Hello, you lovely people! This Sunday 28th September we’ve got another gig! This time,
we’ll be playing at a theatre on a proper stage. And if this wasn’t enough, we’ve
invited a drummer to join us so he’s bound to give it some swing it!
What can you expect music-wise? A night of lively Brazilian
samba, mellow bossa nova and some jazz to top it up! We will have support from Retro
Velvet.
The doors open at 8pm and it’s £5 to get in. Can you spare
that much to come see us play? I surely hope so.
This is just a quick post to let you know that I will be
singing tomorrow with my other half in a cosy restaurant in London Bridge. This will be our fourth time at the venue; they clearly like us! ;)
As
usual, you can expect an evening filled with the swingy tropical sounds of
Brazilian samba and bossa nova, but also some jazz and other musical surprises.
The idea is that you can enjoy the mellow melodies in the equally melodic
Portuguese, but we’ve made an extra effort so that Brazilians and non-Brazilians
alike can appreciate the music.
The last post was about food, so
now it’s time for music. These are definitely my two passions ;)
And talking about passion, I
never told you how me and my BF met. It was over three years ago, at another
musician’s rehearsal at a London studio. He was there, tucked into the corner
of a dilapidated sofa, quietly strumming his 7-string guitar. When we first
started talking, he thought I was Portuguese. I wished he’d thought I was Brazilian
but there was no way this paulistano*
was going to take my attempted carioquês**
for truly native… Oh well. It didn’t stop us from deciding to rehearse
together with the view to maybe performing at some point. And believe it or
not, it took us three months to take it to another level, although I still
sometimes wonder whether this whole guitar trick wasn’t meant to seduce me in
the first place. Bottom of the line is: it did, both romantically and
musically; the latter is what I want to talk about.
A few guests appearances here and
there, a number of intimate shows during our stay in Brazil, a performance in
Prague… Little by little we were gaining ground. Winning London over is another
kettle of fish, so we’ve been working really hard for the past year or so and
finally it seems that all this effort is beginning to pay off. We’ve played at a few private
events, wine tasting sessions, somewhere in Soho (but the place does not
deserve attention so I won’t mention the name), and we are now getting regular
gigs. Phew.
We decided to call our duo Polka
Nova, which is a play on me being Polish and our main music style – bossa nova,
as you might have figured out, served as the main course. We mix it with generous amounts of samba,
lightly seasoned with some zesty jazz. See, I can’t even talk about music
without thinking of food! It’s mostly covers of timeless classics and
traditional songs that resonate with many Brazilians and non-Brazilians alike.
But let me stop this babbling and let you get a taste (!) of our music on your
own:
If you like it, then the next stop is to visit our facebook
page and let us know by clicking the ‘like’ button. I will love you for this
eternally. www.facebook.com/PolkaNovaLondon
And if you get so excited as to want to follow us on Twitter
as well, we are here:
I can’t believe I actually didn’t write anything for the whole of 2013! I had a few ideas but there was so much going on in my professional life that blog writing was the last thing on my mind. Originally, 'the Brazilian dream' was meant to tell the story of my time in Brazil, but my everyday life in London is still very much “Brazilian”. As my BF is from São Paulo, I speak more Portuguese than my mother tongue to the point where I’ve begun mixing them up. Not surprisingly, my mind thinks Portuguese is on the same priority level as Polish and if you woke me up in the middle of the night I am not really sure which one I would speak, given that I also teach English…
Linguistic confusion aside, musically I can’t get more Brazilian than through samba and bossa nova; the two genres that identify my singing style. So folks, here’s a glimpse of what I do, never mind that I’m revealing my identity once and for all. Anonymous blog writing is so 2013…
I’ve been
back from Brazil for over two months now and the memories of my 4-month-long
trip really seem like a dream... It looks like London life has sucked me in and
is determined to keep its clutch on me with the cold, wet and jobless reality.
My BF still in São Paulo (according to the latest news, he should be
coming back to London in three weeks’ time, yay!), I have to resort to browsing
through my facebook photo albums to remind myself that it all really happened. And
my saudade is not just about him, it
is, strangely enough, about the city, too. Just the other night I had a dream
that I was going to perform as a singer with a group right there, in São Paulo.
