Woman on Top - Music From The Motion Picture - 6897

Amazon.com The soundtrack from Woman on Top, starring Madrid-born bombshell Penelope Cruz as the beauty and brains behind a popular cooking show, is the perfect introduction to the Brazilian sound--and just might live up to the label's promise that it's "destined to bring Bossa Nova music to the world" (though bossa nova has long been popular in the West, albeit in specialized circles). The highly listenable album features contemporary Brazilian artists such as singer-songwriter Lenine; pop-rocker and Joao Gilberto sound-alike Paulinho Moska; and the three-DJ collective Bossa Cuca Nova putting a new spin on a classic Geraldo Pereira tune. It also includes gems such as Maria Creuza and her delicately wavering voice, and guitarist Dori Caymmi performing one of his father's songs. Mellow yet upbeat, it's relaxation music that won't put you to sleep. --Jamie FitzGerald Review Depending on your perspective, Woman On Top is either a paean to Brazil or to Spain's Penelope Cruz. Venezuelan director Fina Torres reportedly spent two years researching Brazilian music for the movie soundtrack, but her search seems to have kept bringing her back to bossa nova and its descendants. In other words, the music tends to be of the quiet, softly swinging variety. No Brazilian rock, rap, or reggae here; not even Bahian axi or carnival samba. What the disc does, it does well, though. Instead of rounding up the usual bossa suspects, Torres leaned heavily on the relatively unknown Paulinho Moska, who tackles several Brazilian chestnuts adequately, if failing to achieve the almost-impossible goal of making them his own. The remaining lineup is pretty eclectic: Baden Powell, Dori Caymmi, Lenine, Geraldo Azevedo. Still, the selected tracks don't stray too far from each other stylistically, focusing mostly on voice and acoustic guitar. This would make a fine introduction to a particular and prominent strain of Brazilian music, even if it doesn't embrace the country's entire range of diverse artists. -Marty Lipp -- From Rhythm Magazine The movie Woman on Top may only rate as empty calories when compared with food-and-romance comedic soufflés as appetizing as Like Water for Chocolate and Tampopo. But the soundtrack, a confection of light, tangy bossa novas and ballads by popular Brazilian singer-composer Paulinho Moska and other newcomers and established stars, is as savory as they come. Moska, the singing voice of the film's male lead, on five of the 14 tracks offers the kind of shimmering vocals, acoustic-electric guitar and keyboard textures, and sensitively arranged woodwinds and strings that are reminiscent of his country's tropicalismo artists of the late '60s. A highlight of Moska's contributions is the lilting, melodic "Sonho Meu," a Donna Yvonne Lara-Delcio Carvalho treasure probably familiar to many American listeners from the version heard on David Byrne's 1989 Beleza Tropical compilation. Mixed in with Moska's tremendously appealing tracks are lovely offerings by ("O Ultimo Por Do Sol") and Dori Caymmi ("E Doce Morrer No Mar"), an instrumental from guitarist-songwriter Baden Powell ("De Estrelas"), and the familiar "Brazil (Aquarela Do Brasil"), a beloved chestnut by Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra. The music of Woman on Top is scintillating enough to remind us of another movie title, going back nearly 65 years: Flying Down to Rio. This soundtrack, along with Byrne's compilations and this year's Corcovado collection on Concord, could be the next best thing. --- Philip Booth, JAZZIZ Magazine Copyright © 2000, Milor Entertainment, Inc. -- From Jazziz
ASIN: B00004XSXX
VSKU: DBV.B00004XSXX.A
Condition: Acceptable
Binding: Audio CD