Brazzil
January 1999
Brief and Longer Notes
Rapidinhas
Behavior
Male
Indiscretions
Until recently G was a fledgeling gay magazine with a tiny monthly circulation and known almost exclusively to the gay public. But this anonymity has ended since the publication started to print nude pictorials of male celebrities instead of naked anonymous models. The first known name was TV actor Matheus Carriere whose presence in the pages of G boosted its circulation to 60,000 copies.
But it was the cover of the January issue that turned heads and made the Brazilian media pay attention. The magazine was able to convince Vampeta, a national soccer team star and player for Corinthians, to show it all including a frontal nude exhibiting an erect penis. The story was picked up by the mainstream media, including respected weekly newsmagazine Isto É, which reproduced some of the pictures being careful, however, to cover the offending penis with a black strip.
Vampeta (the nickname is derived from Vampire and Capeta—the devil in Portuguese—since the player's friends think he is too ugly), who is straight, did not reveal how much he received to bare it all, but it was reported that he got $80,000, close to three times as much as his monthly salary at Corinthians. The soccer idol became a kind of pioneer, being the first Brazilian player to be shown in pictures of frontal nudity. During the shooting session he was offered magazines with pictures of naked women so he would get in the right mood.
"Erection is a sine qua non," says Bauer, a photographer for G. "Some of the models become tense and take some time to get into the right frame of mind. My team and I have to show sensitivity in times like that."
Since Vampeta's display another soccer star from Corinthians, Dinei, has also revealed all of his most intimate anatomy and there are rumors that next in line is movie heartthrob Djalma Limongi, who played the main character in Djalma Limongi's Bocage. According to G's editor, João Andrade, 34, his magazine's reader is not interested in the sexual preference of the model shown, but they want him to be pretty and "have a macho look."
In November, Alex Sanches, a dancer with the band Gerasamba, gave his exhibitionist show. He became the first black to model for the gay magazine. And he had no apologies afterwards: "You don't need to be gay to appear in a gay publication. One thing has nothing to do with the other. I think I'm breaking a taboo. People are approving what I've done and the repercussion has been very good." Talking about the reaction of his father, he confessed: "The old man even cried with emotion."
The presence of naked male bodies has also spread to over-the-air TV. Just-aired Globo network miniseries Labirinto showed oral and more conventional sex scenes in which actors Fábio Assunção, André Segatti, Marcelo Serrado, and Luciano Szafir, all took off every piece covering their pretty bodies.
Book
Music for
Your YearsWhich are the most popular songs in Brazil, the tunes that survived at least for one decade or up to eighty years and continue an enduring career still winning the public's heart and radio stations playtime?
Researchers Jairo Severiano and Zuza Homem de Mello have the answer on their two-volume book A Canção no Tempo (The Song in Time), which took 12 years of research and whose second volume has just been released.
The first volume came out in December 1997. The work is believed to be the most complete research ever done in Brazil on popular music and it covers songs from 1901 to 1985.
Jairo Severiano, from the state of Ceará, is an authority in Brazilian popular music, he is also a music producer, a music historian and a prolific author. His Discografia Brasileira occupies a preeminent place in any Brazilian music bibliography. Journalist Homem de Mello, from São Paulo, is also record producer as well as historian and a musicologist having studied at the New York Juilliard School and the Tanglewood School of Jazz.
And why have the authors excluded all tunes that came out after 1985? Severiano explained that in an interview with Jornal do Brasil: "You need at least 10 years to be sure that certain song has really ingrained as a hit in the popular memory." The authors used several criteria to decide which songs to pick, including how many records were sold and how often they were played on radio, in movies and in dance halls. The listed songs are classified in categories and commented.
Topping the chart as the most popular composer is Roberto Carlos, who also sings his own songs and continues to be very active today. From a total of 2139 tunes selected—578 of these were also commented—75 belong to Roberto Carlos, whose oldest song in the list is "Parei na Contra Mão" (I Stopped the Wrong Way) from 1963. Seventy of these tunes were made in partnership with Erasmo Carlos.
