]
[...] Chico Science, entre outros. O novo álbum se autointitula uma “moderna homenagem ao movimento Tropicália”. Ambos promovem encontros entre grandes nomes da música brasileira e artistas internacionais, [...]