Brasil / Brazil

When we first saw Brazil in 1985, we were fascinated with the duct work and the version of Ary Barroso's classic "Aquarela Do Brazil", "Watercolor of Brazil", better known as "Brazil". The song has become of the 20 most covered-recorded songs in history. It is a phenomenal song, but in the hands of an artist it really shines. Xavier Cugat did a fine version in the 50's. I had a copy on beat up vinyl that my cousin gave me when he worked at a radio station in Fairfield, CT for a while and then I found it on cd. The version on the soundtrack haunted us for quite some time. Then I learned that the soundtrack was out of print, so I sort of gave up until I read this post of the always intriguing Maud Newton. Franz Kafka and "The Trial" led me to this nugget that ultimately led to me finding the remastered soundtrack. This disc contains a version of "Brazil" by Kate Bush that did not appear in the actual film and was not included in the original soundtrack. The music is very enjoyable on its own AND it includes three versions of the song "Brazil". Each version is quite different from the other two and each resounds with the remastered sonics. Actually, the entire soundtrack is a variation on the theme of the song "Brazil", which may sound boring but isn't.

Terry Gilliam on "Brazil":

"I'm dealing with what I think exists now. It has a lot to do with sensibilities of people. There is a feeling that things are out of control. It's as if the world were dreaming. Mind you, it's a terrible cheat in a way--writing a thing like "Brazil". We don't provide any answers. We just point out what is obvious...but the "obvious" that people don't think about half the time. Since we are at at our most vulnerable when we laugh or cry, I hope people will catch themsleves laughing and suddenly realize, 'I shouldn't be laughing at that, that's horrendous.' That is a nice thing to do to people. It helps us to see we are all in it together."

P.S.: "Because I dislike being quoted I find I lie almost constantly when talking about my work."

Thanks to Brasil, Ary Barroso, Terry Gilliam, Tuttle, Max, Maud, Franz Kafka, Kate Bush, Geoff Muldaur, Maria Muldaur.