Ney Matogrosso

Ney Matogrosso

1981

Cover of Ney Matogrosso
Top 100

Why This Album Matters

The self-titled 1981 album marks a crucial moment in Ney Matogrosso's solo career, signalling his debut with the Ariola label. Released during a period when the artist was already consolidating his transgressive image, the album established itself with the strength of various hits, amongst them the emblematic "Homem com H", a forró by Antônio Barros which, despite the singer's initial reluctance to record it, ascended to become one of the greatest successes of his career. The sound of the work is enriched by notable collaborations and sophisticated arrangements, highlighting the special participation of Gal Costa and Orquestra Tabajara in "Espinha de Bacalhau". The album also featured tracks such as "Viajante", "Amor Objeto", and "Vida Vida", which became a soap opera's opening theme, consolidating Ney Matogrosso's repertoire and presence in the Brazilian musical landscape.

Context

In the transition from the 1970s to the 1980s, Ney Matogrosso was already a completely transgressive figure in Brazilian music, facing threats from the military dictatorship with his art. After standing out as a former member of Secos & Molhados, he had released a series of solo albums, starting with Água do Céu - Pássaro in 1975, which paved his career before the arrival of this album. This period also found him in full creative activity, shaping an identity that blended androgyny with erotic performances, challenging concepts of masculine behaviour and influencing a new generation of artists.

Recording

The album was carefully produced by Mazzola, a name that would become recurrent in Ney Matogrosso's discography from that moment onwards. The arrangements, a fundamental part of the album's sonic identity, were conceived by César Camargo Mariano and Lincoln Olivetti. A notable collaboration occurred on the track "Espinha de Bacalhau", which featured the special participation of singer Gal Costa and Orquestra Tabajara, under the arrangement and conducting of Severino Araújo himself, co-author of the song with Fausto Nilo.

Songs

The repertoire of the 1981 album is marked by a variety of styles and collaborations. The list of successes includes "Viajante", by Teresa Tinoco, and "Amor Objeto", a composition by Rita Lee and Roberto de Carvalho. The marchinha "Folia no Matagal", by Eduardo Dusek and Luís Carlos Góis, which had previously not achieved success with Maria Alcina, gained new life in Ney's interpretation. One of the highlights is "Vida Vida", which became the opening theme for the Rede Globo soap opera Jogo da Vida. However, the song with the greatest repercussion was the forró "Homem com H", by Antônio Barros, which Ney Matogrosso was reluctant to record, but which became one of his greatest hits.

Legacy

The repercussion of the self-titled 1981 album was significant, driven mainly by the resounding success of the song "Homem com H", which became one of the greatest milestones in Ney Matogrosso's career. The impact of the track was so great that, combined with other works, it contributed to the artist accumulating, by 1983, two Platinum Records and two Gold Records. Furthermore, the song "Vida Vida" secured its place in the popular imagination by being chosen as the opening theme for the Rede Globo soap opera Jogo da Vida, further expanding the album's reach and consolidating Ney Matogrosso as one of the most potent and influential voices of his generation.

Rankings

Tracks

Credits

Producer

Alexandre Agra

Producer, Mixed By, Directed By, Engineer

Mazzola

Engineer

Alexandre Agra, Ney Matogrosso

Videos

Clube do Vinil n° 09 - Ney Matogrosso (1981)

Bruno Coleções

"Ney Matogrosso" (1981) - Ney Matogrosso | Melhores discos brasileiros dos anos 80 | Alta Fidelidade

Alta Fidelidade

Films

Books

Analyses

Discogs

Ney Matogrosso – Discogs

discogs.com