suggestions wanted: English/Portuguese language tune(s) fo samba/funk/horns ensemble

[JRToque]

Hi all,

I'm a musician (percussionist) and event producer/programmer in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

I am one of the leaders of a samba-fusion drumming group that sometimes does collaborations. One of those special shows is coming up in November.

I am looking for a disco, funk or other '70s tune to play with a samba groove.
Ideally including these elements:
- a Brazilian/MPB tune (e.g. '70s) with lyrics in English AND Portuguese
- a funk tune that's NOT overplayed to death but that some peeps in the audience will recognize
(urban Canadian/North American, some Brazilians, mix of cultural backgrounds but predominantly English speakers, hence the idea of doing a tune people know somewhat, even though our audience includes several Brazilians and "Brazilophiles" ... like me)
- Not cheesy as all you-know-what
- NOT necessarily looking for "disco-samba", Two Man Sound or the like -- we want a funk tune we can then arrange for a samba group w/ horns
- Good horn parts or possibilities for horn arrangements
- If not possible to have a song in English AND Portuguese, just one is fine, better for this to have the English-language one and we can see about a medley with a chorus/verse/chorus from a Brazilian tune in Portuguese that would fit.
- Thematically (i.e. English lyrics) something about either social justice/power to the people kind of thing would be cool, tunes about love, dancing, partying etc. are also fine (just trying to avoid super-cheezy though -- no disco ballads, heh)

I've listened to a few things already that don't seem like the right fit, e.g. http://youtu.be/By8EbXtbOKQJONNY CHINGAS - SAMBA or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ymviskz8Q3s "I'll Tell You" by Sergio Mendes Brasil '88 (1979) --- even though they are cool tunes and almost fit the bill, they seem to cheesy for what we want to do here.

The plan:
We'll be doing an version of Jorge Ben Jor's "Take It Easy Brother Charlie" (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tihuetXMG8U -- lyrics in English and Portuguese!), for which we'll be doing a samba-funk groove on the percussion that we're already working out. My idea is to then transition to a samba groove and start a new tune/arrangement from there.

The ensemble:
We will be putting up a reduced "bateria" (drum corps) of about 2 shakers, about 3 snares, 3 bass drums (called surdos, the samba bass drums played w/ mallets), 2-3 tamborims (those little but loud frame drums with the "high crack" sound so essential to the feel of samba), 2 agogos (two-tone bells) and for certain songs, congas and repinique (the one that does the calls for the rest of the group). The ensemble players include a guitarist, bassist, 3 horn players (alto and bari. saxphones, and trumpet) and 2-3 vocalists.
All 6 videos of last year's version of this ensemble performance here: http://vimeo.com/channels/elegua
(videos by Josh Harrower)

The timeline!
Please send suggestions ASAP -- our first rehearsal is this Sunday Oct. 16 for the ensemble and the show is in November, so we need to use that time to choose a tune or two and arrange it for this ensemble.

THANKS MUSIC LOVERS!

- J.R.

[SandraDee]

I used to go to Latin American dance classes (I only got up to bronze medal stage unfortunately) in 1980/81 & they often played disco tracks to do the samba to (so I always looked forward to doing the samba!). My fave track that they played was always 'It Doesnt Only Happen At Night' by Cissy Houston - not exactly Latin but just great for those 'bouncy' steps!

[JussiK]

This is HOT: Danca Do Dia by Banda Black Rio. Try also one of my personal all-time faves: Olhos Verdes by Cal Costa - her one and only disco track, from the Aqua Viva lp, never ever fails on any floor, absolutely essential.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUO2IBZ4G_0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yo3PPzLrXA

[PierreConstantin]

Not really in accordance with your ideal description but...

"Love me baby" by Sheila B. Devotion was at some level a fusion between disco and samba. Kind of cheesy but very enjoyable.



On this one, the title says it all:



Linda Clifford's "Bridge over troubled water" has, believe it or not, a "cuica adapted to disco" break (at 6:30 of the 10 min. version).

Some Lady Zu [nicknamed "The Brazilian Donna Summer"] are a cross between disco music and MPB but no big connection with samba. Check "A Noite Vai Chegar" from the soap "Sem Lenço, sem Documento" and the name of her 1978 album. In 1979, it was followed*by "Hora de União (Samba Soul)" from the soap "Dancin' days" and*another album, "Fêmea Brasileira". This album is maybe more samba flavoured than her previous one.

I suppose As Frenéticas would be too disco for you... Anyway, I imagine all I've posted would be too disco for you ;-)

[srg]

Grace Jones' "Pull Up To The Bumper" would be a KILLER with samba percussion!

[ehuerta]

I remember Rita Lee "Lanca Perfume" was very popular here back then.

http://youtu.be/-nY31bga-GY

[Scientist]

Hi JRToque

Is this what you are looking for ?

Joyce Feminina



Or if you want to blow them away. Forward to 6m for the part you will recognise
Airto - Tombo


Finally my hero - may he RIP Dom Um Romao - Caravan

[PierreConstantin]

A big 1977 hit here and a classic: "Tanze Samba mit Mir" ("Samba dance with me") by Tony Holiday; begins with the famous "Du bist so heiß wie ein Vulkan": "you are hot as a volcano":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UW5RDeRDy1I

In a French movie: "Gouttes d'eau sur pierres brûlantes":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8_ZH8WWr1g

Italian version by Raffaella Carrà: "A far l'amore comincia tu" ("You are the one that begins to make love [not him]"); remixed by Bob Sinclar and a big hit in Spain during the summer of 2011:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-TfX1HXd2s

French version by Châtelaine from Québec: "Corps à corps" ("Body to body"); a free translation of the Italian version ("We make love and we don't care, let me live my life, body to body for one night"). There is another French version called "Rien que du bonheur":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHnhQ1nZHn0

[Marcio**]

For Brazilian samba in English
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DL-T862_T6U
Soul Quality Quartet ''I'm not Here''

For Brazilian funk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dViX_AQ2RXM
Carlos da Fé ''Saudades da Black Rio'' (instrumental)