I know it’s been a really long time since my last post, and loads of things have happened. College started, I lost 10 pounds (gained some too but that’s how it goes), been introduced to new music, made new friends (I guess).
I think that the last time I wrote, was in the middle of July, when I was in Campinas with my family. The new Arctic Monkeys disc was being leaked on the internet, and I may have or may have not posted some illegal music here. But that water over the bridge. I have bought the new album, listened to it extensively, and loved every second of it. Not so much the fact that they are not selling singles in compact discs, and that the Japanese version of Humbug has two extra tracks. On that note, they can’t really blame me for using the internet. You may call me stupid, but I even tried purchasing mp3’s from their website, and it did not work, so, your loss Monkeys.
This saturday, at a friend’s barbecue, his wife lended me some cds of foreign music. This friend is Argentinian, and his wife brazilian. He works with my father, and we all get along. His wife is graduated in modern languages – spanish, so she introduced me to some spanish and latin american music. I’m listening to SodaStereo, Bajotango, Mercedes Sosa, Orishas, and Estopa. Tomorrow I’ll return the cds to her, with a mix tape of my own. Let’s see if she likes of some of Britain’s finest.
This whole new music started at university. Yeah I know how clichê, but that’s how it went. In the past year, I’ve been in love with british music, and I have completely forgot about the brazilian music I used to love. I really enjoyed listening to Maria Rita, Los Hermanos e o Rappa. I don’t really know why, but it felt so distant to me. Last week, when talking to some friends at college about music, I learned that not too many people like the stuff I like. For instance, people seem to like some very hardcore rock (which I hate), hip hop (which is definitely not on my top ten list) and samba. This last one is controversial. When asked if I liked it, I said an upper case NO. But, the thing is I forgot that there are two types of samba. Samba de bossa, and samba de grito. Samba de grito, is the one thy sing shout on the Carnival Parade, in Rio. And Samba de Bossa, is the best one. One that I realized I like very much. I’m just beginning to learn, but i like where it’s going. I’m definitely not going to dance, and stuff, for I’m completely disastrous at this kind of thing, but, I enjoy listening. Lucas, a dude from my class has shown me some Luiz Melodia, and I liked it. He also remembered me of Maria Rita. I bought her latest cd, and I’m already listening to it. Together came memories from Los Hermanos, and so I synced my mp3 with fresh new music. Now I have, all of those spanish tunes, plus, Marcelo Camelo’s Sou, O Rappa’s O Silêncio Que Precede o Esporro, Little Joy’s Little Joy, Maria Rita’s Samba Meu, among others. Happy with the change. To be honest I was getting tired of what I’ve been listening.
Well, you guys know I attend the Geography course at UERJ right? If not, now you know. Given that I’m not a very good driver, yet, I take the bus to school everyday. Everyday he takes its course and drives trough Rio’s avenues, filled with urban art, poverty and social context, amidst some rich oasis. I have been listening to Muse’s new album (which is great btw), and tough it is good music, it doesn’t really match with the sights I see everyday. It’s not like Rio is the Twilight set location. And last week, when I started listening to O Rappa (on the radio first), it gave me a whole new perspective to things. It’s not like I’m not aware of the city’s problems, but, it made them more evident. Put that together with the fact that I’m studying Geography of the Population, and that the song I was listening was “Mar de Gente”, and you’ll get what I mean.
It’s late and I have to sleep. See you next time. I still have to talk about research in college, Lily Allen’s concert, and many more.
R