Second place in the list with 40 hit songs is Chico Buarque, whose compositions are much richer and more elaborate than those by the Carlos (no relationship between them) duo. The roster continues with Vinícius de Moraes (39 hit songs) and Caetano Veloso and Tom Jobim (33 each).
The first volume deals with songs that were hits from 1900 until 1957. It was a golden era for the national popular music that was played extensively in radio and movies. This latest work starts in 1958 coinciding with the bossa nova genesis.
The research included interviewing the songs' composers in a way that in 90% of cases the items covered contain information obtained directly from the authors. There are revelations and tidbits as told by such names as Gilberto Gil, Edu Lobo, Moraes Moreira, Elba Ramalho, Caetano Veloso all talking about the behind-the-scenes of their tunes.
While bossa nova is used as a watershed, the book deals also with breganejo, BRrock, Jovem Guarda, Tropicalismo, and Clube da Esquina, among other musical currents and styles.
The tunes
The first volume of A Canção no Tempo had analyzed and dissected such hits as Ari Barroso's "Aquarela do Brasil," Ataulfo Alves and Mário Lago's "Ai que Saudades da Amélia," and João Pernambuco and Catulo da Paixão Cearense's "Luar do Sertão".
Here's a partial list of the hits mentioned in the second volume year by year:
1958: "Chega de Saudade" by Tom Jobim and Vinícius de Moraes, "Madureira Chorou" by Carvalhinho and Júlio Monteiro
1959: "Chiclete com Banana" by Gordurinha and Almira Castilho, "Dindi" by Tom and Aloísio de Oliveira, and "Manhã de Carnaval" by Luís Bonfá and Antônio Maria, and "A Felicidade" by Tom Jobim and Vinícius de Moraes, composed for the film Orfeu do Carnaval (Black Orpheus).
1960: "Zelão," a socially conscious tune by Sérgio Ricardo; "Coração de Luto" by Teixeirinha sells one million copies, a number unheard of at the time.
1961: "Ternura Antiga," by Dolores Duran and Ribamar, "Fica Comigo Esta Noite," by Adelino Moreira and Nélson Gonçalves, "Insensatez" by Tom Jobim and Vinícius de Moraes.
1962: "Estão Voltando as Flores" by Paulo Soledade, "Influência do Jazz" by Carlos Lira, "Volta por Cima" by Paulo Vanzolini, "Na Cadência do Samba" by Ataulfo Alves and Paulo Gesta, "Vou Ter um Troço" (a Carnaval hit) by Arnô Provenzano, Otolindo Lopes and Jackson do Pandeiro. There were also 13 foreign hits including "Et Maintenant" by Gilbert Bécaud and P. Delano's and "Let's Twist Again by Kal Mann and David Appell.
1963: "Garota de Ipanema" by Tom Jobim and Vinícius de Moraes, "Mais que Nada" by Jorge Ben (today Jorge Benjor), "Parei na Contramão" by Roberto Carlos, and "Samba em Prelúdio" by Baden Powell and Vinícius de Moraes.
1964: "Berimbau" by Baden Powell and Vinícius de Moraes, "Diz que Fui por Aí" by Zé Keti and Hortênsio Rocha, "O Sol Nascerá" by Cartola and Élton Medeiros, and "Luz Negra" by Nélson Cavaquinho and Amâncio Cardoso.
1965: "Arrastão" by Edu Lobo and Vinícius de Moraes, "Carcará" by João do Vale and José Cândido, "Os Cinco Bailes da História do Rio" (samba-enredo) by Silas de Oliveira, Bacalhau and Dona Ivone Lara, "Opinião" by Zé Keti, "Pedro Pedreiro" by Chico Buarque de Holanda, smashing hit "Quero que Vá Tudo pro Inferno" by Roberto and Erasmo Carlos, "Trem das Onze" by Adoniram Barbosa.
1966: "A Banda" by Chico Buarque, "Disparada" by Téo de Barros and Geraldo Vandré, "Louvação" by Gilberto Gil and Torquato Neto, Procissão by Gilberto Gil, "Upa Neguinho" by Edu Lobo and Gianfrancesco Guarnieri, "Alegria, Alegria" (a Tropicalismo precursor) by Caetano Veloso, "Carolina" by Chico Buarque, "Domingo no Parque" by Gilberto Gil, "Ponteio" by Edu Lobo and Capinam, "Máscara Negra" by Zé Keti and Hildebrando Pereira Matos.
