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#naraleão #vinyl #vinylrecords
#naraleão #vinyl #vinylrecords
Nara Leão, the enchanting voice behind the 1971 double album “Dez Anos Depois”, elegantly utilized the platform to recount her journey in music and her influence on the Brazilian music scene. The muse of Bossa Nova and a beacon of Popular Brazilian Music (MPB), Nara did more than justice to the art form she was known for, breathing new life into a collection of mesmerizing classics.
This stunning retrospective was produced in both the bohemian neighborhoods of Paris and the vibrant city of Rio de Janeiro, intertwining Leão and Tuca’s artistic sensibilities. The latter, being an acclaimed musician herself, lent her remarkable guitar wizardry to the mix, seamlessly complementing Leão’s music. In the process, what they created was a sonorous tapestry of Brazilian musical heritage, displaying Nara’s remarkable flexibility as an artist.
The tale of Nara Leão unfurls in the quaint city of Vitória, Espírito Santo. A gifted child, Nara was introduced to the world of music at the tender age of twelve by her father, through a simple gift – a guitar. Her training tutelage was under the expert guidance of Patricio Teixeira, a well-known maestro in folk music, and Solon Ayala, an exude of classical strains.
Upon entering her teens in the late 1950s, she became synonymous with the who’s who of the Bossa Nova revolution. Names that come to mind include Roberto Menescal, Carlos Lyra, Ronaldo Bôscoli, João Gilberto, Vinicius de Moraes, and Antônio Carlos Jobim. Some even boldly claim that her family home in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro was the cradle where this unique musical style was nurtured and born.
Fast forward to 1963 and we see Nara plunge into the world of music professionally, initially touring with musician Sérgio Mendes. However, her musical path took a political turn during the mid-1960s, triggered by the militarian dictatorship, which drove her towards political activism.
She challenged the status quo through music, weaving political narratives into her work and even criticizing bossa nova as being “alienating”. The 1968 album, “Tropicália: ou Panis et Circenses”, saw an embodiment of her political thought, particularly evident in the song “Lindonéia”. However, a phase of disillusionment led her to relocate from Brazil to Paris, while also choosing to retreat from music temporarily in the ’70s to focus on her family.
Nara reincarnated in the music panorama once more, only to be diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor in 1979. Despite the adversities, she embraced music more vigorously, thereby amplifying her artistic endeavors before her departure in 1989. To this day, Nara is remembered not just as the luminary of Bossa Nova, but also as the sister of Danuza Leão, who was a renowned model, socialite, and columnist, and an important influence in her life.
