To my great delight, this morning a Brazilian pal tipped me off about a version of Yellow Submarine by Bloco do Sargento Pimentaa. They are a Rio de Janeiro samba combo who transform the Beatles Songbook into joyous explosions of tropical rhythm. At their gigs many of their fans dress up appropriately and it all results in quite a party.
It’s Shrove Tuesday next week and so it’s Carnival Time in many places, not least in Brazil, the Caribbean and Germany.
As we all know, many of the denizens of the Afterword are wild and crazy party animals. Bachanalian beasties, just itching to caste off their inhibitions and throw themselves into a moshpit of manic merrymaking!
Now’s your chance to share your favourite Carnival party tracks.
Hot! Hot! Hot! Manha de Carnaval! Iko Iko!
Mellow Yellow!
And here are the equally funky Oquestra Voadora.
Now there’s a party I want to go to!
New Orleans looks pretty lively too.
The Brazilians are masters at up-tempo party music.
Gal Costa
Daniela Mercury
Thanks to live streams like this, the sights and sounds of Mardi Gras 2024 in New Orleans can be enjoyed all over the planet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmovakY0Vm4
This one is very local, very amateur and very charming. It’s fun to be a fly on the wall and watch for a few minutes . Lots of dogs, kids and Barbies.
This clip gives a taste of the big parades.
Back in the day, the Neville Brothers were the sound of Mardi Gras. What a band!
And let’s not forget that distinguished NOLA academic, Professor Longhair!
Rad gumbo!
Rather surprisingly, one of my favourite carnival songs was written by a Geordie. Prefab Sprout’s Carnival 2000.
Rather like Sweden, the weather in Newcastle is not conducive to marching down the street in a flimsy bikini. When they try it here, the poor girls usually get goosebumps.
While we’re in New Orleans, this group of Mardi Gras Indians (effectively The Meters), The Wild Tchoupitulas released a brilliant self titled album.
Equally wild, The super funky Wild Magnolias. You just know they’ve got soul, soul, soul.
Thanks @Alias. Wonderful stuff.
Many years ago I saw The Wild Magnolias live in Central Park at one of the free Summer Stage gigs. They put on quite a show.
One thing that fascinates me about the carnival celebrations in different places (New Orleans, Rio, Barbados etc),is the level of local involvement. Each district has its own club organisation.
In Brazil these are called blocos (carnival bands) and escuelas de samba (samba schools).
In New Orleans they are “krewes”. Here’s a list of the krewes. So much creativity!
https://www.neworleans.com/events/holidays-seasonal/mardi-gras/krewes/
I like the Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbachus
https://www.neworleans.com/event/intergalactic-krewe-of-chewbacchus/3526/
“The Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus is a Mardi Gras parade organization for the most revelrous Star Wars Freaks, Trekkies, Whovians, Mega-Geeks, Gamers, Cosplayers, Circuit Benders, Cryptozooligists, UFO Conspiracy Theorists, Mad Scientists, and all the rest of Super Nerdom. Krewe members include science fiction lovers who will parody everything from Star Wars to Monty Python.”
The Mystic Krewe of Barkus has literally gone to the dogs.
https://www.neworleans.com/event/mystic-krewe-of-barkus/3529/
“The Mystic Krewe of Barkus was first created in November 1992 at a meeting of the Margaret Orr (WDSU-TV Weather Anchor) Fan Club held at Good Friends Bar. Thomas Wood brought his dog “Jo Jo McWood,” but people complained about the dog’s neurotic ways while in the meeting. Thomas decided to make Jo Jo McWood the Queen of her own parade and captain-for-life, as a way to get back at them. Thus, the Krewe of Barkus was born!”
Here’s the Endymion Krewe Saluting the Poets
“Named for the Olympian god of fertility and eternal youth, the largest krewe in Mardi Gras history was founded in 1967 as a small neighborhood venture in the Bayou St. John-Gentilly area. By 1974, Endymion had grown into a super club. The krewe annually selects celebrity grand marshals such as Dolly Parton, Chicago, and the Beach Boys, who thrill the parade goers and entertain guests at the Extravaganza held in the Louisiana Superdome following the parade. By 2000, the club’s all-male membership reached 2,000 and attendance at its after-parade party totaled more than 15,000.”
