Angela Ro Ro
Angela Ro Ro
1979
Why This Album Matters
Angela Ro Ro is the debut album by the acclaimed Brazilian singer and songwriter Angela Ro Ro, launched in 1979, which marked one of the most compelling revelations in national music at the end of that decade. The work stands out for its singular musical fusion, incorporating elements of blues, samba-canção, bolero, and rhythm and blues, genres that organically intertwine to create a distinctive and emotive sound. Its repertoire comprises original songs that the artist had been developing since her time in London, revealing compositional and interpretive maturity from the outset. The record is a confessional and autobiographical work, with lyrics that explore emotional vulnerability, desire, and emotional surrender directly and without subterfuge. Arrangements by Antonio Adolfo seek to preserve the essence of Angela Ro Ro's songwriting and piano performance, intensifying the presence of an emotionally charged and musically hybrid aesthetic. Titles such as "Amor, Meu Grande Amor", "Tola Foi Você", "Gota de Sangue", and "A Mim e a Mais Ninguém" illustrate the lyrical depth and interpretive strength that became the artist's trademark.
In her emotional outpouring, the artist exposes her pains and agonises before the public without the slightest shame.
Marcus Preto · Rolling Stone Brasil
Context
After returning to Brazil in 1974, following a period living in London, Angela Ro Ro initially had no intention of pursuing a professional career in music. She frequented Rio's nightlife as a listener and occasional performer in piano bars, notably 706 in Ipanema, where she socialised with great names such as Áurea Martins, Emílio Santiago, and Djavan. Despite encouragement from other musicians and collaborators like Scarlet Moon and Nelson Motta, Angela avoided formal commitments. However, during this period of reclusion from formality, she was already composing a significant portion of the repertoire that, years later, would become her debut album, including tracks dating back to her youth.
Recording
The decisive impetus for the album's recording occurred in 1979, following a visit by producers Paulinho Lima and Luis Felipe Aguiar to the artist in Saquarema. Impressed with her repertoire, they organised a midnight performance at Teatro Ipanema, which saw a full house and a warm reception from the audience. Following this successful performance, recording sessions were scheduled and completed in June of the same year. Antonio Adolfo, responsible for the arrangements, worked with the intention of preserving Angela Ro Ro's unique style of composition and piano performance, aiming to enhance her musical language without distorting it. The album's production was directed by Paulinho Lima and Ricardo Cantaluppi, and the mixing was carried out by Luigi Hoffer.
Songs
The album's songs were largely composed over almost a decade, revealing a deeply personal lyrical universe. Many tracks already existed since the artist's youth, such as "Minha Mãezinha". The iconic "Amor, Meu Grande Amor" is an example of creative collaboration, born from the combination of a melody composed by Angela Ro Ro in London, initially titled "The Split Up Song Number 1", and lyrics later written by Ana Terra, which focused on loneliness and the longing for a great love. The compositions feature a lyrical self facing romantic despair, with alcohol consumption serving as a metaphor for confronting pain, and openly embracing homoerotic affection without subterfuge, something considered unusual in the late 1970s. Tracks such as "Gota de Sangue", "Cheirando a Amor", and "Me Acalmo Danando" are notable for their thematic approach of strong affective and introspective dimension, revealing unprecedented female songwriting in Brazilian music of the era, marked by desire, vulnerability, and emotional frankness.
The volcano Angela Ro Ro erupted in 1979, a prolific year for female singers. Among others, Elba Ramalho, Zizi Possi, Marina Lima, Joanna, Fátima Guedes and Olívia Byington blossomed in a market still dominated by male singers and songwriters.
