writing, history, listening to music, studying, politics, and a little bit of gaming
Music
bossa nova, mpb, jazz, anything else that sounds good tbh
mourningdovesoap's bio
18, (he/him), avid creative writer and history enthusiast. Bilingual in english and spanish, intermediate in portuguese. Happy to make new friends and talk about many things :D
It sucks being the one alone when it seems like everybody around you is having a good time, especially on holidays. Looking at instagram stories of people having a good time with their friends, at parties, hangouts just doing typical teenager things. I don't have envy at all, just sadness of being left out. Sadness of not being able to experience that life of a teen, full of adventure and first love. I always told myself that maybe in my 20s, I'll experience a build up of some sorts socially. I just don't see it right now.
If you are looking for an awesome bossa nova playlist FREE of AI, here's this video that shows 39 standard bossa nova instrumentals! If you need something to have in the background while studying or anything, this is good :D
Here'a little history behind a quintessential bossa nova standard: O barquinho (The little boat)!
It was written and composed in 1960 by Roberto Menescal and Ronaldo Bôscoli, with the first recording of it made in 1961 by Maysa Matarazzo in her "Barquinho" album.
Bôscoli, who was with Maysa at the time, became upset with the way Maysa sung the song, since Maysa was used to sing in a very strong manner in many of her previous samba-canção albums, as opposed to a calm voice meant for bossa nova. The song didn't get received well by the public and it wouldn't receive a lot of recognition by compared to other bossa nova songs like Garota de Ipanema or Concorvado.
In 1985, Nara Leão, along with long-time friend Roberto Menescal would perform this song live across the world in Japan, becoming one of the most popular songs sung by Nara. The acoustics of the guitar, along with her amazing voice gave O barquinho the attention it deserved. I recommend listening to both Maysa's and Nara's version of this awesome song! :D
One of my first Brazilian artists that I've came across from is Elis Regina, with that song being "Me deixas louca" from 1981. If you are looking for someone fierce with passion and creativity, this is your answer.
From her humble beginnings in 1961 releasing her first samba-canAndança album at 16, to becoming a big name in the MPB genre in the 70s and early 80s, Elis became one of the best artists still listened to this day. Here are my favorite albums (in chronological order):
1960s: O bem do amor (1963) Samba eu canto assim (1965) | Fav song: Resolução 2 na bossa (1965) | Fav song: Arrastão Como & porque (1969) | Fav song: Andança
1970s: Ela (1971) | Fav songs: Madalena, Cinema Olympia Elis (1972, 1973, 1974) | Note: she wasn't too creative with album names here lol Elis & Tom (1974) | Fav song: Aguas de Março Falso brilhante (1976) | BEST ALBUM!!! Transversal do tempo (1978) | Fav song: Querelas do Brasil Essa mulher (1979) | Fav songs: Altos e baixos, Bolero de satã 2ND BEST ALBUM!!!
1980s: Elis (1980) Saudade do Brasil (1980) | 3RD BEST!!! Luz das estrelas (1984) | Posthumous album, pretty underrated :D
I do not like it when people try to make conversation while I am working out at the gym. I go to the gym five days a week, and in my local gym there's many people I know from high school and stuff, and I detest whenevr they try to talk to me. Like....why me? I'm not trying to be anyone's friend; just let me work out in peace :/
If you are interested in a group where people can share music, talk, or engage with the bossa nova genre and other types of old brazilian music (80s and older), join the "bossa nova + more club"!
Whether it is mpb, samba-canção, velha guarda, boleros, rock, etc. it is all welcome. Bem-vindo!
One of Nara Leão's debut albums, shown here! This album, released in 1964, had elements of samba-canção and bossa nova, including the most popular song in this album, "Diz que fui por ai".
This album represented a shifting time in Nara's professional career, where she wanted to focus more on protest songs and traditional Samba elements, instead of bossa nova. This would receive critique from people who claimed that she was too experimental to be changing her genres.
Despite this, it is a really interesting album and it is worth a listen!
Here's part two to my Maysa post that I made earlier (for those who see lol).
Maysa's climax in her career was in the late 50s, with 1958 being her biggest year musically. Naturally, given her style of music, she would end up becoming one the highest paid artists in Brazil by that time. She attempted to experiment with other music styles outside her zone such as bossa nova, but they never really took off. She eventually divorced her millionaire husband due to his controlling behavior towards her career. Maysa ended up in the rest of the 60s decade travelling Europe, singing at venues and acting in various movies and shows.
Maysa, despite her highlighted career, was a broken woman with various issues that affected her deeply. Most of that had to do with self-image issues due to tabloids at the time along with removal of custody of her son from the previous marriage. These factors may have defined her deeply, yet she was willing to put her art and talent out there for people to see.