1967: "Quem Te Viu, Quem Te Vê" and "Roda Viva" by Chico Buarque, "Ronda" by Paulo Vanzolini, "Travessia" by Milton Nascimento and Fernando Brant, "Vem Quente Que Eu Estou Fervendo" by Carlos Imperial and Eduardo Araújo.
1968: "Alvorada" by Cartola, Carlos Cachaça and Hermínio Bello de Carvalho; "Sabiá" by Chico Buarque; "Caminhando (Pra Não Dizer Que Não Falei de Flores)" by Geraldo Vandré; "Geléia Geral" by Gilberto Gil; "Soy Loco por Ti, America" by Gilberto Gil and Capinan; "Tropicália" by Caetano Veloso; "Samba do Crioulo Doido" by Sérgio Porto.
1969: "Aquele Abraço" by Gilberto Gil, "Atrás do Trio Elétrico" by Caetano Veloso, "Charles, Anjo 45" and "País Tropical" by Jorge Ben, "Sinal Fechado" by Paulinho da Viola.
1970: "Azul da Cor do Mar" by Tim Maia, "Foi um Rio Que Passou em Minha Vida" by Paulinho da Viola, "Madalena" by Ivan Lins and Ronaldo Monteiro de Souza, "Pra Frente Brasil" by Miguel Gustavo.
1971: "Construção" by Chico Buarque.
1972: "Águas de Março" by Tom Jobim, "Pérola Negra" by Luís Melodia.
1973: "Estácio Holy Estácio" by Luís Melodia, "Ouro de Tolo" by Raul Seixas, "Só Quero um Xodó" by Dominguinhos and Anastácia, "Viagem" by João de Aquino and Paulo César Pinheiro.
1974: "Quantas Lágrimas" by Manacéia.
1975: "De Frente pro Crime," "O Mestre-Sala dos Mares," and "Dois pra Lá, Dois pra Cá" by João Bosco and Aldir Blanc; "O Mar Serenou" by Wando; "Fé Cega, Faca Amolada" by Milton Nascimento and Ronaldo Bastos; "Ponta de Areia" by Milton Nascimento and Fernando Brant.
1976: "Pavão Misterioso" by Ednardo
1977: "Maluco Beleza" by Raul Seixas and Cláudio Roberto, "Romaria" by Renato Teixeira, "Saco de Feijão" by Chico Santana.
1978: "Força Estranha" by Caetano Veloso, "Maria, Maria" by Milton Nascimento, "Folhetim" by Chico Buarque.
1979: "O Bêbado e o Equilibrista" by João Bosco and Aldir Blanc.
1980: "Admirável Gado Novo" by Zé Ramalho, "Lá Vem o Brasil Descendo a Ladeira" by Moraes Moreira, "Meu Bem Querer" by Djavan.
1981: "Baila Comigo" by Rita Lee, "Dia Branco" by Geraldo Azevedo, "Nos Bailes da Vida" by Milton Nascimento, "Luíza" by Tom Jobim.
1982: "Bum Bum Paticumbum Prugurundum" by Beto Sem Braço and Aluísio Machado, "Portela na Avenida" by Mauro Duarte and Paulo César Pinheiro, "Tropicana" by Alceu Valença and Vicente Barreto.
1983: "Como uma Onda" by Lulu Santos and Nélson Mota, "Coração de Estudante" by Milton Nascimento and Wagner Tiso, "Pro Dia Nascer Feliz" by Cazuza and Frejat, "O Amanhã" by João Sérgio.
1984: "Fullgás" by Marina Lima and Antônio Cícero, "Me Chama" by Lobão, "Óculos" by Herbert Vianna, "Vai Passar" by Chico Buarque and Francis Hime.
1985: "De Volta pro Aconchego" by Dominguinhos and Nando Cordel, "Geração Coca-Cola" by Renato Russo, "Papel Machê" by João Bosco and Capinan.
