Chris on Caetano
Chris on Caetano
By: Chris Carton aka Chrisanova, Bakotopia.com contributor
Description: Local guitarist / vocalist gets rare meet and greet with revered Brazilian artist
Topics: Caetano, Veloso, Brazilian, Guitar, Vocalist, Pasadena, November 2007, Chrisanova, bakotopia magazine
Posted by Chrisanova Tue Nov 27, 2007 17:26:10 PST
Viewed 335 times
0 responses 2 comments Chris on Caetano
Local guitarist / vocalist gets rare meet and greet with revered Brazilian artist
(Chris and idol Caetano Veloso in Pasadena, Ca on 11/4)
By Chris Carton aka Chrisanova, Bakotopia.com contributor
On Nov. 14, I was fortunate to see my greatest musical influence, Caetano Veloso, perform live in Pasadena, Calif.
Because he is from Brazil and most of his songs are in Portuguese, his massive body of work, which dates back to 1966, is not widely known here.
However, he’s been called “one of the greatest songwriters of the 20th century” and “the Bob Dylan of Brazil” by American critics.
Caetano’s entire career has been defined by reinvention: reinvention of his music, his performances and also of songs by great composers from all around the world. He has also recorded songs for movie soundtracks, including “Frida” and Pedro Almodovar’s “Hable Con Ella,” in which he also appeared performing “Cucurrúcucu Paloma.”
I was not familiar with Caetano until I heard two of his songs on Los Super Seven’s 2001 CD “Canto,” which featured members of Los Lobos and other artists performing traditional Latin American songs. I was immediately taken with Caetano’s style even though I couldn’t understand anything he was saying.
I went on to learn to play and sing the songs myself and also added the rest of his music to my collection.
Since “Canto” was where it all began for me, I decided to take my copy of the CD to the Nov. 14 show for Caetano to sign. I had been successful in getting backstage to meet him the previous three times I had seen him.
This time around, the staff at the venue would not allow fans backstage. So I walked around to the back entrance, waited a while and finally found Caetano with his entourage.
I asked him to sign the CD, and then I asked if he recognized what he was signing. He claimed he did not, and so I told him that he recorded two songs for the CD. He said he should get himself a copy, but I told him he didn’t have to since I bought him one earlier that day.
I also presented him a DVD of the making of “Canto,” on which his recording session was filmed. He seemed very happy to have received these from me.
Additionally, I gave Caetano a CD with a two-minute song that I wrote and recorded in a style obviously influenced by him.
It is not often that any of us ever have a chance to do something like that for our all-time hero.
Needless to say, this made for an occasion I will never forget. And for the record, the show was amazing. I highly recommend Caetano Veloso’s music and concerts to anybody and everybody.
Suggested listening:
• “Untitled,” 1969, - Sometimes referred to as “The White Album,” features songs Caetano wrote while imprisoned by Brazil’s military government, as well as his first English recordings. One of the best examples of Caetano’s wide range of musical directions.
• “Fina Estampa,” 1994 - Beautiful arrangements of 15 Spanish-language songs from various Latin American nations.
• “Noites do Norte,” 2001 - Some of the best song writing of Caetano’s entire career in a wide range of styles.
Originally printed in Bakotopia Magazine, Issue 16, 11-28-07
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Tue Nov 27, 2007 17:27:38 PST
Mr. Nova! Excellente'!!
Wed Nov 28, 2007 15:27:01 PST
I'm a big Caetano fan...good to know there's another in town! Can't remember which album I have, but it's got a rad medley that segues into "Billy Jean"...I've heard some of his earliest work, and don't dig it as much. Also have a DVD of his...the cinemetography is a bit blair witchy but the music is great as always.
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