The 50 Greatest Brazilian Artists of All Time (according to Rolling Stone Brazilian edition)

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The first one asking 'why no CSS' will win a special trip to Morro do Alemão.

Poll Results

OptionVotes
Caetano Veloso 6
Tom Zé 5
João Gilberto 4
Jorge Ben Jor 4
Tom Jobim 3
Villa-Lobos 3
Gal Costa 3
Gilberto Gil 3
Carmen Miranda 3
Max Cavalera 3
Nara Leão 2
Milton Nascimento 2
Baden Powell 2
Marcos Valle 1
Marisa Monte 1
Vinicius de Moraes 1
Paulinho da Viola 1
Pixinguinha 1
Elis Regina 1
Chico Buarque 1
Cartola 1
Nelson Cavaquinho 0
Erasmo Carlos 0
Cássia Eller 0
Zé Ramalho 0
Itamar Assumpção 0
Chico Science 0
Roberto Carlos 0
Noel Rosa 0
Luiz Melodia 0
Lulu Santos 0
Adoniran Barbosa 0
Jackson do Pandeiro 0
Moacir Santos 0
Tim Maia 0
Cazuza 0
Raul Seixas 0
Rita Lee 0
Arnaldo Baptista 0
Maria Bethânia 0
Rogério Duprat 0
Renato Russo 0
Luiz Gonzaga 0
Mano Brown 0
Ary Barroso 0
Hermeto Pascoal 0
Ney Matogrosso 0
Dorival Caymmi 0
João Donato 0
Wilson Simonal 0


Shin Oliva Suzuki, Thursday, 13 November 2008 21:05 (fifteen years ago) link

Gilberto Gil
Gilberto Gil
Gilberto Gil
Gilberto Gil
Gilberto Gil
Gilberto Gil
Gilberto Gil
Gilberto Gil
Gilberto Gil
God

L@OO@K WHOS AWAKE NOW (PappaWheelie V), Thursday, 13 November 2008 21:15 (fifteen years ago) link

(although as this Forro revival begins [or stalls], I wish Jackson do Pandeiro got the attention he deserves)

L@OO@K WHOS AWAKE NOW (PappaWheelie V), Thursday, 13 November 2008 21:16 (fifteen years ago) link

(and o_O at no Novos Baianos listed!)

L@OO@K WHOS AWAKE NOW (PappaWheelie V), Thursday, 13 November 2008 21:17 (fifteen years ago) link

No Airto Moreira? I guess I gotta go for Baden Powell then.

Tuomas, Thursday, 13 November 2008 21:17 (fifteen years ago) link

who did the ipanema girl jam

cool app (uh oh I'm having a fantasy), Thursday, 13 November 2008 21:17 (fifteen years ago) link

I'd like to see Wilson Simonal listed near the top, but considering how much of his catalog is oop, I doubt chances are on his side

L@OO@K WHOS AWAKE NOW (PappaWheelie V), Thursday, 13 November 2008 21:18 (fifteen years ago) link

No Edu Lobo, no credibility

sonofstan, Thursday, 13 November 2008 21:20 (fifteen years ago) link

It's weird that they included Hermeto Pascoal but not Airto... Of course Hermeto is Airto's spiritual father, but Airto is clearly more prolific and well-known. I guess Hermeto is the more "original" choice and Airto is too "populist" for some critics.

Tuomas, Thursday, 13 November 2008 21:21 (fifteen years ago) link

where's diplo?

some dude'n'em (and what), Thursday, 13 November 2008 21:23 (fifteen years ago) link

good troll

cool app (uh oh I'm having a fantasy), Thursday, 13 November 2008 21:26 (fifteen years ago) link

To be fair, Los Hermanos was possibly the biggest thing to happen to Brazilain youth (outside of Funk Carioca) in this generation, and could've been on the list before someone like Chico Science or Hermeto Pascoal.

But then again, if they were, it may smack of tokenism.

And speaking of Funk, who would/could make the list? DJ Marlboro?

L@OO@K WHOS AWAKE NOW (PappaWheelie V), Thursday, 13 November 2008 21:27 (fifteen years ago) link

I probably listen to caetano veloso the most out of this list I guess

cool app (uh oh I'm having a fantasy), Thursday, 13 November 2008 21:28 (fifteen years ago) link

no carlinhos brown??