In 1975 or 76?, Maysa would reunite with her son, Jayme, after years of no contact. She felt happy to see here son after so long, with the experience giving her the need to put herself out there more artistically, including lauching some albums (last one was in 1974).
In January 22, 1977, while Maysa was traveling the Rio-Niterói bridge, she would be involved in a fatal car crash, passing away at age 40. Last testimonies of the paramedics at the scene indicated that she wanted to live.
Even with a tumultuous life she faced, Maysa managed to bring her talent and care among thousands of fans not only in Brazil but across the world, and I'm glad to be one of those fans. May her music live on for future generations to listen to.
Is anyone a huge procrastinator when it comes to studying? I honestly feel like whenever I get assigned something I do it last minute because I spend the rest of my time just doing anything else.
On a serious note, one of her best albums, shown here, has some of her best songs like "Lança perfume, Caso serio, Nem luxo nem lixo, etc." My other favorite songs outside this album such as "Saúde, Desculpe o auê, and Reza" give a really good insight in the Queen of Brazilian Rock :D
This is a snippet of info from one of my favorite artists, which is Maysa Matarazzo. She was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where she shared a passion for music at a very young age. She came from a well-off background, mostly spending her teenage years writing her most successful songs (Adeus, Marcada) in the bathroom of her private school while skipping class and smoking cigarettes. She would sing her songs at parties her family hosted among their elite friends. One of those friends, who was apart of an influential, wealthy family in São Paulo would end up marrying with her at the age of 18. Maysa would start her professional career in 1956, releasing her albums "Convite para ouvir Maysa" without her image on them to avoid "unnecessary attention", according to her husband at the time. Her style of music was "samba-canção" with a touch of somberness, which became her trademark. Her main masterpieces, such as "Meu mundo caiu, Ouça, and Ne me quitte pas" became great success not only in Brazil but in the Latin world. There's a lot more I can talk about her, and I may have to make a part two on this topic but yeah :)
This is an old journal I had lying around and I just wanted someone's input, what do y'all think of my handwriting? some ppl I told say it looks feminine (I'm a guy) but I love it ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I was really good friends with this person since I was younger around 9 years ago (2017). He used to make comics and skits, which was something I really like. We talked all the way up until the pandemic hit and that when we drifted apart. I knew their cousin as well and I also drifted away from her at that time. I reconnected with the cousin 4 years later and added her on ig. I saw that my old friend was recommended to me on there but I was hesitant to add them bc I never asked their cousin if that was ok. (we are all the same age)
Bossa Nova is a genre that many people overlook, and I feel that it shouldn't be this way. Many people reduce Bossa Nova to just "elevator music", which undermines the actual history of what the genre actually is. Bossa Nova originates by the end of the 1950s in Rio de Janeiro, mixing the influences of samba, jazz, and traditional Brazillian sound all in one, impeccable harmony. There's many debates on who started the genre, with people like Tom Jobim, João Donato, João Gilberto, Nara Leão, and Roberto Menescal taking certain credit for creating the genre. At the time in Brazil's history, the country was facing economic growth that was never seen after the end of World War II, with Brazil's need to modernize many aspects of its culture. The mainstream genre at the time, "samba-canção", was at its peak, with people like Angela Maria, Nelson Gonçalves, Maysa, etc. taking ahold of a genre with elements of traditional Latin boleros and samba. With the national need to modernize and appeal internationally, Bossa Nova became the answer the government at the time wanted to solve. This genre was internationally recognized and honored by various countries, such as the U.S. and Japan, who in turn influenced many styles of music in their respective countries in turn. It represented the traditional and modern part of Brazil, the energetic samba elements with a clean jazz undertone. The biggest year for Bossa Nova was in 1964, with the introduction of "Garota da Ipanema" or "Girl from Ipanema" by Astrud Gilberto, which is pretty much the flagship bossa nova song people know and love to this day. The song was acclaimed across the globe, giving Brazil the international recognition it deserved.
Nara Leão has to be one of my favorite artists of all time. If you're looking into bossa nova and are interested in learning more about the genre, please give her a listen! she's the reason I became interested in brazilian culture and learned a new language as well!
I recommend listening to these albums: "Dez anos depois" (1971) "Nara" (1964) "Obras-Primas" (1996)
There's days where I feel so...how do I describe it, bored? Going to college at 18 when the majority of your classes are online and you don't have a job just feels so boring. I don't want to call myself useless since I'm getting my education but I don't have a choice rn. If I had the choice, I would be out all day on campus doing my thing. But I just stay home all day. Does anyone feel the same way?