Census
Some
ProsperityThe latest numbers from the PNAD (Pesquisa Nacional por Amostra Domiciliar—National Research by Home Sample) are in and there are some good and not so good surprises. It reveals, for example, that more people now have access to basic public services than in the beginning of the decade. Across the country the number of houses with electricity reached 93.3% and those served by water has increased to 77.7% while 62.5% are now connected to the sewer service. Trash is being collected in 76.3% of all houses. Telephones, however, continue to be a rare item. Only 27.9% of the population has a telephone line.
The creation of the Real - and the stabilization of the currency - helped to fuel a surge on domestic appliances and gadgets. Ninety percent of Brazilians have now radio, while 86% own a TV set. Another 80% have a refrigerator. The number of those who own their own houses (73.7%), however, has remained practically the same since 1992, when 73.6% owned a home.
On another front, the average size of a family dropped from 3.8 to 3.5 during the period 1992-1997. People who are 60 or older now represent 8.6% of the population. Compare this to 7.9% in 1992. At the same time the number of those who are 18 years old or younger has fallen from 40.1% to 37.5% of the population in the same period.
Nation
Murder
They
CriedThe recent assassination of Alagoas state assembly member Ceci Cunha and three of her relatives by a hired gun has once again drawn attention to an old problem in that state: political murder without impunity. According to police the murderer was at the service of House Representative Talvane Albuquerque.
It was very symptomatic that a confessed assassin gave a press conference after being heard by the police about the case and then went calmly back home. The gunman is Maurício Novaes, known as Chapéu de Couro (Leather Hat) who accused Talvane of trying to enlist him for the execution.
According to attorney Pedro Montenegro, a member of the Fórum Permanente Contra a Violência em Alagoas (Permanent Forum Against Violence in Alagoas), a non-governmental group , the legislator's assassination is an all too common occurrence in the state.
Montenegro talked about the problem in an interview with Rio's daily Jornal do Brasil: "A little before this assassination there were four other massacres all of them by hired guns. In 65% of the murders committed in the state last year the police haven't even started an investigation. In Alagoas, there are people who look for a gunman as if they were visiting a dentist or a doctor."
Statistics compiled by the Fórum Permanente contra a Violência show that 10% or more of the murders committed in Alagoas are execution style, with the victims being tied up, hit with several shots and left in a remote location.
Alagoas senator Teotônio Vilela Filho, who was a political ally and a personal friend of Ceci Cunha, believes that impunity is the main reason for this continued situation of lawlessness. He has proposed a joint action by federal and state police to prosecute and punish this type of crime.
Political assassination hasn't spared anyone. Alagoas governor Ronaldo Lessa had his brother, police chief Ricardo Lessa, killed while investigating a murder by a gunman who entered the Intensive Care Unit of a hospital to execute a patient. Sílvio Viana, chief inspector of the state Finance Secretariat was also gunned down by hired gunmen.
Last year the Federal Police helped chase an Alagoas military police gang, which was responsible for assassinations and bank and car robbery. As a result, 95 policemen were put in jail. Apparently, crime involving policemen has fallen dramatically. But, until recently, 80% of organized crime involved the military and civilian police.
Obituary
Country Is
PoorerAmid the celebrations of Christmas and New Year's few Brazilians took notice of the death of João Pacífico, a music great and one of Brazil's last legitimate caipira (country) composers. He has been often called the "best composer Brazilian caipira music has ever had." The author of
"Cabocla Tereza," "Chico Mulato" and "Gota d'Água," among other musical treasures, died in Guararema in the Greater São Paulo from respiratory insufficiency on December 30, 1998.
Son of an ex-slave woman, he was born in 1909 on a farm in Cordeirópolis, a town in the interior of São Paulo state. Only one year later he would get his birth certificate where he was registered as João Batista da Silva. The Pacífico epithet would come much later, in 1932, given him by an RCA executive who thought the term was a perfect description for his humble, quiet and calm demeanor.
