Mel
Maria Bethânia
1979
Rankings
Why This Album Matters
Mel, released in 1979, represents a high point in Maria Bethânia's discography, consolidating the period of great commercial and artistic success that began with the album Álibi. With this work, the Bahian singer deepened the themes of love and desire, but with a perceptibly lighter and more illuminated sound, differentiating itself from the tension that at times marked her previous works. The record is an invitation to celebrate sensuality and passion, exploring the freedom of the body and feelings in a vibrant way. The work stands out for its courage in approaching sexuality in various forms, including with songs that became anthems for the LGBTQIA+ community. The title track, with its Caribbean flavour, and others such as "Da Cor Brasileira", show Bethânia at ease exploring narratives of love without inhibitions, establishing a direct and innovative dialogue with the public. Mel is an album that reflects the effervescence of MPB at the time, while reaffirming Bethânia's singular voice as one of Brazil's greatest interpreters.
Context
In 1979, Maria Bethânia was enjoying a period of glory in her career. The resounding success of Álibi, released two years earlier, had catapulted her to the position of the best-selling female artist in Brazil, establishing her popularity at unprecedented levels. In this scenario of recognition and acclaim, Bethânia worked with Perinho Albuquerque as producer and conductor, a partnership that had already yielded expressive results and promised to continue shaping the sound of her upcoming releases. The singer was at the peak of her artistic and commercial performance, with her name consolidated at the forefront of Brazilian popular music.
Recording
Mel was recorded in November 1979 at the renowned Polygram studios in Rio de Janeiro, and released the very next month, reflecting the agility and effervescence of musical production at the time. Production was handled by Perinho Albuquerque, who was already a long-standing collaborator and a fundamental part of the sound during this phase of Bethânia's career. His direction ensured the musical cohesion of the album, resulting in arrangements that balanced the dramatic intensity of the interpreter with the lightness and popular appeal the record sought.
Songs
Mel's repertoire is a careful selection that combines the mastery of established composers with the freshness of new talents. In addition to the usual presence of Caetano Veloso, Chico Buarque, Waly Salomão, and Gonzaguinha, Bethânia made space for the duo Ana Terra and Joyce, for the then-debutant Ângela Rô Rô (who scored with "Gota de Sangue"), and for her musician Túlio Mourão. The inclusion of classics such as "Lábios de Mel", immortalised by Ângela Maria, and "Loucura", by Lupicínio Rodrigues, demonstrates Bethânia's reverence for tradition, while simultaneously re-dressing them in new attire for new generations. The album's lyrics freely explore the nuances of love and sexuality. "Da Cor Brasileira" presents a woman describing her beloved in an innovative and uninhibited way. "Ela e Eu", although addressing heterosexual love, gained parallel interpretations and was embraced by the lesbian community, as was the title track "Mel", which became an anthem for passionate surrender to a strong female figure. "Grito de Alerta", in turn, was inspired by a homosexual story, even without explicitly suggesting it in its lyrics. There is also space for the melancholy of separation, as in "Ela e Eu", and for mysticism linked to nature in "Queda d'Água", showcasing the album's thematic versatility. Interestingly, the song "Cheiro de Amor" originated from a commercial jingle, and "Ela e Eu" was initially offered to Roberto Carlos before reaching Bethânia's voice.
Legacy
Mel was a resounding commercial success, selling over eight hundred thousand copies and solidifying Maria Bethânia as the best-selling female artist in Brazil. The album yielded major hits that became prominent in her career, such as the title track "Mel", "Cheiro de Amor", and "Grito de Alerta". These songs not only dominated radio waves but also gained significant visibility on television, with "Grito de Alerta" and "Ela e Eu" featuring on the soundtracks of the popular Rede Globo telenovelas Água Viva and Coração Alado, respectively. "Cheiro de Amor" reappeared decades later in another telenovela, Pé na Jaca, in 2006, demonstrating the longevity of its impact. The album's promotion was driven by a grand spectacle of the same name, the "Show Mel", which premiered at Canecão in 1980 and broke attendance records. Directed by Waly Salomão and with Perinho Albuquerque conducting, the show featured almost all the album's songs, interspersed with previous hits and poetic texts, consolidating Bethânia's stage presence and expanding the musical experience to the theatre. The singer's inclusion in Roberto Carlos's 1980 year-end special, where she performed "Grito de Alerta" and "Desabafo", highlights her star status in the Brazilian music scene of the time.
Tracks
Credits
Perinho Albuquerque
Ary Carvalhaes
Maria Bethânia
Elifas Andreato
Marisa Alvarez Lima
Books
Analyses
Mel – Wikipedia
Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia
Maria Bethânia tem relançado em LP 'Mel', álbum de 1979 que ... - G1
g1.globo.com
Discover the history and repertoire of the album on which the artist performed songs by Caetano Veloso, Chico Buarque, Gonzaguinha and Joyce Moreno.
"Mel" (Philips, 1979), Maria Bethânia
discosessenciais.blogspot.com
By Sidney Falcão. Maria Bethânia was still enjoying the resounding success of the album Álibi, released in 1978, when in November 1979, she entered the studio to record a new album. The following month, in December, Bethânia's new album, Mel, arrived in stores, a true Christmas gift for fans.
Maria Bethânia tem relançado em LP 'Mel', álbum de 1979 que consolidou ...
portalvidasertaneja.com.br
Mel – the 1979 album which, 45 years after its release by Philips record label, is reissued on LP, manufactured in opaque cream-coloured vinyl – was the record that reiterated and consolidated the singer's reign in the world of MPB.
Maria Bethânia relança o álbum 'Mel' em vinil creme opaco
em.com.br
Mel, one of Maria Bethânia's most popular records, gets this new vinyl edition by Universal Music, 45 years after its release.
