Feminina
Joyce
1980
Why This Album Matters
Released in 1980, Feminina represents a crucial milestone in Joyce Moreno's discography, solidifying her place as one of the most original and influential voices in Música Popular Brasileira. The album not only captured the essence of MPB with touches of Latin jazz, but also revealed the depth of her composition and her unique skill as a singer and guitarist. The title track and the emblematic "Clareana" stood out, but it was the international rediscovery that elevated Feminina to the status of a timeless classic. This work by Joyce is notable for its sophisticated sound and introspective lyrics, which address feminine themes with sensitivity and strength. Her music, which transitions between the lyrical and the rhythmic, found new life on European and Japanese dance floors years after its release, proving the universality and enduring quality of her art. Feminina is, therefore, an album that transcended borders and generations, solidifying Joyce's place as an innovator of Brazilian music.
Context
The release of Feminina in 1980 marked Joyce Moreno's return to a phase of intense production after a period dedicated to motherhood, having released her previous album, Passarinho Urbano, in 1976. Before this, Joyce had already built a significant career since the late 60s, experimenting with bossa nova and jazz, and collaborating with names like Vinicius de Moraes and Nelson Angelo. The album also emerged after Joyce's turbulent experience with the "Natureza" project, recorded in New York in 1977 with arranger Claus Ogerman and renowned musicians, but which, due to the bankruptcy of the Horizon record label, remained unreleased for decades, containing an extended version of the song "Feminina" itself. Thus, Feminina emerged as a work of artistic maturity, where Joyce was able to exercise greater creative control, reflecting her experiences and consolidating her musical identity during a period of transition for MPB. The artist, who was already known for her lyrics with a 'feminist inclination' and for being a woman who wrote and played her own songs in a predominantly male musical landscape, found in Feminina a vehicle to express her worldview.
Recording
Feminina was recorded in January 1980, at Odeon Studios in Rio de Janeiro, with executive production by José Milton. The recording featured a team of talented musicians, including Joyce on vocals and classical guitar, Mauro Senise on flute and saxophone, Danilo Caymmi and others on flute, Helvius Vilela on piano, Hélio Delmiro and Claudio Guimarães on guitar, Fernando Leporace on bass and vocals, and Tutti Moreno on drums and percussion. The album's visual concept is also striking. The cover, signed by photographer Luiz Fernando and his wife Luhli, depicts Joyce without make-up, playing her guitar, an instrument which, although not fully visible in the image, is fundamental to her artistic identity and is present in her gaze. The album's logo, suggested by Luhli, which cleverly integrates the image of a guitar into the letter 'f' of 'Feminina', became an iconic symbol for the singer, reinforcing the inseparable connection between Joyce and her instrument.
Songs
The album Feminina is a compendium of compositions that reflect the sensitivity and creativity of Joyce Moreno. The song "Clareana", dedicated to her daughters Clara and Ana, became a national success after its presentation at Festival MPB 80, propelling Joyce to a new level of popular recognition. The lyrics even anticipate the arrival of her third daughter, Mariana, with the verse "Clara, Ana e quem mais chegar...". The title track, "Feminina", is another gem of the album, known for its captivating melody and the depth of its lyrics, which address a dialogue between mother and daughter about the meaning of being a woman. In addition to these, the album features other songs that gained public favour, such as "Essa Mulher" and "Mistérios", co-written with Maurício Maestro. A unique highlight is the instrumental-vocal track "Aldeia de Ogum", where Joyce's voice is used as an instrument, in an infectious scat that blends jazz and Brazilian rhythms, revealing the artist's musical freedom and becoming a dance floor anthem during the album's rediscovery.
Legacy
Feminina not only consolidated Joyce's career in Brazil, with the resounding success of "Clareana" and other tracks, but also paved the way for her eventual international projection. The album was rediscovered in the 1990s by British DJs, notably Gilles Peterson, who took the instrumental track "Aldeia de Ogum" to dance floors. This rediscovery opened up a new and significant audience for the composer in Europe and Japan, reigniting interest in her work and leading to the reissuing of her 70s and 80s albums. Considered a 'cult classic', Feminina is a testament to the timelessness of Joyce's music, which continues to enchant new generations of listeners and musicians around the world. Its influence extends beyond the MPB niche, being an album frequently cited in collections and reissues that celebrate the richness of Brazilian music. The original version of the song "Feminina", recorded in New York in 1977 for the unreleased album "Natureza", also saw its posthumous release, adding another layer to the complex and fascinating legacy of the 1980 album.