I woke up disappointed it wasn’t true. But then again, who knows; maybe
someday!
Is it indeed that strange that I should miss Sampa, as it’s
colloquially called? A city with lines of cars longer than from here to the
moon, more rain in a week than London had this April (and trust me, it was a
lot) and thousands of skyscrapers in an apparent fight for the last bits of
sunshine, like thirsty plants in this urban jungle. I remember when, on my
first, four-day-long, visit to this city, I asked my host: “So what is the
landmark? Where is that place that everybody instantly recognises as pertaining
to São Paulo, where people meet, the heart?” He seemed puzzled. What, no
Paulistan Big Ben? I silently wondered. No Eiffel Tower? Not to mention Cristo
Redentor. Let’s not even go there (there is a fierce competition between SP and
Rio de Janeiro that I will talk about a bit later). I just couldn’t believe
there isn’t anything characteristic that would help me create a mental image of
São Paulo by means of just one token. “Avenida Paulista is quite famous” my
friend didn’t give up. Right, a big street that runs through the whole city
like a pulsating vein, never stopping pumping more traffic in and out of its
borders. That didn’t even come close to meeting my expectations of this
specific something.
I discovered what it is during my second trip which was ten times longer. It’s just not where I was looking for it. You know, with such
Rio it’s easy; the overwhelming statue welcomes you from the top of the hill with
its arms wide open (and says goodbye in much the same candid manner), the
extreme heat hits you in the face right after you get off the plane, and walking
along the ridiculously and undeservingly famous Copabana beach is bound to leave
you with sunburn you won’t quickly forget. With SP, things are rather
intangible. Relatively far from the sea, much colder and flat as an ironing
board, it doesn’t have much to offer. At the first glance. But it’s enough to start
walking the streets to notice. Or to feel, I should say. And four days are not
enough to discover what I’m talking about. You need to come, take a bus, visit
the MASP, gorge a coxinha*, get lost, lose
your flip-flop when running in the sudden downpour, have a cold Brahma in a
corner bar or dig into a feijoada after a roda de choro on a Saturday
afternoon, get stuck in a traffic jam with a full bladder, leave for a party at
1AM and be sure you’ll still get there before the show starts, have another
beer, chat with a taxi driver, watch at least one episode of Ratinho**, have a
shot of cachaça to recover from the shock, see your friends play a gig with
more swing than all your dance and music teachers put together, visit Museu da
Lingua Portuguesa, sink your teeth into an indecently ripe mango and let the
juices run down your chin, have one more beer, find out what guioza, hashi and shoyu mean, see live samba somewhere in Vila Madalena, eat
in a kilo bar, forget what time of the year it is... and then we’ll talk. For
the time being, enjoy this HD video (not mine) with views of the city and
please, please, ignore the extremely naive music.
At the beginning of my stay in Brazil, I had the impression that time had slowed down. Suddenly I felt more relaxed than ever and could finally savour moments of laziness in the warm sun. It seemed like my trip would last forever, and, of course, I wanted it to! But all good things come to an end. Due to personal circumstances I wasn’t able to stay there any longer and there came a day (on Tuesday) when I had to pack my bags, heavy with bottles of cachaça, and board the plane. Since, towards the end of my stay, invitations to meet suddenly bloomed, final errands had to be made and I was working on some translations (to relieve my dented budget), hardly any time was left to take care of my blog!
So I’m back in cold London (and no, it’s not a bad dream), tired and pensive, but with pockets full of stories and enough of good memories to keep filling the pages of this blog until my next trip to Brazil. I am pretty sure I will now be a frequent visitor! What I also have in excess, and that wasn’t planned, are the few kilos I gained during the numerous trips to bars and restaurants. I reached my record level of 65kg! So, please, dear friends and family, if you see me these days, kindly refrain from commenting about what I already know! I’m starting my post-Brazil diet right away. So today, instead of sinking my teeth into a juicy lump of beef and quenching my thirst with (stupidly) cold beer, I had to make do with wild rocket, organic carrots and light Philadelphia cheese.
