“Mas Que Nada” by Tamba Trio
I’ve always been a bigger fan of the artistic side of football than I’ve been of its more physical/athletic aspect. With the focus firmly placed on performance these days, very few players develop a creative approach to the sport. Out of the few who are truly technically gifted, only a handful have the courage (and nerves) to inject a little fantasy into their game. In situations of high pressure, it takes an incredible amount of self-confidence to go for the spectacular when the ordinary would probably suffice.
What this has to do with “Mas Que Nada”? Well everything actually. For starters I came across this song for the first time in a Nike Commercial featuring the Brazilian national team right before the 1998 world cup. The commercial is a testament to the Brazilian approach to football which in many ways mirrors the characteristics of Samba music: joyful, precise, rhythmic and flamboyant…..the only way to play as far as I’m concerned.
The original “Mas Que Nada” was released by the legendary Jorge Ben in 1963. This remake by Tamba Trio is also from 1963, coming out only a few months after the original version. The world cup commercial gave it another run at the charts in 1998.
Joga Bonito!
Title: Mas Que Nada
Artist: Tamba Trio
Album: Millenium, 2000 (originally recorded in 1963)
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“Bahia” by Angelique Kidjo
Great music is often characterized by its ability to accurately represent the inspiration behind it. When that source of inspiration is “real”, the music gets the added benefit of sounding and feeling “authentic”. When you hear Angelique Kidjo’s amazing singing glide harmoniously over Brazilian percussion and string instruments, there is absolutely no doubt in your mind about whether the two styles belong together.
The city of Salvador Da Bahia on the north eastern coast of Brazil is the inspiration behind this song. It’s interesting to note that the connection between West Africa and Brazil on the song, mirrors the actual cultural realities of the city. With over 80% of the population of Bahia having Black African ancestry, many consider it to be the center of “Afro-Brazilian” culture.
Title: Bahia
Artist: Angelique Kidjo
Album: Black Ivory Soul, 2002
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Loading ...“Ha Dias” by Luca Mundaca
Luca Mundaca built a bridge between indigenous Brazilian sounds, jazz and folk. I guess that gives her the right to zoom back and forth between the three without any sort of restriction. Just to be clear, this is merely a statement of fact…not a complaint.
In fact, I have been listening to “Ha Dias” for over 3 years now and I still can’t find fault with it: No vocal lapses, no missteps on the drums and not a single misplaced note on her guitar. Luca Mundaca is successful in creating the illusion that her performance is unrehearsed, organic..almost spontaneous.
There is a certain clarity about this song I’ve never been able to define. I’m guessing it’s probably better that way.
Positive vibes….
Title: Ha Dias
Artist: Luca Mundaca
Album: Day by Day, 2005
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“Green Grass” by Cibelle
“Lay your head where my heart used to be, Hold the earth above me, Lay down in the green grass, Remember when you loved me
Come closer don’t be shy, Stand beneath a rainy sky, The moon is over the rise, Think of me as a train goes by
Clear the thistles and brambles, Whistle ‘Didn’t He Ramble’, Now there’s a bubble of me, And it’s floating in thee
Stand in the shade of me, Things are now made of me, The weather vane will say, It smells like rain today
God took the stars and he tossed them, Can’t tell the birds from the blossoms
You’ll never be free of me, He’ll make a tree from me, Don’t say good bye to me, Describe the sky to me
And if the sky falls, mark my words, We’ll catch mocking birds
Lay your head where my heart used to be, Hold the earth above me, Lay down in the green grass
Remember when you loved me, Remember when you loved me, Remember when you loved me”
Lyricism…..
Title: Green Grass
Artist: Cibelle
Album: The Shine of Electric Dried Leaves, 2006
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“Canto de Ossanha” by Vinicius De Moraes
The original version of “Canto de Ossanha” was collaborative effort between two Brazilian icons of their time: Baden Powell the master guitarist and Vinicius de Moraes who was nicknamed “O Poetinha” (the little poet). Both men had an incredible impact on the samba/bossanova landscape, with Vinicius de Moraes penning perennial classics like “Garota de Ipanema” and Baden composing standards like “Samba Triste”.
I can say without a doubt that “Canto de Ossanha” is the song that made me pick up the guitar. The melodies and energy in Powell’s composition are simply irresistible. Songs like this make wonder whether I was born in the right era. What I would give see these two perform this song live………….Maybe in another lifetime.
Title: Canto de Ossanha
Artist: Vinicius de Moraes, Maria Creuza, Toquinho
Album: Vinicius de Moraes con Maria Creuza y Toquinho, 1970
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Ssidy is what my friends call me. I was born in Senegal of Malian parents (hence my Mali nationality). I grew up all over the place…Bamako, London, Accra, Cape Town, before I went to college in Miami and finally got a job in Sydney where I’ve been living since August 2008.
When I’m not working on The Timbuktu Project, or as a financial analyst (full-time), you can usually catch me somewhere on a football pitch or involved in anything music related. Music is everything to me. Whatever mood I am in, there is always a song that captures the moment perfectly. Anyone who has spent more than 10 minutes around me will probably attest to this: I listen to all types of stuff.....possibly because no single genre holds enough songs to quench that musical thirst of mine... 