Rankings
Tracks
Credits
Joyce
Gilson Peranzzetta
Fernando Leporace, Mauricio Maestro
José Milton
Mariozinho Rocha
Ana Martins, Clara Moreno, Fernando Leporace, Lizzie Bravo
Joyce
Fernando Leporace
Tutty Moreno
Danilo Caymmi, Jorge Ferreira Da Silva, Mauro Senise, Paulo Guimarães
Cláudio Guimarães, Hélio Delmiro
Joyce
Joyce, Tutty Moreno
Helvius Vilela
Mauro Senise
Chiquinho, Dacy Rodrigues, Sérgio Bittencourt
Nivaldo Duarte
Tadeu Valério
Luiz Fernando Borges Da Fonseca
Lizzie Bravo
Podcasts
Brazuca Sounds · Leandro Vignoli
In episode #87, we celebrate 45 years of the album "Feminina" released by Joyce Moreno in 1980. Arguably, her most important work, with feminist ideas ahead of her time, especially considering the Brazilian socio-political context. A jack of all trades, Joyce wrote all the lyrics and plays the guitar beautifully, enhanced by her charming voice. Among the album's highlights are "Feminina", an inter
Brazuca Sounds on Patreon · Leandro Vignoli
In episode #87, we celebrate 45 years of the album "Feminina" released by Joyce Moreno in 1980. Arguably, her most important work, with feminist ideas ahead of her time, especially considering the Brazilian socio-political context. A jack of all trades, Joyce wrote all the lyrics and plays the guitar beautifully, enhanced by her charming voice. Among the album's highlights are "Feminina", an inter
Fala TD · Bravend + ABTD
Se nada mudar, a igualdade na liderança só chega daqui a 123 anos. A pergunta é: você vai esperar ou vai fazer parte da mudança?Você ainda acha que liderança feminina é um tema “só para mulheres”? Neste episódio, Elis Soares e Igor Cozzo recebem Joyce Romanelli que mostra exatamente o contrário e traz provocações que podem mudar a forma como você enxerga liderança dentro das organizações.A convers
Books
Álbum 3 – 1978 a 1993
Pedro Alexandre Sanches · 2024
Esta obra faz parte de uma série que reconta a história da música brasileira através de seus discos, focando neste volume o período de 1978 a 1993. Considerando que 'Feminina' de Joyce foi lançado em 1980, é altamente provável que o álbum seja abordado ou que a obra de Joyce neste período seja analisada em profundidade, como parte da narrativa crítica de Pedro Alexandre Sanches.
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.
Finas flores
Jorge Marques · 2016
O livro investiga e reposiciona o papel das mulheres compositoras e letristas na história da MPB, que muitas vezes foram secundarizadas. Joyce é uma figura central nesse contexto, e o álbum 'Feminina', com suas letras e a própria figura da artista, é intrinsecamente ligado à temática de contribuição feminina na música brasileira, tornando-o altamente relevante para este estudo.
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
Feminina – Wikipedia
Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia
"Feminina", Joyce Moreno (1980) - lucasbonetti.com.br
lucasbonetti.com.br
Hoje trago um álbum que talvez voce já conheça. Mas tudo bem né? Se é bom, vale a pena ouvir de novo. O álbum Feminina (1980) da cantora, violonista, compositora Joyce Moreno (1948-) é o sétimo álbum da carreira dela.
Tarati Taraguá: A Feminina Joyce (Revista Música - 1980)
taratitaragua.blogspot.com
Ao longo dos anos o trabalho de Joyce só foi amadurecendo e seu nome ganhando cada vez mais prestígio. Em 1980, a cantora lançava o álbum, Feminina, e na ocasião a revista Música nº 43 trazia uma matéria com Joyce, falando de sua carreira e de seu novo disco.
Vitrola Review | Joyce - Feminina - Alataj
alataj.com.br
E, no melhor estilo best of, nasce, também em 1980, o álbum considerado marco em sua carreira: Feminina. A obra é um conjunto das faixas sucessos na versão fresca de Joyce, a singela Clareana e outras faixas de sua autoria.
"Feminina" (1980), Joyce Moreno - A música de
amusicade.com
Ouvir o disco Feminina (1980) de Joyce Moreno, produzido imediatamente antes da redemocratização, hoje, imediatamente após a ocupação bolsonarista do Estado brasileiro, é uma experiência entretempos singular.
Discogs
Feminina – Discogs
discogs.com