The Zulu Krewe Parade
“One of the season’s most anticipated and remarkable parades is presented by Zulu, named after the fiercest of the African tribes. Seven years before the black krewe’s 1916 incorporation, the Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club’s first King, William Story, spoofed Rex by wearing a lard can crown and by ruling with a banana stalk scepter. The most famous Krewe of Zulu king was Louis Armstrong, who ruled in 1949. Zulu’s honor guard is called the Soulful Warriors, and they, along with Big Shot, Witch Doctor, Ambassador, Mayor, Province Prince, Governor, and Mr. Big Stuff, all liven up the Fat Tuesday crowd.”
Is there anything like these krewes in the UK? The Bonfire Night celebration in Lewes spring to mind.
Lewes has seven bonfire societies who march through the streets.
I think visitors from Louisiana and Rio would be impressed. But they’d need slightly more warm clothes than at home.
Here’s a clip about the year when Louis Armstrong was King Zulu at Mardi Gras on 1st March 1949.
And here’s a charming, vintage clip of Mardi Gras in 1954.
South London has a carnival band and youth music/dance training scheme.
Kinetika Bloco.
They are just what I was hoping for @mike_H.
Their name of course indicates the inspiration of the carnival bands of Brazil but that was just the start for this “unique new British Carnival sound with a decidedly London edge” (BBC Radio2).
https://www.kinetikabloco.co.uk/kinetika-bloco/
“We draw our influences from the Caribbean, Brazil, Africa and New Orleans. Our achievements include: performances at Notting Hill Carnival, Bestival and London Jazz Festival; performing for Nelson Mandela who called us “enchanting”; representing the UK at Beijing Olympic Festival; leading Team GB in the 2012 Victory Parade; collaborating with major artists like AfroReggae, Hot 8 Brass Band and Jerry Dammers at high profile venues including Southbank, Roundhouse and the Royal Albert Hall; starring on BBC 1Xtra and BBC Radio 3’s Young Artist Day and performing our own second-line in New Orleans.”
Here they are in New Orleans!
What an experience for those young London musicians.
Here’s another British brass band with their roots in New Orleans who have been invited to play in NOLA: Band Pres Llaregubb from Wales.
https://www.dailypost.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/welsh-brass-band-who-played-16371400
“The Hot 8 Brass Band, who performed with George Ezra at the Brit Awards this year, also came to see us, which was a highlight,” added Owain.
“But the biggest highlight of the trip was definitely going to visit The Roots of Music band- an organisation that teaches music and the traditions of brass bands to keep children and young adults off the streets.”
What a sound they make!
The Roots of Music website and Insta page.:
https://therootsofmusic.org/
https://www.instagram.com/therootsofmusic/
The Roots of Music Non-profit organisation
“We believe music has the power to transform lives.”
Back at home in Wales.
Let’s not forget the Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago and the colourful, idiosyncratic dress code.
https://www.beatcarnival.com/beatndrum-recruitment/
One of the great carnival songs: Hot hot hot!
A slightly unexpected choice after the volcanic eruption on Montserrat?
I’ve learnt a new Brazilian Portuguese word today: bloco. On Wiki it’s translated as “(carnival) block” but I prefer the term “carnival band” which is how Bloco do Sargento Pimenta describe themselves. Or you could simply use the Portuguese word, it’s such a uniquely Brazilian concept that it defies translation. That’s what London ensemble Kinetika Bloco do. The name immediately tells us where they have their roots.
There are blocos of all sizes all over the country.
Zé Pereira dos Lacaios in Ouro Preto, founded in 1867, is the oldest bloco still active in Brazil.
The largest is Galo da Madrugada from Recife which got into the Guinness Book of Records when in 2015 its parade attracted 2.5 million people.
And then there’s Bloco Bollywood which adds saris, bhangra and Bollywood tunes to the Brazilian carnival atmosphere.
A Bloco is more like a Carnival Society.