Tárik de Souza · 300 Discos Importantes
Legacy
Angela Ro Ro's debut album was warmly received by critics, who highlighted the fusion of genres and the confessional nature of the lyrics as key elements of its impact. Critics emphasised the singer's deep and intense voice, often compared to Maysa and Billie Holiday, which lends a particular expressiveness to the songs. It was observed that the repertoire introduced aesthetic lines that would be revisited by different artists in subsequent years. Commercially, the record reached tenth position among the best-sellers in Brazil, according to Billboard, and sold approximately 56,000 copies by 1981. The recognition of its importance extended over the years, being included in seventy-third position on Rolling Stone Brasil's list of the 100 greatest Brazilian music albums in 2007. In 2022, in a poll by the podcast Discoteca Básica, it was ranked in seventy-second position among the 500 greatest Brazilian albums, consolidating its status as a work of aesthetic freshness and authenticity in MPB.
Rankings
Tracks
Credits
Antonio Adolfo
Angela Ro Ro
Paulinho Lima, Ricardo Cantaluppi
Ana Terra, Angela Ro Ro, Sergio Bandeira
Jamil Joanes
Robertinho Silva, Teo Lima
Rick Ferreira
Zé Carlos
Niltinho
Luigi Hoffer
Jorge Vianna
Aldo Luiz
Marco Rodrigues
Podcasts
Sons e Histórias · Daniel Queiroz
Raildo Vasconcelos, Daniel Queiroz e Junior Beatle contam histórias sobre o disco da cantora Angela Ro Ro de 1979
Videos
ANGELA RO RO (1979) | ALBUM REVIEW
Vinilteca
PAI HERÓI INTERNACIONAL (1979) | ALBUM REVIEW
Vinilteca
Angela Ro Ro (1979-1981) | Caravana do Delírio | Alta Fidelidade
Alta Fidelidade
Books
Álbum 3 – 1978 a 1993
Pedro Alexandre Sanches · 2024
Este é o terceiro volume da série 'Álbum', do jornalista e crítico musical Pedro Alexandre Sanches, que se propõe a contar a história da música brasileira através da análise de discos emblemáticos. Cobrindo o período de 1978 a 1993, este volume é altamente provável que dedique conteúdo significativo ao álbum 'Angela Ro Ro' de 1979, sendo um marco daquele período e do formato disco.
1979
Célio Albuquerque, Emílio Pacheco, Mehane Albuquerque, Ricardo Pugialli, Vicente Dattoli, Klaudia Alvarez, Zeca Azevedo, Crikka Amorim, José Emilio Rondeau, Ruy Godinho, Bruno Thys, Talles Colatino, Jotabê Medeiros, Nelson Augusto, Ana Lu Germano, Daniella Zupo, Juca Filho, Marcos Sabino, Walterson Sardenberg Sobrinho, Fábio Cabral de Mello, Denilson Monteiro, Marcelo Pinheiro, Paulo Cesar Figueiredo, Marcelo Ferro, Mimi Rocha, Kamille Viola, Dalwton Moura, Chris Fuscaldo, Joyce Moreno, Luiz Américo Lisboa Júnior, Gilberto Porcidonio, Leandro Gomes, Ricardo Schott, Marcelo Cabanas, Luiz Felipe Carneiro, Wagner Cosse, Ayrton Mugnaini Jr., Nivea Souza, Rodrigo Faour, Alberto Villas, André Cananéa, Braulio Neto, Dacio Malta, Lorena Calabria, Bento Araujo, Maria Carolina Rodrigues, Roberto Muggiati, Cleodon Coelho, Rodrigo Nogueira, Márcia Tauil, Juarez Fonseca, Fábio Vizzoni, Rildo Hora, Moacyr Luz, Marlon Sette, Silvio Atanes, Ricardo Moreira, José Teles, Zé Edu Camargo, Beto Feitosa, Vinícius Cunha, Danilo Casaletti, Luis Lamarão, Mauro Ferreira, Rafael Pinto Ferreira de Queiroz, Cesar Cardoso, Felipe Tadeu, Hugo Sukman, Fred Góes, Miltinho, Iso Fischer, André Diniz, Marluci Martins, Etel Frota, Madalena