Jordan, Thursday, 13 November 2008 21:28 (fifteen years ago) link

but pascoal played the frogs!

cool app (uh oh I'm having a fantasy), Thursday, 13 November 2008 21:28 (fifteen years ago) link

Marlboro in 100th, two Los Hermanos guys listed below the top 50. Carlinhos Brown wasn't even mentioned, but it's no surprise.

Shin Oliva Suzuki, Thursday, 13 November 2008 21:38 (fifteen years ago) link

And honestly, the Miranda sisters continue to get the shaft in the Louis-Armstrong-is-an-uncle-tom way, despite their massive contribution to the canon creatively and commercially.

My first encounter with brazilian music as a child remains a standout

L@OO@K WHOS AWAKE NOW (PappaWheelie V), Thursday, 13 November 2008 21:58 (fifteen years ago) link

Voted Jao Gilberto because of his work with Stan Getz. Not really familiar with the rest other than Jobim (partly same reason, but I like Getz better without vocals). Surprised not to see Sepultura in the list although I hate them.

Geir Hongro, Thursday, 13 November 2008 22:06 (fifteen years ago) link

Surprised not to see Sepultura in the list although I hate them

but they are. max cavalera, 47th.

and sepultura kick ass

Shin Oliva Suzuki, Thursday, 13 November 2008 22:11 (fifteen years ago) link

I'm a big Paulinho Da Viola booster, including on this board

Albert Jeans (Hurting 2), Thursday, 13 November 2008 22:12 (fifteen years ago) link

Voted Jao Gilberto because of his work with Stan Getz. Not really familiar with the rest

democracy does not work

L@OO@K WHOS AWAKE NOW (PappaWheelie V), Thursday, 13 November 2008 22:14 (fifteen years ago) link

I'm a big Paulinho Da Viola booster, including on this board

yes, Paulinho da Viola is underrated outside Brazil. and, I'd say, in Brazil too

Shin Oliva Suzuki, Thursday, 13 November 2008 22:22 (fifteen years ago) link

Where's Joyce and Adriana Calcanhotto?

Brooker Buckingham, Thursday, 13 November 2008 22:30 (fifteen years ago) link

I wouldn't vote for them as the greatest but its weird that Mutantes aren't on here

Shakey Mo Collier, Thursday, 13 November 2008 22:36 (fifteen years ago) link

[I wouldn't vote for them as the greatest but its weird that Mutantes aren't on here/]

man, this poll is about people, not entities. that's why mutantes are not listed, but rita lee and arnaldo baptista are. same for sepultura.

Shin Oliva Suzuki, Thursday, 13 November 2008 22:45 (fifteen years ago) link

^^^ this point was needed

but yeah, i think the general consensus is so many individuals that are canon are not listed, and it's disappointing, despite being hard enough to choose as it is

but for me, really, despite how big he's gotten, gilberto gil is like the voice of captain kangaroo or mister rogers or something. everything is warm and fuzzy, disarming, and excusable at its worst.

L@OO@K WHOS AWAKE NOW (PappaWheelie V), Thursday, 13 November 2008 22:51 (fifteen years ago) link

Jorge Ben (Jor) vs. Gil vs. Nascimento

Alex in SF, Thursday, 13 November 2008 23:41 (fifteen years ago) link

Caetano Veloso followed by Joao Gilberto. Moacir Santos, a brilliant composer/arranger, is usually overlooked because he lived a long time in the USA, but he deserves to be much better known.

Vision, Friday, 14 November 2008 00:31 (fifteen years ago) link

Can I vote for Zico or Pele instead?

Geir Hongro, Friday, 14 November 2008 00:44 (fifteen years ago) link

Vision, Friday, 14 November 2008 00:49 (fifteen years ago) link

i don't think they are the greatest but i enjoy gal costa and nara leao the most

velko, Friday, 14 November 2008 01:51 (fifteen years ago) link

much respect for the inclusion of villa-lobos

Bangelo, Friday, 14 November 2008 04:11 (fifteen years ago) link

gal costa is easily my favorite female singer from brazil, no doubt

Hair Gongro (PappaWheelie V), Friday, 14 November 2008 04:14 (fifteen years ago) link

Tom Ze! I have a bunch of his stuff from the 70s plus quite a bit of his recent work, about seven or eight albums total.

u s steel, Friday, 14 November 2008 04:24 (fifteen years ago) link

^^the correct answer^^

Matt P, Friday, 14 November 2008 04:39 (fifteen years ago) link

actually i've only heard about ten of these people and i pretty much love all of them.