In an interview with daily O Estado de S. Paulo, Assis Ângelo, a journalist and an expert in popular culture agrees that the name fits well: "He was patient, calm, attentive." In one of his rare interviews Pacífico, when asked what he expected from life, told the reporter: "Life is good, I do no harm to anyone, I drink my cachacinha (sugar cane liquor), but I would like to see everything changing a lot, everything getting calmer and more peaceful."
Ângelo also talked about the importance of the composer for the Brazilian culture: "With the death of Pacífico we lose a good part of pure Brazilian music. He leaves admirers but no substitute. He invented a genre called historic tune. He was able to create a narration using a classic theme of history."
Pacífico, who went to school for a mere three years, was still a little boy when he started playing percussion in a movie theater orchestra. By age 10 he moved to Campinas, a bigger city. He continued playing, but had to find a job to survive and became a dish washer aide at Companhia Paulista de Estrada de Ferro (São Paulo Railway Company). Always humble, he used to talk about those hard times with humor: "I washed the dish so the dish washer could wash it. Important stuff, hum? Top job, amazing."
It was working in the wagon restaurant of the train that he met people that would help him in his career. That's where he met, for example, Raul Torres, the so-called Rei da Embolada (Embolada King) who, after listening to some of his poetry became a long-time partner. He also met renowned poet Guilherme de Almeida, who had a radio program and gave him a chance to show his talent and recite verses like: "Don't pay attention if you see one day that the leaves have become yellow, it was longing that painted them this way."
During his career he would compose, according to his own estimate, close to 1,400 songs. He started a tradition of caipira music, in which the singer would recite verses before starting to sing the song. Inezita Barroso, Rolando Boldrin, Sérgio Reis, Tonico e Tinoco are some of the famous interpreters who sang Pacífico's tunes.
After living many years in Vila Mariana, a neighborhood in the south zone of São Paulo, Pacífico, who was a widower, was living with friends in Guararema at the time of his death.
Laws
Dismantling
BureaucracyIf everything works as planned the federal government will soon be losing close to 9,800 laws and codes that sometimes make federal legislation an inextricable maze where only the more savvy and persistent can find the exit. The effort is called Consolidação da Legislação Federal (Federal Legislation Consolidation) and intends to reduce the thousands of federal regulations that exist today to 200 general laws.
The study for this sharp reduction was conducted by the presidency in compliance with Complementary Law Number 95, passed in February, 1998. One of the results of the trimming of the legislation is the absence in the new laws of the common-place expression: "all dispositions to the contrary are revoked."
The work was made possible by a special computer program created by Prodasen (Centro de Informática e Processamento de Dados do Senado—Senate's Information and Data Processing Center), which allowed the comparison among laws and regulations that exist today in every ministry and the way in which they fit with the 1988 Brazilian Constitution.
Fashion
Dressed
to Kill
Male and female prostitution is thriving in Brazil. So much so that enterprising minds are creating businesses exclusively to serve this often picky clientele. In Goiânia (capital of Goiás), for example, there are companies specializing in intimate apparel for transvestites and call girls. These new entrepreneurs are finding their clients through newspaper classifieds, massage parlors, strip tease nightclubs, all fertile soil for sex for cash.
As expected, the favorite colors for this kind of garment are red, black, silver and gold. With an eye on TV and the invasion of sexshops, the new racy designers are adding gloves, masks, whips and other features to bras and panties. Panties, by the way, are always the pièce de résistance of the naughty clothing. They are always the dental floss style and can be opened on the sides, a requirement for strip-tease shows. One of the more sought after models is the so-called secretary panty, in which there is a strategically located front opening and a discreet pocket to carry condoms. Transvestites have more extravagant tastes and they ask for colorful garments full of flower patterns, plumes and beads.
Rogéria Regina dos Reis and Eliene Cristina Miguel are two of the new entrepreneurs whose business is booming. "Often call girls don't stay too long in one place. They take with them the clothes we make and talk about us. With this other girls are calling and we start selling in their towns too," said Rogéria in an interview with Goiânia's daily Diário da Manhã. Odalisk and Cat Woman are the most requested model and more and more married women are also getting into the mood for kinkier underwear, according to Rogéria.
