In ‘Trocando em Miúdos — Seis Vezes Chico’, journalist Tom Cardoso advances hypotheses that would have led the composer to exclude the singer from the lyrics of ‘Paratodos’
The recently released book Changing Children — Seis Vezes Chico (Record)written by journalist Tom Cardoso, brought new provocations to an old debate within MPB: the composer Little Buarque I didn’t like the singer Eli Regina?
This discussion about the relationship between Chico and Elis was strengthened when, in 1993, Chico released the song For everyone. In the verse in which the composer praises some of his contemporary Brazilian singers, Chico does not mention Elis. “Long live Erasmus [Carlos], [Jorge] Ben, Roberto [Carlos]/[Gilberto] Gil and Hermeto [Pascoal]applause to all the instrumentalists/ Hail Edu [Lobo]Bituca [Milton Nascimento]Nara [Leão]Gal [Costa], [Maria] Bethany, Rita [Lee]Clear [Nunes]/Evoé, young people in sight”, lists the lyrics
Starting from what he calls the “oddity” between Chico and Elis, Cardoso looked for possible reasons for this. He cites an event that occurred at the Phono 73 festival, held in Anhembi, São Paulo, which brought together the cast of the Philips record label, with which the two artists had a contract.
The journalist tells of Chico’s prank: the composer had decided, before performing, to take a shower in the women’s bathroom, just when Elis was getting ready to do the same. And again: Chico, to prevent anyone from entering the place, would have removed the sign indicating that it was a space dedicated to women.
Elis was reportedly furious with Chico, who did not apologize. In this performance, she Elis was booed by a part of the audience who did not forgive her for having responded to the “invitation” of the military government a year before her to sing at the Army Olympics.
Despite this alleged conflict, a year later, in 1974, Chico and Elis met on stage, in an opening show at the Bandeirantes Theater, in São Paulo. The two performed a duet That’s how it is, collaboration between Chico and Tom Jobim. They sing, exchange affectionate glances and kisses at the end.
In 1977, Chico and Elis met again in a group exhibition at the Ginásio do Corinthians, in São Paulo. There are photographic testimonies of that day, with Elis, Chico and the pianist Cesar Camargo Mariano, Elis’s husband at the time, chatting amicably.
Elis’ manager Roberto de Oliveira – director of the documentary Elis and Tom — issued a statement to Cardoso’s book to explain how he tried to reunite the singer with the composer.
“When I proposed to Chico to go on stage with Elis, he accepted immediately. Chico is a very careful boy with people, he felt the pressure on Elis and the importance of her gesture at that moment. But that, obviously, they didn’t have made them two great friends. Chico never accepted some of Elis’ attitudes,” Oliveira says in the book.
The businessman cites an alleged interview with Elis in the Netherlands in which he called the Brazilian military “gorillas” – which Chico and others doubted – and Elis’s own participation in the Army Olympics to explain the revulsion that the composer would have had towards the singer.
On the absence of Elis in the texts For everyone, Chico, as reproduced in Tom Cardoso’s book, justifies that there are more people outside than inside Paradotes.
Elis recorded numerous songs by Chico Buarque
Over the course of her career, from the 1960s until 1982, when she died at the age of 36, Elis Regina recorded Chico Buarque countless times. In her 1966 album she recorded her There’s more samba. In 1968, samba Good time. At that time, they also performed together on the TV shows Record and recorded the classic duet The night of the masquerades.
In 1972, he launched Behind the door, a partnership between Chico and Francis Hime that became one of his biggest career hits. In the album Elis and Tom included That’s how it is AND Black and white portrait. No show Feven brilliantpresented between 1975 and 1977, Elis sang three pieces by the composer: Tattoo, Women of Athens AND Don chisciotte.
See you at the next show, Transversal of time, Construction AND Wonder were in the script. On disc Brazil is missing, Elis has recorded again Did you know thata partnership between Chico and Tom Jobim that was booed at the 1968 International Song Festival.
Source: Terra
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