Matt P, Friday, 14 November 2008 04:40 (fifteen years ago) link

Caetano followed by Gilberto Gil followed by Tom Ze

BIG HOOS' macaroni is off the motherfucking chain (BIG HOOS aka the steendriver), Friday, 14 November 2008 05:07 (fifteen years ago) link

So many great artists. I need to get back to the other Brazilian threads

bossa nova: S&D

The Why the Fuck Has There Never Been a Thread for Antonio Carlos Jobim thread

Jorge Ben Jor S/D

curmudgeon, Friday, 14 November 2008 05:22 (fifteen years ago) link

there is no way to choose.

s1ocki, Friday, 14 November 2008 05:26 (fifteen years ago) link

I'd have voted for Secos e Molhados over any of these artists, since they're missing I'll play my card:

Moka, Friday, 14 November 2008 08:01 (fifteen years ago) link

Tom Zé, Gal Costa, Gilbert Gil, Zé Ramalho...really hard to choose

Marco Damiani, Friday, 14 November 2008 09:19 (fifteen years ago) link

No, really - who no CSS?

Germany's second-favourite Australian fat leg spin bowler (King Boy Pato), Friday, 14 November 2008 11:56 (fifteen years ago) link

Marcos Valle out of personal preference but there is much awesomeness on that list.

Ed, Friday, 14 November 2008 11:57 (fifteen years ago) link

being familiar with just over half of this list I don't feel qualified to vote

Shakey Mo Collier, Friday, 14 November 2008 16:34 (fifteen years ago) link

Yeah I haven't heard most of this stuff. I might give Pixinguinha a vote because I don't see many voting for him.

what U cry 4 (jim), Friday, 14 November 2008 17:12 (fifteen years ago) link

Yeah I haven't heard most of this stuff. I might give Pixinguinha a vote because I don't see many voting for him.

Pixinguinha's Lamentos

Hair Gongro (PappaWheelie V), Friday, 14 November 2008 17:26 (fifteen years ago) link

I'm a little surprised Daniela Mercury didn't make the list.

Wall Street Panic Palin, Friday, 14 November 2008 17:43 (fifteen years ago) link

Gil closely followed by Veloso.

Personal pick that would have been nice to see: Vinicius Cantuaria

o. nate, Friday, 14 November 2008 17:44 (fifteen years ago) link

I'd have voted for Secos e Molhados over any of these artists, since they're missing I'll play my card

See Ney Matogrosso on the list? So...

Shin Oliva Suzuki, Saturday, 15 November 2008 00:39 (fifteen years ago) link

No Xuxa no credibility.

No Chico Science, really no credibility.

But I am still voting for Jorge Ben (which is how I'll always spell it, since that's the way it's spelled on my copy of Africa Brasil, among other things.)

xhuxk, Saturday, 15 November 2008 00:43 (fifteen years ago) link

No Chico Science, really no credibility.

But he's there. 16th, which is really great. I'm kind of surprised with so few Chico Science fans on this board

Shin Oliva Suzuki, Saturday, 15 November 2008 00:48 (fifteen years ago) link

You're right! Weird; I searched his name and nothing came up. But cool; he definitely belongs.

xhuxk, Saturday, 15 November 2008 00:58 (fifteen years ago) link

Aw shit. Just noticed Ney Matogrosso is there and already voted Jorge Ben.

Anybody who's thinking of casting vote for Jorge Ben wish to exchange votes with me? Vote Ney Matogrosso so we can restore equilibrium in the universe, kthxbye.

Moka, Saturday, 15 November 2008 08:29 (fifteen years ago) link

I am loving Villa-Lobos' string quartets right now, he did 17 of them i think. Some really good writing in there, and in his Bachianas brasileiras. So i'll go for him, though I love Veloso, Gil, Jobim. I would like to get acquainted with so many on this list.

Shacknasty (Frogman Henry), Saturday, 15 November 2008 08:40 (fifteen years ago) link

i've such a soft spot for gal costa

psychgawsple, Saturday, 15 November 2008 09:39 (fifteen years ago) link

I wish Jackson do Pandeiro got the attention he deserves

True but I still voted for Jorge Ben.

I might've voted for Milton Nascimento if only for Clube da Esquina 2, but his is a patchy body of work. I dearly love Tom Ze as well. And as for Cartola... Gawd this isn't easy.

Honourable mention for Chico Science EU VIM COM NACAO ZUMBI / AO SEU OUVIDO FALAR / QUERO VER A POEIRA SUBIR / E MUITA FUMACA NO AR etc. What a way to start an album.