Salles, Lucas Vieira, Carlos Evandro Lordello, Leandro Souto Maior, Inahiá Castro, Maurício Gouvêa, Fabian Chacur, Marquinho Carvalho, Mónica Vermes, Túlio Mourão, Tito Guedes, Leila Dantas, Silvio Essinger, Flávio Mendes, Manoel Filho, Thelmo Lins, Andréia Pedroso, Luiz Carlos Sá, Mariana Mesquita, Marcos Sampaio, Carlos Eduardo Lima, Carlos Fonte Lito, Lucas Reginato, Itamar Assiere, Leonardo Lichote, Guilherme Henrique, Cláudia Menescal, Ricardo Soares, Washington Santos, Mona Gadelha, Marcos Souza, Diogo Cunha · 2023
O livro '1979 – O ano que ressignificou a MPB' reúne histórias de 100 LPs lançados naquele ano, escritas por artistas e jornalistas, resgatando a memória de um período crucial para a música popular brasileira. Dada a relevância do álbum de estreia de Angela Ro Ro, lançado em 1979, é extremamente provável que este livro contenha uma análise ou reportagem dedicada a ele.
The 500 Greatest Brazilian Albums of All Time
Ricardo Alexandre · 2022
The election was spearheaded by journalist Ricardo Alexandre, creator of the Discoteca Básica podcast. Ricardo consulted 162 specialists including journalists, YouTubers, podcasters, musicians, record-shop owners and producers. The result was published as a 200-page hardcover book, with graphic design by Fernando Pires.
300 Important Albums of Brazilian Music
Charles Gavin, Tárik de Souza, Carlos Calado, Arthur Dapieve · 2008
Conceived by Titãs drummer and musical researcher Charles Gavin, the 434-page book brings together covers and reviews of albums released between 1929 and 2007. The texts were written by journalists Tárik de Souza, Arthur Dapieve and Carlos Calado.
Analyses
Angela Ro Ro – Wikipedia
Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia
Angela Ro Ro – The 100 Greatest Albums of Brazilian Music
Marcus Preto · Rolling Stone Brasil
Fruto suculento da árvore genealógica de Maysa, Angela despeja nesse seu primeiro álbum toda a produção acumulada nos 29 turbulentos anos que sua vida somava até ali. Em seu jorro emocional, a artista expõe suas dores e agoniza diante do público sem o menor pudor. “Amor, Meu Grande Amor” está entre as 12 faixas do disco, que influenciaria Cazuza de forma irreversível nos anos 80 e atingiria, já nos 90, a obra de Cássia Eller. Artistas que, como Angela, correram todos os riscos e pagaram o preço de uma vida levada às últimas conseqüências.
A explosão da mulher na música do Brasil em 1979 ecoa há 40 anos - G1
g1.globo.com
A VOZ DA MULHER EM 1979 (PARTE 4) - Angela Ro Ro já rondava a cena musical brasileira desde o início da década de 1970, mas somente lançou o primeiro álbum em 1979, contribuindo ...
Clube do Vinil relembra repertório autoral de Angela Ro Ro lançado em ...
radios.ebc.com.br
No Clube do Vinil de hoje você confere um apanhado sobre o álbum de estreia de Angela Ro Ro, que levava apenas o seu nome, lançado em 1979 pela Polygram. O disco marcou a MPB com sua sonoridade ousada, que mesclava blues, mpb, jazz e pura poesia romântica.
Angela Ro Ro, 1979 - TV Cultura
cultura.uol.com.br
Marcado por grandes sucessos e uma sonoridade bastante influenciada pelo blues, "Angela Ro Ro" é um disco autoral, dez das doze faixas são de autoria de Angela. Seu maior sucesso "Amor, meu grande amor" foi escrito em parceria com Ana Terra.
Discogs
Angela Ro Ro – Discogs
discogs.com