Rita Lee
Rita Lee
1980
Why This Album Matters
Rita Lee, popularly known as Lança Perfume, represents a fundamental milestone in the career of the Brazilian musician and in the history of MPB. Released in 1980, this is Rita's fourth solo album and the second conceived in partnership with Roberto de Carvalho, solidifying a musical collaboration that would redefine national pop rock. The album is one of Rita Lee's most acclaimed and popular works, standing out for its innovative sound and irresistible appeal. The album not only consolidated Rita's presence on the national scene but also successfully introduced her to the international music market, especially in Europe and North America. With a vibrant fusion of rhythms and melodies, the work revealed some of the artist's biggest hits, such as the iconic "Lança perfume", "Baila comigo" and "Nem luxo nem lixo", which became timeless anthems of Brazilian music. Its relevance lies in its ability to transcend borders and captivate diverse audiences with its energy and creativity.
Context
The album emerges at a crucial moment in the careers of Rita Lee and Roberto de Carvalho, one year after the release of their first collaborative work, the acclaimed Mania de Você. Critical expectation was palpable, with many wondering if the duo's enormous success would be sustained, which added a layer of pressure and anticipation to the creative process of Lança Perfume.
Recording
The album Rita Lee (Lança Perfume) was recorded at SIGLA studio, in Rio de Janeiro, with production by Guto Graça Mello and co-production by Roberto de Carvalho, demonstrating the strong collaboration between the artists. For the disc mastering, production extended to Sterling Sound Studios, in New York, ensuring precise technical quality. Rita Lee, in her autobiography, describes the composition process as surprisingly easy for most of the tracks. The album's visual concept was also notable: on the cover, Rita Lee sports a draped white jersey jumpsuit, designed by the renowned Norma Kamali. On the back cover, the photo of Rita and Roberto de Carvalho embracing, in a pose reminiscent of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, symbolised the romantic and sensitive character that permeated much of the songs.
Songs
The compositions on the album Lança Perfume reflect a phase of great inspiration for Rita Lee and Roberto de Carvalho. Rita herself revealed the ease of the creative process for many of the songs, citing "Baila comigo" as an example, composed in just five minutes after a vivid dream. Another track, "Shangrilá", originally titled "Bad trip", was skilfully reformulated to become an engaging ballad. The lyrics address varied themes, from veiled social criticisms, as in "João Ninguém", written about the then-president João Figueiredo, to the romanticism and sensibility explored in most compositions. Songs like "Lança perfume", "Baila comigo" and "Nem luxo nem lixo" stand out as the album's biggest hits, demonstrating the duo's versatility and talent in creating works that would become classics of Brazilian music.
Legacy
Rita Lee (Lança Perfume) established itself as one of the artist's most successful works, selling over one million copies in total and becoming a landmark in Brazilian pop rock. At the time of its release, in just one month, the album recorded the impressive figure of 130,000 copies sold, according to Isto É magazine. Despite some criticism from experts who questioned Lee's pop reinvention and the supposed "pasteurisation" of arrangements by Roberto de Carvalho, distancing her from the rock of her previous bands, the album achieved enormous sales and public success. The commercial success boosted Rita Lee's international profile, with singles from the album being broadcast in Europe and North America; the track "Lança Perfume" even stayed at the top of the French music charts for two months. The success was so great that Rita broke her own records, with all the album's tracks being widely played on radio stations. The promotional tour, which lasted from November 1980 to February 1981, covered 14 Brazilian cities in 25 performances, attracting even renowned names such as Elis Regina and Gal Costa to the audience. The album was remastered and re-released several times, in 1995, 2015 and, in celebration of its 40th anniversary, in 2020, which attests to its lasting relevance.
Rankings
Tracks
Credits
Guto Graça Mello
Ieddo Gouveia
Célio Martins
Miro
Eduardo Domingos
Podcasts
Discoteca Básica Podcast · Parasol Storytelling
O DISCO QUE INVENTOU O POP BRASILEIRO - muito pop e muito brasileiro. Convidado do episódio: Guilherme Arantes. Tem mais conteúdo para assinantes do CLUBE DISCOTECA BÁSICA: Assina lá! https://podcastdiscotecabasica.com/assine/ Rita já foi criticada por não ser uma virtuose. Ela não caiu nesse papo furado, não caia você também: aproveite os 10% de desconto no nosso link da MusicDot: https://www
Rita Lee - Discografia comentada · Ziriguidum
Lança, menina, lança todo esse perfume pelo mundo... vem junto que lá vem um clássico! participam desse episódio: Guto Graça Mello, Adriana de Barros, Nelson Motta, Verônica Ferriani, Jairo Bauer, Alessa Camarinha, Anabella Casales, Gabi Doti, Marina Lima, Fafy Siqueira e Antonio Villeroy. ****** A discografia de Rita Lee, além de rica e diversa, faz um panorama do crescimento do pop/rock brasi
Pop Fantasma Documento · Pop Fantasma
No começo dos anos 1980, se bobear o Brasil tinha bem poucos seres humanos vivos que nunca tinham sequer ouvido falar de Rita Lee – uma cantora que, ao lado do marido Roberto de Carvalho, vendia muitos discos, tinha música em abertura de novela e ganhava especiais de TV no horário nobre. E como se não bastasse, era contratada do verdadeiro canhão de comunicação que era a Som Livre daquela época. M
Vinilteca · José Ono Junior e Guilherme Colpani
Rita Lee atingiu o auge da sua carreira em 1980 quando lançou o disco mais conhecido como Lança-perfume. Era o segundo álbum mais pop, com sonoridade mais acessível ao grande público, que Rita lançava ao lado do marido Roberto de Carvalho. O resultado foram 800 mil cópias vendidas. Relembramos os 40 anos desse clássico. A Vinilteca é um projeto que nasceu no YouTube em 2016 e migrou para o rádio
Videos
LANÇA PERFUME: RITA LEE 1980 | ALBUM REVIEW
Vinilteca
"Rita Lee" (1980) - Rita Lee | Melhores discos brasileiros dos anos 80 | Alta Fidelidade
Alta Fidelidade
Films
Rita Lee - Biograffiti: Cor de Rosa Choque
2007
Rita Lee became the main reference in Brazilian rock-pop. She composed iconic songs addressing the feminine universe, the theme of "Cor de Rosa Choque", the third part of the "Biograffiti" documentary series. Topics such as women's witchcraft, the muses that inspired her, the wonders of ageing, and the untold mysteries of the feminine soul are treated in this documentary in a humorous and moving way. "Todas as Mulheres do Mundo", "Pagu" and "Erva Venenosa" are some of the many songs featured, taken from the concert recorded in November 2006 at Morro da Urca, in Rio de Janeiro. There are also precious historical archives, such as the meetings of Rita and Elis in 1978, singing "Doce de Pimenta", and Rita and Cássia Eller, in 1998, singing "Luz del Fuego". "Cor de Rosa Choque" also features the recording of the song "Tão", a previously unreleased rock track.
