The Latin Americanist: Roberto Carlos

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

De Musica Ligera: Feliz aniversário, O Rei!

Today is the seventieth birthday of Roberto Carlos, one of Brazil’s premier singers and composers of the past several decades. He is best known for his adult contemporary hits during the 1970s and 80s including “Amigo” and “Cama y Mesa”. Yet it was in his early years where he was a key member of the “Jovem Guarda” (“Young Guard”) musical genre, which would serve as the precursor to the popular Brazilian music (MPB) movement.

Unfortunately numerous celebrations for have been put on hold since he has been mourning the death of his eldest stepdaughter last Friday. (This came almost a year since his mother, Laura Moreira Braga, died at the age of 96). Despite such difficult personal setbacks, Carlos continues to forge ahead with his musical career that has spanned over fifty years.

Pele may’ve earned the nickname of "O Rei" (“The King”) for his prowess on the soccer field though the same nickname has been given to Roberto Carlos. It’s a deserved label for such a prolific and well-respected musician whose influence throughout the Americas cannot be overlooked.

The following comes from the early 1970s and is, in my view, one of his most underrated hits: “Se eu pudesse voltar no tempo” (“If I could turn back time”).

Video Source - YouTube
Online Sources- eBand, La Republica, Jornal O Norte

Saturday, April 28, 2007

Music soothes the savage beast: “Ironing music”

Colombia

(and perhaps in other parts of the

Americas

) the genre of adult contemporary music is colloquially called “musica para aplanchar” (translation - “ironing music.”) This slightly derisive term is used to describe the tunes housewives or servants would generally listen to as they run their errands at home such as ironing clothes.

With the help of the ever popular YouTube, here’s a small sample from artists past and present whose music definitely fits in the category of “musica para aplanchar”:

Ricardo Arjona – Desnuda