Sergio Mendes, Walter Wanderley, & More - Bossa Nova Friday

It's a Bossa Nova Friday!

Some bossa nova from Walter Wanderley, seems fitting in this age where the telephone is more than a telephone. Enoch light with a space-age version of the old classic "Brazil", done in a stero-rama kind of way that only Enoch Light could do.

Neal Hefti with a gay, as in, traditional meaning of the word, song called Tomatoes, which is from the Odd Couple sound track. If you don't feel a little happy, in that gay sort of way, after hearing this tune, you should probably see your therapist.

Well, not being happy is understandable, if you're Shirley Bassey, with her rather sad song about going away. There is something quite dynamic about Shirley Bassey, her voice is incredibly dynamic. You can really hear the emotion in her voice, it's quite sad in that powerful Shirley Bassey sort of way. It's almost too emotional for triviacompanion, but it's worth a listen. Quite powerful indeed.

Sergio Mendes pulls us out of our Shirley Bassey depression, more bossa nova with "Like A Lover" (summer time really is the time for Sergio Mendes) I feel like I'm working in some kind of 1970's sit com show when I listen to this song, the melody kind of carries me along.

But, before we get too carried away in the bossa nova, Julie London comes in, with another semi-sad song, "Cry Me a River". Which, really isn't all that sad, it's kind of uplifting in that liberating sort of way. The guitars in this song really come out, undistorted, un-mangled, just clear, beautiful, electric guitar.

I can't pronounce Martin Botcher but it sure makes me feel good, especially after listening to the hyper-emotional song from Shirley Bassey. It's an easy listening bossa nova in a feels free, feels good kind of way. While it has a choir, there aren't any words, just the beautiful, mellow sounds of human voices with a bossa nova background.

Finally, Serge Gainsbourg ties it up with his jazzy in a get you moving sort of way, song "Woom Woom Woom" which is actually sort of bluesy, but not in a country way. It's more like organ blues. This nice thing about it is, there are no words, so we got to take the lazy way out! (no need for researching the lyrics!)

Tracks in the Spotlight

Walter Wanderley - Telefone

Enoch Light - Brazil

Neal Hefti - Tomatoes

Shirley Bassey - If You Go Away (Ne Me Quitte Pas)

Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 - Like A Lover

Julie London - Cry Me A River

Martin Botcher & sein Orchester - Fiesta in Belo Horizonte

Serge Gainsbourg - Woom Woom Woom