Tropicália: Alegria, Alegria!

Brazilian music evokes for many images of Carnival, samba by the beach, Astrud Gilberto's delicate bossa nova—all very real. But raw psychedelia, audience riots, art as protest, musicians disappeared by the government, and other wild happenings?

For one tumultuous year, in 1968, that all happened in Brazil, where a tightly knit group of musicians and artists took on a military dictatorship.

Tropicália, aka Tropicalismo, grew largely out of the collaborative efforts of Brazilian musicians Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil, who developed an adventurous hybrid sound by combining traditional bossa nova with folk and the sounds of the British Invasion (Beatles, Stones, Floyd).

Like-minded artists of all kinds soon gathered around the pair to form the Tropicália movement, whose creative output was peppered with increasingly overt critiques of American imperialism and Brazil's military government.

But the military dictatorship was cracking down on opposition art and music, and it had finally had enough. Veloso and Gil were jailed for months in secret military prisons, then exiled to London until 1972.

Though Tropicália's immediate force dissipated as a result of Veloso's and Gil's disappearance from the scene, the major players' creativity did not wane, with many—e.g., Gal Costa—going on to achieve mainstream stardom in Brazil over the years.

Some, like Tom Ze, Veloso, and Os Mutantes, became cult figures of the highest order, feted by several generations of tastemakers and hipsters.

Os Mutantes is today enjoying a richly deserved comeback, having just toured America and released its first album in 35 years: the madcap, joyous Haih or Amortecedor (Anti-, Sept. 2009).

Several of these albums are elusive and so may require a bit of hunting down. It's well worth it, though, both for filling out your world music collection and because Tropicália is still electrifying, with musicians like Beck, Nirvana, and David Byrne all paying earnest tribute over the years.

If your customers are hungry for more Tropicália after these initial purchases, consider also Rita Lee's superb post-Mutantes solo albums, Build Up (El, 1970) and Hoje é o primeiro dia do resto da sua vida (Rev-Ola, 1972); Gil and Jorge Ben's record of improvised earthy acoustic collaborations, Gil e Jorge (Polygram, 1975); or Definitive Collection (Wrasse, 2003), by Veloso's little sister, Maria Bethânia.

Gilberto Gil. Gilberto Gil. Water. 1968. UPC 6-46315-72222-2.

With Os Mutantes as backing band, Gil's second album helped define the sound.

Os Mutantes. Os Mutantes. Planet Rhythm. 1968. UPC 0-42282-94982-0.

The young trio blended samba with raucous psychedelia and rock'n'roll for a sound still very much its own.

Tropicália: Ou Panis et Circensis. Universal/Polygram. 1968. UPC 7-31451-20892-8.

Full of rare tracks and duets, this compilation released at Tropicália's height is essential as both a protest manifesto and good listening.

Gal Costa. Gal Costa. Dusty Groove. 1969. UPC 6-00753-07350-6.

Following early collaborations with Veloso, Costa here stepped out on her own, with sultry and bombastic vocals as free as the arms of the cacti tree.

Caetano Veloso. Transa. Polygram. 1972. UPC 0-42283-85112-2.

Recorded after Veloso's return from exile, with an all-Brazilian backing band, this album best represents its sonic brew.

Brazil Classics 4: Best of Tom Ze. Luaka Bop. 1990. UPC 6-80899-00032-1.

This collection captures the crazy, lightning-in-a-bottle brilliance of composer/performer Ze and seamlessly melds traditional music with the avant-garde.

Tropicalia: A Brazilian Revolution in Sound. Soul Jazz. 2005. UPC 6-67344-59622-6.

A critically lauded compilation gathering together choice moments from Tropicália's prime movers; the copious liner notes could stand on their own as a print resource.

Tropicália: Web-exclusive Resources for Further Reading

ONLINE

Anti-: Os Mutantes
What a long, strange trip it’s been! Os Mutantes, still going strong despite losing some original members, today rub elbows with Tom Waits, Ramblin’ Jack Elliot, and Nick Cave on the Anti- Records roster.

The Big Bang of Brazilian Pop Music, Tropicália, Turns 40
A solid retrospective overview that also speaks to Tropicália’s continued resonance among modern-day audiences.

Brazzil: 30 Years of Tropicalismo
This lengthy feature article from Brazzil magazine includes a retrospective appreciation of Tropicalismo and what the artists involved accomplished; also includes excellent discographies of all the major players.

Caetano Veloso: Tropicália
This PBS NewsHour piece on Veloso includes a brief but informative biography, a discography, and a capsule history of Tropicália.

PRINT 
Veloso, Caetano. Tropical Truth: A Story of Music and Revolution in Brazil. Da Capo. 2003. 384p. illus. index. ISBN 978-0-306-81281-1. pap. $18.
Veloso’s razor-sharp memory and earnest love of his musical colleagues and coconspirators make this book the singular resource for those interested in the history of this tumultuous period in Brazilian music. (LJ 10/15/02)