Rita Lee - Biograffiti: Baila Comigo
2007
Life on the road is the theme of ‘Baila Comigo’, the second part of the "Biograffiti" documentary trilogy about the life and work of Rita Lee. The singer talks about the joy of composing, her affinity with the audience, and tells how some of her songs came to be. She also talks about cinema, drugs and Rio de Janeiro. The documentary shows the meeting of Rita and João Gilberto singing Joujoux et Balangandans, catches Rita and Roberto de Carvalho finishing a new song called ‘Dinheiro’ and presents the songs from the singer's concert in January 2007 at Copacabana Beach. There Rita sang hits like ‘Mania de Você’, ‘Lança Perfume’, ‘Agora só falta Você’ and ‘Flagra’, among others. And to honour the Marvellous City, she sang the song ‘Valsa de Uma Cidade’ together with the 180,000 people present on the beach.
Rita Lee - Biograffiti: Ovelha Negra
2007
Brazilian singer Rita Lee narrates moments about her life, from her childhood to the meeting with Roberto de Carvalho. The documentary is permeated with excerpts from the singer's concerts, with songs sung entirely.
Rita Lee: Mania de Você
2025
Just before her departure, Rita Lee writes a farewell letter to her three children and her husband and musical partner, Roberto de Carvalho, in which she reflects on her life and joyfully celebrates her family. Her final moments also mark the time to look back and review a career full of unforgettable successes, which led her to sell more than 55 million records. But it is also a time to reveal her downfalls, her vulnerable side, and her excesses as the queen of rock. With completely unseen personal archives and exclusive testimonies from her own family, as well as producers, journalists, musicians, and celebrities such as Gilberto Gil and Ney Matogrosso, "Rita Lee: Mania de Você" presents her definitive legacy.
Ritas
2025
It explores Rita Lee's personal life and her creative process, revealing her musical talent and her ability to transform on stage. Rita herself guides the narrative through past interviews she gave throughout her career and current testimonies.
Books
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.
Ditadura no Brasil e Censura nas Canções de Rita Lee
Norma Lima · 2020
Este livro analisa a censura nas canções de Rita Lee, um tema relevante para compreender a produção musical da artista, inclusive na época do álbum de 1980. Explora como Rita Lee foi uma das compositoras mais censuradas do Brasil, desde o início da Ditadura Militar em 1964, passando pelo AI-5 em 1968, e como essa perseguição se estendeu até mesmo depois da redemocratização do país em 1985.
Rita Lee: uma autobiografia
Rita Lee · 2016
Esta é a aclamada autobiografia da própria Rita Lee. Do primeiro disco voador ao último porre, Rita é consistente. Corajosa. Sem culpa nenhuma. Tanto que, ao ler o livro, várias vezes temos a sensação de estar diante de uma bio não autorizada, tamanha a honestidade nas histórias. A obra cobre sua infância, os primeiros passos na vida artística, sua prisão em 1976 e toda a sua trajetória até a publicação, sendo uma fonte essencial para entender o contexto e a criação do álbum de 1980.
Analyses
Rita Lee – Wikipedia
Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia
Rita Lee (1980): Só Luxo, sem Lixo
discotecacompleta.blogspot.com
Com canções que vão do grudento ao clássico absoluto, Santa Rita de Sampa opera oito novos milagres. E mesmo que você não goste de luxo, vai chegar ao final deste disco com saúde pra gozar no final.
Rita Lee (1980): O Disco que Redefiniu o Pop Brasileiro
sextafeiraumdisco.substack.com
Uma viagem musical que consolida a versatilidade de Rita Lee, unindo pop, rock, bolero e psicodelia em um disco coeso e atemporal.
Com 'Rita Lee' de 1980, Rita mostra suas garras rumo a um caminho de ...
teoriacultural.com.br
Neste texto, descreverei esse álbum com paixão. Lançado em setembro de 1980, ele é o segundo trabalho de Rita Lee em parceria com Roberto de Carvalho.
Álbum de Rita Lee em 1980 faz 40 anos e motiva bate-papo em live ... - G1
g1.globo.com
Esse álbum se tornou espécie de greatest hits da discografia de Rita Lee tal a quantidade de músicas que, apresentadas ao longo das oito faixas do álbum, viraram grandes sucessos em ...
Discogs
Rita Lee – Discogs
discogs.com