Retratos

A good compilation of several years (1984-1998) of Beth Carvalhos (arguably the best samba singer) discography. A medium-classed artist whose career began at age 7, she was involved with bossa nova until the 1970s, when she discovered the true samba of the hills. Since 1971 she has recorded only sambas, and also became an activist in favor of that genre, challenged by recording industry commercialism. This compilation brings genuine partidos — alto, pagodes, and arrasta-povos, as in the extremely intense "Vou Festejar," "Sonhando Sou Feliz," "Até Quem Não E," "Vem Sambar," "Tive Sim" (lyrical melody of Cartola), "Pranto de Poeta," "Linguagem do Morro" (where she explains musically the slang of the hills), "Folhas Secas" (an all-time samba classic), "Samba de Marte," "Quem é de Sambar," and others. But she also interprets in mainstream ballad style with electronic pianos/strings, as in "Saigon," "As Rosas Não Falam" (Cartolas biggest hit), "Ziguezagueou," and, keeping the electronics, she performs samba tunes in mild sambas-canção interpretations, like "Meu Guri" (Chico Buarque), and "Último Desejo" (the immortal classic by Noel Rosa). "Dança da Solidão" is backed by a typical bossa violão. The compilation brings 20 tunes including three medleys and also live recorded tracks, constituting a good introduction for Carvalhos work and for the Carioca samba culture.