Camisa de Vênus
Camisa de Vênus
1983
Why This Album Matters
The debut album Camisa de Vênus, released in August 1983, marked the consolidation of one of the most emblematic bands in Brazilian punk rock. This work, with its raw sound and irreverent lyrics, was fundamental in expanding the group's fanbase and solidifying its presence on the music scene of the time. Camisa de Vênus' musical approach, which mixed the energy of punk with a critical and mocking stance, resonated with an audience eager for new expressions. Driven by the radio success of the track "Bete Morreu", the album allowed the group to reach stages across Brazil, taking its defiant message and direct musical style to various regions. The album not only presented the band's sonic identity but also stood out for its ability to provoke and question norms, characteristics that would become Camisa de Vênus' hallmarks.
Context
Formed in late 1980, the band Camisa de Vênus went through an initial period of line-up adjustments, waiting for a guitarist to return before solidifying their quintet. From March 1982, the group began performing a series of shows in Salvador, creating significant buzz among supporters and detractors of their provocative style. This cultural effervescence resulted in an invitation to record a single for a small independent label, NN Discos, culminating in the release of their debut single, "Controle Total", in mid-1982. The good airplay of the single on local radio stations and, subsequently, on far-reaching broadcasters in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, such as Fluminense FM, paved the way for negotiations for a full album.
Recording
The album's recording was a peculiar and intensive process, carried out independently with the intention of selling the finished master to an interested record label. Initially, three songs, "Bete Morreu", "Rotina", and "Passatempo", were censored, but two of them gained clearance in time for the sessions. The recordings took place at RCA Studios in São Paulo and were notable for being completed in a single night in August 1983, in approximately 12 hours. Production was handled by José Emilio Rondeau, who made his debut as a record producer, chosen due to his connection with journalist Ana Maria Bahiana, an early supporter of the band. After its completion, Som Livre became interested in the work, outbidding RGE and securing the contract for the album's release.
Songs
The album Camisa de Vênus presents a collection of songs that reflects the band's irreverent and critical stance. The opening track, "Passamos por Isto", immediately sets the tone, ironising the specialised critics of the era who idealised 1960s Brazilian music, culminating in a mocking guitar version of "Brasileirinho". "Bete Morreu" became the album's big radio hit, a fast and direct punk rock track with lyrics inspired by a tragic newspaper story. The band also demonstrated its acidity with "Negue", an ironic version of the famous samba-canção by Adelino Moreira and Enzo de Almeida Passos, which Marcelo Nova performed pretending to cry in a critique of what he considered Maria Bethânia's 'excessive interpretation' in her own version. Other tracks like "O Adventista", "Passatempo", and "Metástase" carry direct influences from international punk bands such as Buzzcocks, The Jam, and Crass, while "Meu Primo Zé" adapts the essence of The Undertones' "My Perfect Cousin" to the Brazilian reality, demonstrating the group's ability to incorporate and reinterpret its references.
Legacy
Following its release, the album gained good publicity and quickly began to sell well, driven by the successes "Meu Primo Zé" and "Bete Morreu", surpassing the 30,000 copies sold mark in just a few months. However, about three months after its release, the album was withdrawn from the catalogue by the Som Livre record label. The decision occurred after the band refused to change its name, which the label considered 'heavy and anti-commercial'. In July 1985, the album was re-released by the RGE record label, which acquired the original master and placed it back on the market alongside the band's second work, Batalhões de Estranhos. The album's longevity and cultural importance were recognised in July 2016, when Rolling Stone Brasil magazine elected it as the 7th best punk rock album ever released by a Brazilian band.
Rankings
Tracks
Credits
José Emilio Rondeau
Marcelo Nova
Robério
Aldo Machado
Gustavo Mullen, Karl Hummel
Books
Analyses
Camisa de Vênus – Wikipedia
Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia
"Camisa de Vênus" (Som Livre, 1983), Camisa de Vênus
discosessenciais.blogspot.com
Uma "moça de família" falar em "camisa de vênus" era algo impensável, um escândalo. Talvez por causa, cinco baianos escolheram justamente esse "nome de palavrão" para chocar as famílias mais conservadoras e chacoalhar o marasmo musical da Salvador da primeira metade dos anos 1980.
Camisa de Vênus: 40 Anos Causando Incômodo - Consultoria do Rock
consultoriadorock.com
O disco de estreia, auto-intitulado, lançado em 1983, não trazia palavrões pesados, mas nem por isso deixou de incomodar as pessoas. A primeira paulada já vinha na faixa de abertura, "Passamos Por Isso".
Camisa de Vênus, 1983 - O Londrinēnse - Sua identidade para o mundo!
olondrinense.com.br
Eu não lembro como, mas o Camisa de Vênus chegou aos meus ouvidos e aos do meu primo. A música era e se chamava "Beth Morreu". Cara, nós piramos e corremos para comprar o disco. Ainda bem que fomos rápidos, pois era época da censura e a Polícia Federal estava recolhendo os discos da banda das lojas. Com o disco em mãos, fomos escutar.
Cliquemusic : Disco : CAMISA DE VÊNUS
cliquemusic.com.br
Camisa de Vênus / Marcelo Nova (1983) 1983 Som Livre 406.6003 Faixas 1 Passamos por isso (Karl Hummel, Marcelo Nova) 2 Metastase (Karl Hummel, Marcelo Nova) 3 Bete morreu (Roberio Santana, Marcelo Nova) 4 Correndo sem parar (Karl Hummel, Marcelo Nova) 5 Negue (Enzo de Almeida Passos, Adelino Moreira)
Discogs
Camisa de Vênus – Discogs
discogs.com