Daniel Giraffe, Saturday, 15 November 2008 17:39 (fifteen years ago) link

Villa-Lobos is really important to me so I voted for him. I don't know most of these artists though.

I find it interesting that the Brazilian Rolling Stone would list a classical composer in their all-time top 50 artists.

Sundar, Saturday, 15 November 2008 18:33 (fifteen years ago) link

I like a lot of these artists plenty, of the ones that I've heard anyway, but the last one I listened to was Carmen Miranda so I'm gonna vote for her.

Retrato Em Redd E Blecch (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 16 November 2008 05:15 (fifteen years ago) link

PappaWheelie's first post OTM x10000000

Dimension 5ive, Sunday, 16 November 2008 21:42 (fifteen years ago) link

Yeah, even though at one point he thought of quitting music because Jorge Ben did it so much better.

Other people missing from the list: Luiz Bonfá and Vinicius de Moraes, although maybe they aren't primarily known for being artists per se.

Retrato Em Redd E Blecch (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 16 November 2008 22:48 (fifteen years ago) link

Vinicius is on the list!

what U cry 4 (jim), Sunday, 16 November 2008 22:50 (fifteen years ago) link

Sorry, my Control-F doesn't work anymore. Anyway, see if you can spot him in this video

Retrato Em Redd E Blecch (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 16 November 2008 22:56 (fifteen years ago) link

Los Hermanos--they're probably the best pop-rock band to emerge from Brazil in the past decade,

Peter Margasak's November 7th posting on his Chicago Reader blog.

http://blogs.chicagoreader.com/post-no-bills/

I wonder if I should go and see Little Joy Tuesday night in DC (featuring Rodrigo from Los Hermanos and the Strokes drummer and one other person) . New cd out out, the myspace cuts on one listen are not bad but not exceptional.

curmudgeon, Monday, 17 November 2008 05:16 (fifteen years ago) link

Regarding the Little Joy record: I know many people use this word as an (lame) excuse, but 'unpre­ten­tious' fits well when summarizing the spirit of record. I like it.

Anyway, Los Hermanos, Chico Science, Wado, Kassin... there's lots of interesting 'new' names beyond the old and well-known canon...

Shin Oliva Suzuki, Monday, 17 November 2008 11:33 (fifteen years ago) link

http://br.youtube.com/watch?v=iTeqQmlGvY4

Shin Oliva Suzuki, Monday, 17 November 2008 11:41 (fifteen years ago) link

Baden Powell?

Mark G, Monday, 17 November 2008 12:00 (fifteen years ago) link

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baden_Powell_de_Aquino

He recorded several great albums and his guitar playing and voice is incredibly pretty, but he seems to be somewhat less known than most others on the list. I'd strongly recommend any bossa nova/MPB/samba fans to check him out.

Tuomas, Monday, 17 November 2008 12:05 (fifteen years ago) link

"Bossa Nova for boys"

Mark G, Monday, 17 November 2008 12:06 (fifteen years ago) link

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

System, Wednesday, 26 November 2008 00:01 (fifteen years ago) link

I might've voted for Milton Nascimento if only for Clube da Esquina 2, but his is a patchy body of work.

True, true. Patchy it really is. But then again those best bits, which are also plentiful, I just love to, well, bits.
So Nascimento it is for me.

t**t, Wednesday, 26 November 2008 00:25 (fifteen years ago) link

Before this poll closes,it must be said: they managed to omit Brazil's greatest female bossa nova singer (Sylvia Telles) and greastest multi-instrumentalist (Egberto Gismonti).

Vision, Wednesday, 26 November 2008 21:48 (fifteen years ago) link

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

System, Thursday, 27 November 2008 00:01 (fifteen years ago) link

Hélio Oiticica was robbed.

UEK - Big Tempin' (Oilyrags), Thursday, 27 November 2008 00:24 (fifteen years ago) link

Caetano is awesome, but I seriously think he is overrated in English speaking countries. Jorge Ben was more prolific and imo wrote better songs.

oscar, Thursday, 27 November 2008 00:27 (fifteen years ago) link

always so much love for Mutantes on this board but neither Rita Lee nor Arnaldo Baptista got votes.

Shin Oliva Suzuki, Thursday, 27 November 2008 00:33 (fifteen years ago) link

It's hard to separate out their contributions. If I had to vote for a single Brazilian act, the Mutantes would have gotten serious consideration.