It’s the music, musicians, arrangers and writers, dancers, choreographers, costume designers and makers and everyone else involved in their presentation at carnival time.
There is fierce rivalry (mostly friendly but it can get heated) between the Blocos, trying to outdo each other on the day.
Thanks a lot @Mike_H.
That’s an excellent, far more comprehensive description than mine. As far as I can make out, there are a lot of similarities between the blocos and the carnival krewes of New Orleans.
I haven’t quite worked out the relationship between the samba schools and the blocos. The former are active all year round and are important community centres for Afro-Brazilians.
I just stumbled across this excellent track.
And here’s are some clips about Ile Aiye, the Afro-bloco from Salvador who brought blackness back into the carnival.
Also from Salvador, the magnificent Timbalada.
It’s Pancake Day, but not as we know it!
I never saw snow in Pinner on Shrove Tuesday during my childhood.
Shame on me! I’ve forsaken pancake races and gone over to Swedish Lenten buns.
Here’s a recipe.
How many of you will be eating pancakes today??
Are any of you in Brazil today?
Here’s a very useful introduction to the carnival season including a few useful Portuguese words
https://blog.duolingo.com/portuguese-phrases-for-brazil-carnival/
For us in Europe, Shrove Tuesday is the middle of winter/spring. In Brazil it’s the ed of summer!
“In Brazil, we say that o ano só começa depois do Carnaval—the year only starts after Carnaval! The Carnival celebration (spelled Carnaval in Portuguese) marks the end of the Southern Hemisphere’s summer break and the return to regular school and work schedules… but only after a 4-day nationwide party marathon.”
A list of some of the most famous blocos.
https://www.rio-carnival.net/quais-sao-os-blocos-de-carnaval-mais-famosos-do-brasil/
Fans of the band Olodum will be interested to see that they have their own bloco.
And just to show how much there is going on, here’s an overview of this year’s carnaval in Rio.
https://exame.com/pop/carnaval-2024-no-rj-veja-datas-e-horarios-dos-blocos
Let’s not forget the Samba Schools Parade. Busby Berkley would be green with envy.
This blog is excellent for a description of what a bloco does and what it’s like to see one in action. @Mike_H.
https://eatrio.net/2012/02/whats-a-bloco-and-what-should-i-expect.html
“A bloco is like a massive street party. Each bloco will have a name (often funny or suggestive) and a soundsystem – some move, others stay still. The ones that move usually give people a few hours to gather and get merry before actually going anywhere and the pace is always slow. During the gathering time, a leaflet is sometimes handed out which contains the bloco’s song – this gives people a chance to learn the lyrics.”
“When carnaval really gets going (Satruday-Wednesday) some of the blocos get extremely busy. I don’t know the official numbers, but I was told that one of the most popular blocos, bola preta, has nearly a million attendees! When we tried to go to that last year, we didn’t even get close – instead we had fun at one of the many satellite bloquinhos that sprang up on the outskirts.
Unsurprisingly, those kinds of numbers put a lot of people off, so some blocos adopt coping strategies such as changing their name each year, or keeping the date and location secret. This then leads to rumours and tips and everyone trying to work out which will be the best place to be. Personally I leave all that stuff to the professionals and just go with the flow – the whole thing feels pretty chaotic anyway, so my advice is to just show up with a party attitude – the fun will find you!”
The Fallas of Valencia is not a Carnival celebration: it takes place in March every year.
But it is very similar to the festivities we’ve been talking about on this thread as there is a great deal of local pride and creative competitiveness between the creators of these remarkable works of art.
https://www.visitvalencia.com/en/events-valencia/festivities/the-fallas/questions-fallas
The fallas are papier maché creations which come in many sizes and are often humorous and satirical.
“Each neighbourhood of the city has an organised group of people, the Casal faller, that works all year long holding fundraising parties and dinners…..