Stay tuned, folks! More Brazilian tales coming soon. And in the meantime, listen to the beautiful voice of Rosa Passos singing “Samba sem você” (Samba without you). This song really reflects my current mood as my love stayed behind and will only join me in about a month...
Sorry for being so silent for the past week, but guess what – I went to Rio!!!!! So, instead of moaning in front of the TV screen about how uninventive the costumes / songs/ floats were, I got to see the grandeur and the schools’ true colours live at the sambadrome during the Winners’ Parade (Desfile das Campeãs) last Saturday. And as you can imagine, my sensation was quite different from the one at home. I simply loved it! It was all more stunning than I could ever have imagined. What can I say, you may admire the teeny-weeny detail of a passista’s* skimpy glittery outfit or marvel at the golden threads on a school’s flag, your face glued to the screen, but seeing it with your own eyes, amid thousands of cheering carnival lovers, puts things into perspective. Literally.
The sambadrome is a huge construction with concrete tribunes along the 700-metre-long stretch of the Marquês de Sapucaístreet. And unless you are one of those lucky ones able to afford a seat in the camarote (luxurious booth), forget the cherishing the intricacies. Instead, switch to enjoying the exuberant, pulsating string of colourful alas**, every now and then divided by floats sticking out like enormous birthday cakes, with the decorative elements bouncing up and down to the rhythm of samba enredo.
I made numerous videos with my excitedly shaking hands, so if you want a glimpse of what it was like, have a look here, and keep checking the channel for more videos.
Special thanks to Rafael and Lina for making it possible.
I feel exceptionally inspired these days. And it’s all because of the carnival. By now you may be under the impression that I am mocking the whole thing, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. I’m loving it! Undoubtedly, I would love it even more if I had a chance to actually watch it live, AT the sambadrome, but not this time. To stay in Rio during these two days would absolutely ruin my budget, so I have to make do with transmissions by Globo. And if you think that my bitterness has something to do with that fact, who knows, you may be onto something.
I have recently mentioned that the samba enredos tend to be repetitive. Obviously, the genre has got its requirements and the public has got their expectations, so certain rules have to be followed. The melody line usually sounds a bit complicated at first, especially for European ears, but having listened to it a few times most people remember it rather effortlessly. The chorus or refrain is meant to be catchy as the idea is that all members of the parade and all fans of the school sing the song together. I suppose these days the problem is that all enredos sound very much alike, so it’s very probable that if you learn a few, you may end up mixing them up without noticing. Assuming that a particular one hasn’t already become your personal anthem; followers of samba schools often resemble football fans, fiercely defending their choices.
I’ve come across the diagram below which explains the formula of samba enredo. So, you begin by welcoming the audience (Alô, meu povo!), then go to the very beginnings (tempos primordios) of whatever it is you want to sing about, choose your main area (African roots, the Amazon, the Sertão or Northeastern Brazil), cram your lines with characteristic words (names of African gods and goddesses, warriors or anything related to Indians and their beliefs, famous revolution leaders or national heroes*, etc.) and then warm up the crowd, throw in a bit of magic or praise a (preferably dead) celebrity. This must almost invariably be followed by a common ôôôô or very Brazilian laia laia and we’re done! Now, since it’s an enredo, it means that the song is looped, so you sing it over and over again (until the end of the parade anyway). Easy-peasy. Ready to write your own?
And these are the most popular words in the samba enredos of carnival day 1 in Rio:
For non-Portuguese speakers, I’ll translate: amor – love, mar – sea, bahia – Bahia (the state), emoção – emotion, sonho – dream, tambor – a big drum, vem – come, vim – I came, chegando – coming, faz – you do / (s)he does, fiz – I did, ancestrais – ancestors, magia – magic, liberdade - freedom. For me the key word here is festejar – celebrate. Go on, celebrate the carnival before it’s over!
