Sunday, July 01, 2007

Semana Brasileira

July 1st - July 8th

Last april we introduced you to Latin Electronic music by ways of a special week-long focus on the genre, our biggest motivation being that we want to cover the whole spectrum of contemporary latin music on this site. And this week we'll be doing the same for another huge chunk of latin culture previously unmentioned here: Brazilian music.

Partly because we don't speak Portuguese, partly because we're not following it that much, we never really spoke about non-Spanish latin music at La Onda. Brazil takes up more than half of South America, so the music scene is huge: we won't pretend to give you a representative overview. Instead, we've picked a few gems out of the unlimited range of Brazilian rhythms and styles. Maybe there's a bias towards acts that have international success, but we still hope you discover some artists you didn't know of.

So be sure to check back here every day for a new album review, and tomorrow we'll start off with a contest to get things going! Have fun ;)

7 comments:

wayne&wax said...

Sounds good. Keep up the good obra/onda!

One question though: your choice to represent Brazil makes me wonder how you draw the lines around "Latin." I think of this b/c I saw saw a presentation last week in MX City, in which an Australian academic noted that it was a fairly recent phenomenon, at least in Australasia, for Brazilian music to be heard, marketed, etc., as "Latin" music, where it now comfortably resides.

Just a question of location? Of the compatibilities, cultural and linguistic, across the Iberian (new) world? Just curious.

Chapín said...

The same happens here in Europe, in CD stores the 'latin' section (small and tucked away in the back of the store, of course) is a mishmash of cultures and languages.

I think I (subconsciously) define 'latin music' as something geographical: music from Ibero-America (i.e. Central and South America, the Caribbean, and the Spanish and Portuguese mainland). The blog is mostly about Spanish-language music though, because of the simple fact that I speak Spanish, and don't speak Portuguese, Creole, Mayan, Quechua or any other language spoken in Latin America. So maybe the title should say "Spanish-language latin music mp3 blog" but that just doesn't sound that good ;)

But I bet there's a great definition out there for latin music, emphasising on the different rhythms and use of typical instruments, no? Maybe that's better than a geographical division (what with latinos (and non-latinos) living in North America and Europe making latin music?).

Chapín said...

btw - should it be 'obra' instead of 'onda'? I asked my Portuguese-speaking friend, but maybe it's different in the Brazilian flavor of Portuguese...

El Guiri said...

I think he just meant to say "keep up the good work", as "obra" in Spanish means work ;)

luigi said...

LUIGI MC EL COLOMBIANO Y SU primer disco de reggaeton con fusiones latinas y electrónicas aquí esta el sencillo con cuatro de las canciones contenidas en es disco titulado KONTRA FUEGO el cual estará en el mercado colombiano a finales de agosto 2007.
descarga gratis 2 canciones.
KONTRA FUEGO
www.sendspace.com/file/y0qt3f

NO CREO EN EL AMOR www.sendspace.com/file/rj3rnu

And check the space www.myspace.com/luigimc
www.luigimc.com
Then I confirm to them the date of the CONCERT GIVE official throwing of the disc
And very soon the web page with exhaust of the new videos and mp3 free of his(her,your) productions.

Unknown said...

Funny, in the Latin Jazz world, there are divisions as to the use of "Latin". Many New York musicians will follow the Mario Bauza school of thought and call the music Afro-Cuban Jazz. Another camp makes the cases that Jazz meshed with rhythms from all over South American and the Caribbean are the true Latin Jazz. I've often heard the name Brazilian Jazz to discuss Jazz with a Bossa Nova, Samba, etc . . . rhythmic basis.

Personally, I subscribe to the all inclusive "Latin" title to describe the use of different rhythmic traditions. In a sense, it is a geographic reference. Yet, I think the reality is that it refers to the U.S. marketing of Caribbean and South American music into a one size fits all mentality. Everything from the dance crazes to salsa, merengue, mariachi, and more. Probably not the most politically correct thought, but I think its the reality.

Anyhow, I'm looking forward to some great Brazilian music this week!

Chapín said...

@el guiri : yeah, one day of brazilian week and I already get my languages mixed up.. luckily you have a university degree in Spanish ;)

@luigi : thanks for letting me know but I'm without Internet this week, so it'll have to wait

@chipboaz : I don't think that's a politically incorrect thought, latinos themselves also have a very clear idea of what latin music is, and especially in the US (with so many latinos living there) the marketing is oriented towards THEM. It's here in Europe that the 'one size fits all mentality' (as you put it so well) is reigning in record stores.