avatarJessica Lee McMillan

Summary

The web content is a reflective piece on the emotional impact of Brazilian music, specifically the song "Aquarela Do Brasil" (Watercolor of Brasil), as it relates to the beauty and nostalgia of the country's landscape and culture.

Abstract

The article "Watercolor of Brasil" is a poetic tribute to the iconic Brazilian song "Aquarela Do Brasil," originally composed by Ary Barroso. The poem captures the essence of the song's influence on the Brazilian cultural landscape, evoking the lush, vibrant scenery of Brazil through vivid imagery. It speaks to the transformative power of music, particularly the renditions by Caetano Veloso, João Gilberto, and Gilberto Gil, which have reimagined the song in a bossa nova style. The author draws a parallel between the song's evolution from a bombastic celebration to a soft, contemplative piece, reflecting the changing moods of Brazilian music. The piece is part of a larger series written for the July Summer Music Challenge, aiming to explore the connections between bossa nova and personal memories.

Opinions

  • The author expresses a deep appreciation for the original composition by Ary Barroso, describing it as "bombastic and celebratory."
  • There is a clear admiration for the interpretations of the song by Caetano Veloso, João Gilberto, and Gilberto Gil, who have transformed the piece into a more intimate bossa nova style.
  • The poem conveys a sense of nostalgia and longing

Watercolor of Brasil

A nostalgic poem for Brazilian music

“Iguaza Falls, Brasil” by ”Chensiyuan, Wikimedia Commons

Quench this quiet presence with lovesong of rain a curtain of lace sweeping wet scape

Green my heart with mist of spring beauteous colors bleeding singing this land in reverent chords too much for one soul to hold

I will pine the morrow impressions of this melody happiness paints a little rain washing me in nostalgia again all the songs of my life

Notes: Inspired by Ary Barroso’s “Aquarela Do Brasil” (Watercolor of Brasil) performed by Caetano Veloso, João Gilberto & Gilberto Gil. This is another truly happy tune by three of Brasil’s giants. Ary Barroso’s original from the late ‘30s is bombastic and celebratory and is still making waves through popular culture.

The quiet pride and passion the lyrics paired with Veloso, Gilberto and Gill honor the song in bossa nova.

The lyrics were inspired by Barroso having been trapped by a rainstorm translates beautifully from syncopating busyness in his original composition to a soft, contemplative rain in the version below.

Written for the July Summer Music Challenge where I wrote a poem or story about bossa nova for 31 days. See below for all entries including Terry Barr’s 8 brilliant memoirs about summer and music:

Poetry
Music
Songs
Brasil
Nostalgia
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