Maybe it's the onset of summer, but I've been in a samba frame of mind lately. And for me, the first name in samba is Cartola.
He's not only responsible for composing some of the most melodically beguiling pop songs of the previous century, he's also one of the great personal stories. Born in 1908, Cartola was one of the founders, in the 1920s, of the Mangueira samba school, one of the first and certainly to this day the most prestigious samba school. Throughout the Thirties and Forties his songs were massive hits, though primarily for other singers. Many of them are still considered standards.
At some point in the Forties, though, he simply dropped out of sight - no one to this day has been able to explain why, except to point out that his first wife's death hit him very hard. He was presumed dead for a number of years. Then, in 1956, he showed up, working as a car wash attendant. (Shades of the Buena Vista Social Club...)
Slowly, with the help of an interested journalist (in Brazil, journalists can do this sort of thing) Cartola began to rebuild his musical career, appearing on a few records - such as the thoroughly charming "Fala Mangueira" album from 1968, on which he sang with other samba greats such as Clementina de Jesus and Nelson Cavaquinho. Finally in 1974, when he was 66 years old, this legendary musician released his first record. It was popular enough to keep him in a musical career until his death in 1980.
I don't know much about this clip, except that it features one of my favorite Cartola songs, and the photography is exceptional.
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A wonderful song to end the night...
good night, and thanks.
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Very pretty.
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This is probably from 1974 as it's a lot like the MPB Especial I've seen for Elis Regina from around the same time. Seems they were like a 70's Brazilian MTV Unplugged or VH1's Storytellers where they relate their memories and then play a song...
Love it man love it.
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black and white, good music, I am hooked
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that's so pretty! great choice of song :*)
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You are one classy son of a bitch.
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So it has to be summer for your Samba state of mind? Somehow I think not.... Nice track, nice feel. Is there something medically wrong with that guy's mouth, though? It looks damaged.
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So untrue, El Monko, but thanks.
dermahrk, I know what you mean about his mouth, but I've never seen any reference to it. I always assumed it was about bad (or no) dental work....
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what a fantastic tune, ivy. i found a few of his albums including the 1974 cartola one & I will play them after lunch. thanks, man. I agree with el monko. .
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He is the samba king!!!
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Wonderful. An added element of mystery is: which hands are his? Definitely not the flute-playing ones; my guess is the matchbox-like-object-handling ones rather than the drum-playing or the guitar-strumming ones.
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That was my supposition, too, Spike.
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This is the champagne of samba (if that makes sense). And a director who knows the story is in the face and not millions of flashy cuts. Thanks for bringing another great artist to our attention.
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Elegant and sensuous with that gentle tropical rhythm. So refreshing.