Samba soundtracks for Brazil's World Cup campaign
Reuters, Jun 13, 2006 10:37 am PDTIn Brazil, soccer and samba
go together like love and marriage. And as World Cup fever
grips the country, dedicated fans have plenty of choices of
music for their game-day parties.
Record labels have issued a clutch of soccer-themed discs. Even star player Ronaldinho gets to show his singing skills.
A popular pick is "Football & Samba Groove Association," a compilation of soccer-inspired songs by legendary singer Jorge Ben Jor.
Since the 1960s, Ben Jor has combined the country's two passions more than any other Brazilian musician, making his funky rhythms match the thumping hearts of soccer fans.
The disc features his greatest hit, "Mas que Nada," (More than Anything) which might be the anthem of Brazil's World Cup team. Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira is reportedly playing Sergio Mendes' version of the 40-year-old classic to psyche up his players.
The lyrics urge "Get out of my way, I want to pass," an allusion to the expert Brazilian footwork.
"Camisa 10 da Gavea" (The Number 10 Shirt) lauds the skills of Zico, star of the 1982 and 1986 World Cup teams, and expresses the fans' anguish at a referee. "O nome do rei e Pele" (The Name of the King is Pele) recounts the feats of one of soccer's greatest players.
Also on the Universal label is "Samba Goal," which boasts a selection of Ronaldinho's favorite songs including one track he sings himself along with the group SambaTri.
The song, "Goleador" (Superscorer) speaks of his love for the sport. "I belong to the rhythm, either in the samba or in the game, I let my feet do the talking," Ronaldinho croons.
The album includes songs by Ben Jor, Caetano Veloso and the Salgueiro Samba School, a top Rio de Janeiro Carnival club.
"Play Brasil" opens with a new samba written for the 2006 tournament by singer and Culture Minister Gilberto Gil, "Bale de Berlim" (Berlin Ballet). Brazil plays its first game and, Brazilians hope, the final on July 9 in that city.
While the song extols the fans' love for their team, somewhat bizarrely, it compares the team to Saci Perere, a one-legged character in Brazilian folklore.
Then there's "Hexa Brasil!" (Brazil's Sixth) -- a reference to Brazil's aim of taking its sixth World Cup. That disc is an eclectic mix of axe music from the country's northeast, radio mixes, and a Brazilian take on a 2004 European hit renamed "Festa no Ape" (Party in the Apartment).
It also features stars such as Daniela Mercury, Margareth Menezes and Olodum, a percussion group from Salvador which has played with Michael Jackson and Paul Simon.
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