Formerly, much time would be spent by the casal faller preparing the ninots (Valencian for puppets or dolls).[8] During the four days leading up to 19 March, each group takes its ninot out for a grand parade, and then mounts it, each on its own elaborate firecracker-filled cardboard and paper-mâché artistic monument, in a street of the given neighbourhood. This whole assembly is a falla.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valencia_Fallas#:~:text=Each%20neighbourhood%20of%20the%20city,falla%20which%20is%20eventually%20burned.
I mentioned the Lewes bonfire societies earlier. Valencia really give them a run for their money.
If you ever get a chance to experience the Fallas, do not miss it.
Quite extraordinary!
You can hear all manner of unexpected music while wandering through Rio at Carnival time.
Scottish funksters, the Average White band, have written a wonderful song about Avenida Atlântica (Atlantic Avenue) which runs along Copacabana.
But far more unexpected is Carwyn Ellis (and Rio 18) who sings Brazilian music in Welsh.
And very good he is too, although I expect there’s rather a small market for his albums. Unless of course, millions of cariocas start taking Welsh lessons. There are 214 million Brazilians, so perhaps he could be onto something?
There was a Jamaican Festival Song Competition going back to its independence i 1966. The quality of entries was outstanding. Here are a few selections.
Maytals – Bam Bam
The Jamaicans – Baba Boom
Desmond Dekker and the Aces – Intensified ’68 (Music Like Dirt)
Thanks @Alias. That was a very interesting new discovery.
https://jcdc.gov.jm/competitions/jamaica-festival-song-competition
I suspect it is not very well-known outside of the Caribbean. Then again, that’s probably my Euro-centric prejudice. There could be a lot of interest from Central and South America.
(I was reading that the Sambadrome show at the Rio Carnival is watched every year by millions all over South America. I suspect there are many other musical and sporting events which are very popular in that part of the world which we in Europe know nothing of.)
The Festival has its own YT Channel so we can browse through recent entries.
As this Guardian article about Carnival 2024 reveals, the samba schools are far more than glitter and glamour.
“Behind the extravagant spectacle and semi-naked dancers, carnival processions have historically been vehicles for showcasing Afro-Brazilian culture and shining a light on sidelined stories.
“Samba schools have always played an educational role. They are very effective at popularising unknown characters and stories,” said Mauro Cordeiro, a researcher on carnival at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.
“Samba schools are fundamentally political organisations … [and] samba processions are a great sounding board for [contemporary] debates,” he added.”
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/13/rio-carnival-slavery-portela-parade
The Portela Samba School have their own YouTube channel! Here’s a clip about “Um defeito de cor”, (A Colour Defect), “Ana Maria Gonçalves’ seminal novel about the legacy of slavery in Brazil which fictionalises the story of Gama’s mother, Luiza Mahin (named Kehinde in the book). The song, which shares the book’s title, imagined Gama recounting his mother’s life of resistance in powerful lyrics that were belted out by 2,800 performers and about 70,000 spectators during the school’s 67-minute procession down the Sambadrome on Monday night.”
That giant golden frog is an impressive sight! The sound on this clip is appalling but the photography captures the epic spectacle and the atmosphere very well.
Here’s some more info about Ana Maria Gonçalves, the writer of the 2006 novel which inspired the Portela samba school.
https://literaturfestival.com/en/authors/ana-maria-goncalves/
It’s been compared to Alex Haley’s Roots and Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables.
It’s a real epic: 951 pages long. It breaks a lot of new ground in its description of Black Brazilian history.
https://muse.jhu.edu/article/723043/summary
That was a surprise! I saw on Facebook that an old friend is on holiday in Toulouse and that yesterday she visited the very historic town of Albi.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albi?fbclid=IwAR197EPS2_qQyeadEbnRs7Dnavwd_r4-ldYEp4koAf5qWSYQklGtxE3Ngns
They have have one of the oldest carnivals in France.
https://www.albi-tourisme.fr/en/highligths/dalbi-carnival/
It is currently in full swing, complete with parades and pancakes, despite the fact that we’ve passed Shrove Tuesday.
I learn something new every day! This looks like a lot of fun. And on a smaller, cosier scale than the Mega-Carnival of Rio.
A lot of people wearing overcoats! Not quite the tropical temperatures of Brazil!