Bird of Paradise (album)

Bird of Paradise is an album by the Brazilian musician Djavan.[1][2] It was released in 1988 via Columbia Records, part of a Brazilian push by the label that also included albums by Milton Nascimento (Yauaretê) and Simone (Vicio).[3][4]

Bird of Paradise
Studio album by
Released1988
GenreSamba
LabelColumbia
ProducerRonnie Foster
Djavan chronology
Não é Azul Mas é Mar
(1987)
Bird of Paradise
(1988)
Djavan Puzzle of Hearts
(1989)

Production

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The album was produced by Ronnie Foster.[5] Three of its songs are sung in English; Djavan had others write the lyrics to them.[6] Djavan recorded the album in Los Angeles, using session musicians.[7]

"Stephen's Kingdom", to which Stevie Wonder contributed, is about the South African township of Soweto.[8][9]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [10]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music     [8]
MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide     [11]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide     [12]

The Sun Sentinel wrote that Djavan's "voice is a clear, strong, masculine baritone, his guitar distinctly grounded in but not enslaved to the samba beat, the melodies are long, lilting, undulating lines rising above a plush, complex harmonic carpet."[13] The Boston Globe thought that "Djavan's upbeat Anglo-Brazilian pop will appeal to West Coast jazz fusion fans as well as pop listeners."[14]

The Washington Post determined that, "as slick and predictable as it is, though, the album is redeemed by a few of Djavan's lyrics, including the compulsive love song 'Madness' and the temptress tale 'Miss Susanna'."[5] The New York Times concluded that, "as a singer, Djavan doesn't have the angelic, impeccable intonation of Mr. Nascimento or Mr. [Caetano] Veloso; he sounds a little more fallible and earthly, perhaps more approachable for American pop listeners."[15] The Philadelphia Inquirer deemed the album "predictable, Westernized funk."[16]

AllMusic called the album "full of strong, haunting, lusciously melodic songs often backed by that gently jumping, uplifting rhythm that runs through much of his material."[10]

Track listing

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No.TitleLength
1."Carnaval in Rio (Carnaval no Rio)" 
2."Bird of Paradise" 
3."Apple (Maçã)" 
4."Real" 
5."Madness (Doidice)" 
6."Stephen's Kingdom" 
7."Bouquet" 
8."Take Me (Me Leve)" 
9."I Will, I Won't (Dou-Não-Dou)" 
10."Miss Susanna" 

References

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  1. ^ McGowan, Chris; Pessanha, Ricardo (December 20, 1998). The Brazilian Sound: Samba, Bossa Nova, and the Popular Music of Brazil. Temple University Press. ISBN 9781566395458.
  2. ^ "As Brazilian pop...". USA Today. 30 June 1988. p. 1D.
  3. ^ "Djavan Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
  4. ^ Casuso, Jorge (31 July 1988). "A Touch of Jazz from Brazil". Arts. Chicago Tribune. p. 27.
  5. ^ a b Joyce, Mike (22 July 1988). "Boss Nuova Music: Best of New Brazil". The Washington Post. p. N21.
  6. ^ Duncan, Amy (31 Aug 1988). "A major Brazilian star reaches out to the US". Arts. The Christian Science Monitor.
  7. ^ Stewart, Zan (17 Sep 1988). "Brazil's Djavan Would Like to Sing to the World". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 2.
  8. ^ a b Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 3. MUZE. p. 48.
  9. ^ Nix, Phyllis (Nov 1988). "The Sound of Brazil". The Crisis. p. 8.
  10. ^ a b "Bird of Paradise". AllMusic.
  11. ^ MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 2000. p. 223.
  12. ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 203.
  13. ^ Ginell, Richard S. (23 Sep 1988). "Djavan Lets Brazilian Sound Soar on Own Merits". Features Showtime. Sun Sentinel. p. 18.
  14. ^ Gonzalez, Fernando (14 Aug 1988). "Time Is Now for Brazilian Music". The Boston Globe. p. A4.
  15. ^ Pareles, Jon (25 Sep 1988). "A Brazilian-American Cultural Exchange". The New York Times. p. A64.
  16. ^ Moon, Tom (21 Oct 1989). "Brazil's Djavan Brings Conflicting Styles to U.S.". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. D5.