Alex in SF, Thursday, 27 November 2008 00:34 (fifteen years ago) link

Tom Zé over Gilberto Gil? Y'all are mad corny. </old ethan, but brazilian>

Dimension 5ive, Thursday, 27 November 2008 01:29 (fifteen years ago) link

Caetano is awesome, but I seriously think he is overrated in English speaking countries.

Thread of missing Chupacabras who would have come here and said the same thing. Unless oscar is he. Well, he would have said the second part of the sentence.

Ruudside Picnic (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 27 November 2008 01:40 (fifteen years ago) link

Caetano himself doesn't accept anything but awesome when it comes to describe him.

Shin Oliva Suzuki, Thursday, 27 November 2008 03:27 (fifteen years ago) link

Caetano is awesome, but I seriously think he is overrated in English speaking countries

Caetano Veloso S and D

Daniel Giraffe, Thursday, 27 November 2008 07:17 (fifteen years ago) link

five years pass...

"Chico Science & Nacao Zumbi and the Mangue Movement: 20 Years Later"
Sunday, December 15th, 5:00-7:00pm
295 Douglass St. (Gowannus Art Space), 3rd Floor
Brooklyn, NY

curmudgeon, Saturday, 14 December 2013 16:37 (ten years ago) link

Did any New Yorkers here go to hear that presentation?

curmudgeon, Monday, 16 December 2013 05:52 (ten years ago) link

I guess not

curmudgeon, Monday, 16 December 2013 20:27 (ten years ago) link

Nope, sorry. Attended no Brazilian music related events this weekend, nor any other events.

The Glam Of That All The Way From Memphis Man! (James Redd and the Blecchs), Monday, 16 December 2013 23:10 (ten years ago) link

I did not either!

curmudgeon, Monday, 16 December 2013 23:20 (ten years ago) link

Jobim should be #1 and Jorge Ben #2.

Moka, Monday, 16 December 2013 23:25 (ten years ago) link

Caetano is awesome, but I seriously think he is overrated in English speaking countries. Jorge Ben was more prolific and imo wrote better songs.

― oscar

The whole tropicalia movement is definitely overrated by english speaking countries compared to brazil. Out of these list Vinicius de Moraes, Jobim and Jorge Ben are the ones that far as I know where extremely influential to 20th century brazilian music. I'm not actually from Brazil so I have no way of knowing. Any Brazilian ILM'er that can provide some first hand experience?

Moka, Monday, 16 December 2013 23:33 (ten years ago) link

i'd say joão gilberto is the most influential by far (entire generations of acoustic gtr players from brazil were modelled after his revolutionary batida) and jobim is almost there, compositionally-wise at least. vinicius was basically a poet, he didn't do much on his own. not sure about ben, caetano or gilberto gil, they seem kinda interchangeable in terms of influence and/or legacy.

cock chirea, Tuesday, 17 December 2013 04:14 (ten years ago) link

wait, edu lobo is not even on the list? fucking philistines

cock chirea, Tuesday, 17 December 2013 04:15 (ten years ago) link

Earlier this year I reviewed reissues of four Marcos Valle albums for The Wire. Some crazy brilliant shit on there. And it's goddamn depressing that nobody voted for Chico Science in this poll. Nação Zumbi are amazing.

I actually talked to Max Cavalera about Chico Science once. He's covered some Zumbi songs on Soulfly albums. Here's footage of him playing with them on Brazilian MTV in 1997:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEc_EcQdHa4

Humorist (horse) (誤訳侮辱), Tuesday, 17 December 2013 04:21 (ten years ago) link

I just picked up the 1969 Gilberto Gil album (the one with the scroll/parchment thing on the cover. ). Man, it is just punk as fuck,. I'm not sure how much I necessarily enjoyed it but dude is just all over the place, switching from funky acoustic strumming to nasty fuzz guitar solos with him singing and yelling in all sorts of ways throughout. And nothing ever settles, it seems, just constant kaleidoscopic ebuilliance.

brimstead, Tuesday, 17 December 2013 04:27 (ten years ago) link

I don't really get Caetano Veloso, he's probably my least favorite of the 20 or so I am familiar with from this list

signed, J.P. Morgan CEO (Hurting 2), Tuesday, 17 December 2013 04:48 (ten years ago) link

Voted for Cartola, wished Jorge Ben would have won this poll, but João Gilberto in fact deserved #1

Shin Oliva Suzuki, Tuesday, 17 December 2013 11:31 (ten years ago) link

ten years pass...

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