MPB 73 – O Ano Da Reinvenção
20181 seasons13 episodes
The series places Brazil and the world in the context of 1973 to show how fertile that period was for local music production. Each episode addresses a specific theme—such as military regime censorship, the rise of samba at the time, Brazilian rock, the importance of iconic album covers, production outside the Rio-São Paulo axis, and the renewal of bossa nova. To this end, the series invites musicians like Odair José, Charles Gavin, and Roberto Menescal, as well as journalists such as Silvio Essinger, Paulo Cesar de Araújo, and Renato Terra, to share behind-the-scenes details from that era. Each account is complemented by extensive research, featuring performances and interviews with artists who defined the year and remain fundamental to the history of Brazilian music.
Episodes
The first episode of this series, inspired by the Brazilian music production scene of 1973, revisits the preceding period of cultural ferment marked by Bossa Nova and Tropicalism.
The episode highlights the importance of telenovelas to music production and recalls the iconic performance of “Cálice” by Chico Buarque and Gilberto Gil at the Phono 73 Festival.
The episode highlights the cultural melting pot that drove the dictatorship's censors to distraction and discusses the clash between Brazilian artists' creativity and political and social repression.
The episode highlights iconic albums from 1973 and the record labels' investment in more experimental approaches, bringing artists such as Hermeto Pascoal, Tom Zé, Hareton Salvanini, and Raul Seixas to a wider audience.
The episode highlights the importance of record sales by popular artists in persuading record labels to accept more experimental projects, as well as the emergence of a new generation of musical talent.
The episode highlights Bossa Nova as a movement that was more than just “a stool and a guitar,” and spotlights a generation of artists committed to musical quality, regardless of style.
The episode showcases the musical ferment of 1973 and the profusion of classic MPB releases, amidst the groundbreaking approaches of artists such as Luiz Melodia, Secos e Molhados, and Raul Seixas.
“A hundred years from now, all that will be left are cockroaches and samba.” This quote by Moacyr Luz defines the program that looks back at the 1973 samba revival, driven by artists such as Beth Carvalho and Paulinho da Viola.
The episode highlights the influence of Tropicalism on the creation of a new Brazilian rock sound, a time when artists began seeking an identity of their own rather than simply copying foreign styles.
The episode highlights the Brazilian cultural melting pot of 1973, focusing on artists from outside the Rio-São Paulo axis, such as Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, Fagner, and Milton Nascimento.
The episode highlights the strength of women beginning to break free from stereotypes imposed by the music industry and pays tribute to artists who influenced generations, such as Gal Costa and Elis Regina.
The episode highlights the role of album covers amidst the rise in music production and revisits albums with iconic designs, such as Paulinho da Viola’s "Nervos de Aço".
The final episode of this series explores the significance of the year 1973 for Brazilian Popular Music, highlights the enduring nature of the works and the influence they continue to have on new generations.
