cletta1201's Full Review: Memories, Chronicles & Declarations of Love by Mar...
There was a period of time several months ago where I went through a Brazilian music phase, adding discs to my collection of music and really falling in love with the music of Brazil. One of those really great finds was a singer by the name of Marisa Monte.
It’s pretty clear that from an early age music and more importantly, Samba, was in Monte’s blood. Her father (Carlos) is the director of the “Portela Samba School”. Having studied opera in Italy, Monte decided to use her voice for Brazilian music instead. “Memórias, Crônicas e Declarações de Amor” or “Memories, Chronicles and Declarations of Love” was released in 2000 and although it dabbles a bit in the English language (“Amor I Love You”) it is still very fundamentally a Brazilian music album.
- Track Listing -
1. Amor I Love You
2. Não Vá Embora
3. O Que Me Importa
4. Não É Fácil
5. Perdão Você
6. Tema de Amor
7. Abololô
8. Para Ver as Meninas
9. Cinco Minutos
10. Gentileza
11. Água Também é Mar
12. Gotas de Luar
13. Sou seu Sabiá
The fourth album from the chanteuse – “Memories…” is one of those really suave albums whose highlights are really moving and the lowlights are really disappointing. ”Amor I Love You” whose chorus is sung in English is definitely a highlight. Monte has a really sweet sounding voice almost flute-like and she is able to show her depth by adding touches of that trained Opera voice without making it sound overly cheesy. Also within the confines are some well-respected and known Brazilian music artists like Carlinhos Brown and Arnaldo Atunes.
”Não Vá Embora” is exquisite – with Monte’s vocals and the army of instruments that invade the track, a song about finding love and not wanting it to go away** – I can enjoy this. Featured on this track are a steel string guitar played by the multi-faceted Monte, a sitar, drums and a truckload of other instruments that lend themselves to the beauty of this one.
One of the real pleasantries about Marisa Monte and her artistry is that even if you don’t speak Portuguese – you can enjoy the richness of her voice and the music, which is always really nice. ”Não É Fácil” is my album favorite - one of the most simple songs on the album – the music makes you smile from the moment that the music breaks in the beginning of the song. About hoping to meet a man that you desperately try to impress by getting dressed up daily in hopes that you’ll see him, it’s seductive sounding and a great song. ”Tema De Amor” or “Love Theme” is understated and very nice. Sound wise there is a lot going on, but the spotlight remains on Monte who really does have a gorgeous voice, one of those voices that when she opens her mouth it seems to hardly take her any effort to impress you.
Traditionalists need not fear because Monte deviates from Brazilian pop for a moment on “Abololô” as well as “Para Ver As Meninas” which are very much rooted in Samba. Make no mistake, there is always that samba “feeling” but “Abololô” and “Para Ver…” could easily be old classics. ”Gotas De Luar” (“Drops Of Moonligh”) is also fundamentally Brazilian. Just guitars and vocals – it is romantic and a nice vocal showcase. The last real standout of “Memories…” is the Caetano Veloso penned “Sou seu Sabiá” (I’m Your Songbird) which is so smooth and easy it soothes the soul. It guides the album into a nice resting place and is a real deviation from the earlier tracks – it’s jazz-tinged but make no mistake – Monte doesn’t let you forget where she’s from.
*Thank you to allmusiguide.com for the Marisa Monte info
*Marisa Monte Website: http://www.marisamonte.com.br
** I only know what the songs are about because they are translated into English at the aforementioned website.
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