In episode #79, we discussed one of the best instrumental albums ever recorded. It is the Quarteto Novo's first and only album, released in 1967 via Odeon in Brazil. This album was fundamental in bringing Northeast folklore music to a national audience, sparsely blended with bebop jazz, bossa, folk, with cinematic arrangements and great musicianship.

The quartet of percussionist Airto Moreira, guitarist Heraldo do Monte, bassist Theo de Barros and flutist/pianist Hermeto Pascoal deviated from conventional time signatures and created a very innovative sound not only in Brazil, but for the whole world. Quarteto Novo recently had its first vinyl reissue in 25 years by French new record label Jazzybelle. Follow our playlist on Spotify: Brazuca Sounds Podcast Soundtrack.

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Every episode is a different song. This is the song today:

"Emoriô" and "Naturalemente" by Fafá de Belém

Today we're celebrating the first compacto (single) released in 1975 by singer Fafá de Belém. "Emoriô" was written by João Donato with lyrics by Gilberto Gil, and its Afro-Brazilian arrangements, heavy percussion, and repetitive chorus elevated 19-year-old Fafá into a Brazilian star.

The B-side, "Naturalmente", written by Donato with lyrics by Caetano Veloso, is no less impressive, with its carimbó rhythm, and putting a spotlight for the first time on the North sounds of Brazil, especially the state of Pará, where the singer was from. Caetano's lyrics are "a veritable linguistic playground", almost a catalog of Amazonian terminology, and I recommend checking out the full translation with our friends at Translationsmith.

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Every episode is a different song. This is the song today:

"Jorge da Capadócia" by Jorge Ben

April 23rd is a state holiday in Rio de Janeiro, celebrated in honor of Saint George's Day. Among his many devotees is Jorge Ben, who paid tribute to the saint in several songs, sometimes blended with Afro-Brazilian spirituality, through Saint George's syncretic counterpart, Ogum. One of his most iconic songs is "Jorge da Capadócia", released in 1975 on the album Solta o Pavão, featuring direct lines from a traditional prayer to Saint George, invoking protection against enemies. Find the full translation with our friends at Translationsmith. Over the years, the song has become a staple of Brazilian music, covered by influential artists like Caetano Veloso, pop singer Fernanda Abreu, and hip-hop legends Racionais MCs.

In episode #78, we discussed Tim Maia's album Racional Volume 1, released in 1975. By 1974, Tim Maia had become deeply involved with Cultura Racional, a spiritual philosophy he believed could "save humanity" through the teachings found in Universo em Desencanto. This belief consumed him to the point where he temporarily gave up drinking, smoking, and drugs, and began dressing in all-white, cult-like attire. Despite the controversy, the music is now recognized as some of the most spiritually funky and innovative ever recorded in Brazil.

With the album nearly finished, he revoked his contract with RCA Victor, secured the master tapes, and rewrote all the original lyrics to reflect the teachings of Cultura Racional. He founded his own independent label to release the album, Seroma Discos, which features six full songs, three spoken-word vignettes focused on the book’s message, and one track in English aimed at reaching an international audience. Follow our playlist on Spotify: Brazuca Sounds Podcast Soundtrack.

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Every episode is a different song. This is the song today:

"Imunização Racional (Que Beleza)" by Tim Maia

In 1974, Tim Maia completely overhauled the album he was recording, drawing inspiration from the book about an extraterrestrial spiritual force known as Racional Superior. The only minor hit from the two albums dedicated to this lifestyle was "Que Beleza." The song is an indirect reference to the book, touching on themes of nature, purity, human origins, and a sense of "disenchantment." Maia recorded two versions of "Que Beleza"—a more psychedelic rendition as the opener of Volume 1, and a more upbeat funk version to close Volume 2.

Check the lyric translation for "Que Beleza" by Tim Maia provided by Steve Smith from the Translationsmith.

In episode #77, we shared 25 songs explicitly talking about Brazilian places in their lyrics, from worldwide famous Corcovado and Copacabana in Rio de Janeiro, to its neighborhoods, favelas, and birth to samba. We traveled to São Paulo with Caetano, Os Mutantes, and the mango opus album released by César Camargo Maria & Cia. Then we go to Minas Gerais with Milton Nascimento and his Clube da Esquina's associates, and we finish the first part of our journey in Brazil's capital Brasília.

Check the Translationsmith for lyrics translations.

Follow our playlist 'A Trip to Brazil' on Spotify.

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Every episode is a different song. This is the song today:

"Rapaz de Bem" by Johnny Alf

Johnny Alf was once described by the New York Times as "a Black pianist that helped birth Bossa Nova, and his story is rarely told", so today we're talking about a song that arguably inspired the way João Gilberto played his guitar and Tom Jobim's idea for the song "Desafinado".

In "Rapaz de Bem", Alf describes the life's priorities of a young man with a humorous reflection. Access the Translatiosmith for a complete lyric analysis. As much as we discussed the song, we also talked about his career and his pioneering role in bossa nova, a term he actually hated .

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Released in Tom Zé's sophomore album in 1970, the song is an avalanche of Tropicalia elements, blending together psychedelia, rock, and orchestral arrangements that are seemingly weird. The lyrics are a mixture of invented English and Portuguese, with the citation of counter-culture figures like Caetano, Gal Costa, Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, and Jimi Hendrix, whose name is a play of words with the song's title. Access the Translatiosmith for a complete translation and lyrical analysis. "Jimmy Renda-se" was never a hit in the 1970s, but gained cult status over the years, and is now and ultimately was included in the soundtrack of Oscar-winner movie "Ainda Estou Aqui" in a pivotal car scene.