Somos Todos Iguais Nesta Noite
Ivan Lins
1977
Rankings
Why This Album Matters
Somos Todos Iguais Nesta Noite, released in 1977, is one of the most emblematic albums of Ivan Lins' career, marking a turning point in his artistic approach and cementing his partnership with lyricist Vitor Martins. The record stands out for its poetic depth and sophisticated arrangements, which blend MPB elements with jazz and soul influences, characteristic of Lins' style. This work is an essential piece due to its ability to translate, through metaphors and lyricism, the anxieties of a turbulent period in Brazilian history. The title track, in particular, uses the image of the circus to weave a subtle, yet powerful, critique of the repression and uniformity imposed, becoming an anthem of veiled resistance. The album not only elevated Ivan Lins' artistic standing but also resonated deeply with the public and critics, establishing him as a composer and performer of rare sensibility and intelligence, capable of addressing complex themes with musical elegance.
Context
In the period prior to Somos Todos Iguais Nesta Noite, Ivan Lins was already a recognised name in Brazilian music, with successes such as "Madalena", recorded by Elis Regina in 1970, and his participation in the Movimento Artístico Universitário (MAU). However, the artist was in a process of maturation, seeking a more defined identity for his work, initially influenced by North American soul and pop. The release of Somos Todos Iguais Nesta Noite took place amidst Brazil's military regime, a context of strong censorship and repression. Brazilian popular music of the time frequently employed metaphors to circumvent prohibitions and express social and political critiques. This album represents a consolidation of his partnership with Vitor Martins, which began in 1974 with the album Modo Livre, allowing Ivan Lins to delve deeper into more engaged and poetic lyrics, reflecting the country's oppressive scenario.
Recording
The album Somos Todos Iguais Nesta Noite was released in 1977 by the EMI-Odeon record label. Production was handled by Mariozinho Rocha and Eduardo Souto Neto. For the recording, Ivan Lins relied on a high-calibre team of musicians, including João Cortez on drums, Fred Barbosa on electric bass, and Ivan Lins himself on piano. Gilson Peranzzetta contributed electric piano and organ, while Ricardo Pontes excelled on soprano saxophone. Lucinha Lins also participated on vocals. The LP's release was accompanied by special attention from the record label, featuring a gatefold sleeve and an inserted poster, with artwork by Mello Menezes.
Songs
The songs on Somos Todos Iguais Nesta Noite are characterised by Vitor Martins' lyrical depth and Ivan Lins' melodic genius. The title track is acclaimed for its circus metaphor, describing the 'coldness of a painted smile' and the 'certainty of a finished dream' to illustrate life under the dictatorship, where everyone was obliged to perform their roles, 'under the canvas, amidst swords and wheels of fire'. Other compositions that stand out on the album are "Dinorah, Dinorah", known for its captivating melody, and "Quadras de Roda", which also achieved significant airplay on radios at the time. The work as a whole reveals a rich musical texture, where Ivan Lins' elaborate harmonies provide perfect support for Martins' poetic and often critical narratives, utilising various Brazilian rhythms.
Legacy
Somos Todos Iguais Nesta Noite was well-received by both critics and the public, which boosted album sales and radio play of its songs. Tracks such as the title track itself, "Somos Todos Iguais Nesta Noite", "Dinorah, Dinorah", and "Quadras de Roda" had a great impact, solidifying Ivan Lins' work and his partnership with Vitor Martins. This album is considered a landmark in Ivan Lins' career, legitimising him as a fundamental MPB artist and marking the beginning of a period of great recognition. His work from that moment onwards, and this record in particular, contributed to Ivan Lins becoming one of the most recorded Brazilian artists abroad, with his songs interpreted by names such as Quincy Jones, George Benson, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, and Barbra Streisand.
Tracks
Credits
Mariozinho Rocha
Eduardo Souto Neto
Milton Miranda
Ivan Lins, Vitor Martins
Osmar Furtado
Roberto Castro
Nivaldo Duarte
Mello Menezes
Podcasts
Mpb Importance - O Podcast Da Mpb · Anderson Heredia
Nesse episódio último da primeira temporada,falamos do grande Ivan Lins e sua obra setentista,em uma nova gravadora,a Emi Odeon. Nesse disco,o Ivan Lins explorou outros universos musicais como fado,samba, cantigas de roda (Abrindo o LP) e uma toada sertaneja "Qualquer dia", uma espécie de vinheta pra fechar esse trabalho
Books
Dicionário de Figuras de Linguagem nas Canções de Ivan Lins e Vítor Martins
Wagner Azevedo · 2024
This dictionary analyses the figures of speech present in the lyrics of songs by Ivan Lins and Vítor Martins. Considering that Vítor Martins was one of Ivan Lins's main lyricists and contributed significantly to the album "Somos Todos Iguais Nesta Noite" (in songs such as "Abre Alas", "Dinorah, Dinorah", and the title track), this book offers an in-depth analysis of the poetics and messages that comprise the artist's work during that period, being highly relevant for the study of the album.
Os 500 Maiores Álbuns Brasileiros de Todos os Tempos
Ricardo Alexandre · 2022
The largest Brazilian music election ever conducted: 162 specialists, spanning journalists, critics, musicians, producers and podcasters, each nominated 50 essential albums, supported by a masterlist of more than 2,000 works. Led by Ricardo Alexandre with tabulation by Sérgio Jomori, it was published in December 2022 as a 200-page hardcover book with graphic design by Fernando Pires.
Analyses
Ivan Lins - Somos Todos Iguais Nesta Noite | 1977 - Blogger
discosqueouvi.blogspot.com
Somos Todos Iguais Nesta Noite - Ivans Lins (EMI-1977). I found the album aesthetically very pleasing, in addition, of course, to its musical quality, and decided to share some internal images of this work.
Tribuna da Internet | "Somos todos iguais nesta noite", uma canção que ...
tribunadainternet.com.br
In the lyrics of "Somos todos iguais nesta noite", co-written with Ivan Lins, the São Paulo-born composer (lyricist) Vitor Martins compares the world to a circus, where we follow the rhythm of the marching band, in allusion to the military dictatorship in force in the country from 1964 to 1985.