This one is hot from the press! I am watching the carnival parade, not from a Brahma cabin like I would have preferred, but from the warm seat in front of my computer screen. Luckily, Globo is broadcasting the show live on the Internet (I suppose I could watch it on TV, but I’m actually trying to work at the same time). I’ve figured I needed to share my feelings about the school that has just finished their procession; Porto da Pedra. Grand costumes, grandiose floats and ...a grotesque theme. We were hereby presented with an exaltation of... yoghurt! Actually, not just yoghurt but milk in general and in particular, as various other dairy products have also made their way to the sambadrome. The comissão de frente, a group that opens a parade, symbolised "Lactobacilos da Folia". You know what makes milk turn into yoghurt? That’s what they were. Then came the allegorical floats; “The Milk of The Gods” to say that the heavenly drink is present in various civilisations (no joke?), through a yoghurt feast and the preferred delicacies in China (who would have known!), to “Yoghurt, from the Otoman Empire to the European Courts”. Seriously, have they run of themes for the carnival?? Other schools have decided to pay homage to famous painters, writers or other people that have somehow contributed to Brazil’s cultural growth. Themes such as important historical events or examples of cultures heritage are also common. But milk?
At the end of the parade, the commentators expressed their opinions, visibly struggling not to laugh. Someone said that their enredo was forced. Well, how much can you sing about the white liquid? Globo itself called the theme “unusual”. Surely “cheesy” would have been more appropriate.
Now, don’t get me wrong. The costumes were beautiful, the floats all glittery and sparkingly chee.. cheerful, the dancers shook their feathers sensually and all that. But as one person on the studio commented, it was all like “squeezing milk out of a stone”.*
This is a very quick post just to let you know (those of you who are still awake) that you can watch the carnival parade in Rio live here, today and tomorrow:
I had another dream that I went back to Europe. No, no, no, it can’t be, I’m definitely still in Brazil! – I thought soberly, my mind still sleeping. Is it my subconscious poking me? The first thing I did when I woke up was grab a pen and some paper. Number one: Carnival. Ha, that’s what it’s all about! I just can’t imagine being in Brazil at this time of the year and not taking part in the biggest party on earth. Last year’s visit to Rio when, having seen all the preparations and the frenzy at Sapucaí*, I had to pack my bags and fly back to London (to teach my otherwise wonderful students) was painful enough. As I’m a member of a samba school in London, I see it almost as my obligation to get some first-hand experience at the roots of this whole madness. Trouble is, I don’t have the ticket yet, the main reason being I’m still hesitating between staying in São Paulo (acceptable) or going to Rio (ideal). The second option would mean using up probably all my savings, IF I manage to find a place to stay in Rio at all. I have contacted all my friends there asking for help and some floor space, but they either skilfully evaded my request or opted for “I’m-too-busy-to-reply” attitude. Thanks guys. Well, I guess I’ll just leave it till the last minute. Any useful comments or advice welcome.
Number two: samba school rehearsals. I just can’t seem to let it go, can I. Musically, carnival samba is not the highest form of art, I admit (and foresee a wave of protests), given that you can’t always understand what the puxadores** are singing and most enredos** are rather repetitive. The truth is, however, that this form of samba irradiates so much energy that your hair stand on ends at the first beats of the (many) drums, your hips start to shake un- or controllably and a stream of electricity spirals around your body enveloping it in an almost sensual pleasure. At least that’s my experience (from London, which doesn’t count, and Mangueira last year in Rio). Apparently, those rehearsals can be greater fun that the parade itself, as they allow for a more hands-on participation. Well, I can’t compare, knowing only one side, and I definitely do not intend to have my hands on anybody...
Number three:blocos of street carnival. This is getting boring. In the weeks preceding the carnival, revellers can join dozens of street parties, less ostentatiously glamorous and more relaxed than the samba schools. Well, what can I say. I’m going to jump on the bandwagon and if you happen to be in São Paulo, you can join me:
Number four: the beach. Finally changed the topic. What?? You still haven’t been to one?! Don’t ask. Let’s just say it wasn’t my priority. No bikini shots planned either.
Number five: anything that springs up and is worth my time (and money). I really don’t want to bore you with my never-ending wishlist.
*Sambadrome Marquês de Sapucaí or simply Sambadrome where all the samba school parade at the carnival in Rio.
** singers singing samba enredo – the carnival theme song
Since there is less time till the end of my trip than has passed since my arrival in São Paulo, or, to make it simple, I’m more than half-way through, it’s time for a summary. What have I actually done in those two months and what have I yet to do? I’m kind of thinking aloud, if you will. As you will have already figured out, I AM coming back to London after all. I miss it!
Let’s have a look at what I’ve done first. It seems that my main activities have been eating out and going to music shows (I warned you, didn’t I). I’ve tried, repeatedly, wonderful Japanese food (sushi rodizio – eat as much as you want!), Brazilian feijoada (I owe you guys that one, pictures coming soon!), countless salgados (savoury pastries, such as pastel), invariably accompanied by cerveja gelada. See? Your Portuguese is getting better!* I have to reiterate – gastronomy in São Paulo is of top-notch quality, with even the crudest corner bars serving fresh food and following all hygiene requirements, let alone fancy restaurants. Most dishes I’ve tried were absolutely amazing. The only thing you have to watch is your wallet; first of all, because you don’t want it to disappear, secondly – not to get carried away. Some might want to watch their weight. I decided not to worry about that.
As for music, I have been to six or seven excellent shows at Teatro FECAP (Francis & Olívia Hime, Tom Jobim Festival that included the likes of Zimbo Trio and a few other bands I can’t remember) – they’ve got amazing sound there, seen a beautiful instrumental performance of Swami Junior at SESC Consolação, had fun watching friends play samba rock. I even got to sing. A song or two here and there. And I have to say that the pressure is high; after all, a gringa venturing to sing samba in a country where it was born, in a Portuguese that, unfortunately, still sounds a little foreign, is no common sight. Let’s say I got positive reviews and motivation to continue learning. I have tried paulistan nightlife too. The best area to go, and I may be repeating myself, is Vila Madalena. This is where you find the best music bars the entrance to which won’t ruin your pocket. I’ve been to Ó do Borogodó, Pau Brasil, Traço de União, Bom Motivo and can easily recommend all of these. I left the best bit for the end. The already mentioned roda de choro** at the Contemporânea music shop is in itself an experience worth coming to Brazil for.
As every day brings new events, twists, turns and last-minute invitations, the what-I’ve-done list is getting longer and what-I’ve-yet-to-do is shrinking at an amazing pace and will hopefully come to a point where I can safely say “I can go back now”.
*my dear Brazilian friends will hopefully understand that my main focus (target audience?) were people who don’t speak the language
**for details, see an earlier post (Next station: Contemporânea)
Finally! After weeks of waiting, I got to see live samba. It had been rather difficult when I was staying outside the city, but now that I’m in the centre most music bars are a stone’s throw away. On Wednesday night we headed for Vila Madalena, a rather posh area where every corner bustles with activity, like lifting glasses of beer to the sounds of guitar, cavaco, pandeiro and/or some other noisy instrument. At a place called Pau Brasil, there was roda de samba. It’s a very old Brazilian tradition of playing this particular genre, which involves musicians sitting in a circle (roda) or sometimes round a table and taking turns to play/sing until dawn. Depending on the venue, this can take the form of a friendly gathering or is more like a show, with artists keeping their distance from the beer-sipping crowd. By the way, I have been told (warned?) that samba and cerveja (beer) always go together, so unless you’re pregnant or under-age, there is no excuse. Not like I was looking for one, but just so that you know. Great sambistas are invariably great drinkers too.
What I loved about that night at Pau Brasil, is that it felt like one big party, with musicians so close to you that you risked getting elbowed in the stomach. And if you got too excited dancing and singing like everybody (!) else in the club, that beer bottle that you’ve just accidentally knocked down ended up at their feet.
Unfortunately, it was too dark there to film properly but at least you can get an idea about the music. It’s Aldo Bueno performing "Mas Quem Disse Que Eu Te Esqueço". More videos coming soon.
