Dudu Nobre prepares a second raid
The acclaimed samba newcomer finishes the follow-up of his triumphant debut CD
Silvio Essinger
02/01/2001
With a strong will proper of twentysomethings and the musical background typical of someone who was raised by great samba masters, Dudu Nobre spent year 2000 on the top, enjoying the title of best samba newcomer. His debut CD (Dudu Nobre 
, from 1999) sold almost 200 thousand copies due to hit songs like No Mexe Mexe, no Bole Bole, Feliz da Vida and Quebro, Não Envergo. "And that happened during the height of axé and pagode", he celebrates.
Next Friday, February 2nd, the samba musician wraps the promotion of that disc with a few shows along with the drum section of samba school Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel. Dudu's follow-up album is about ready, due to come out by March or April on BMG. "Dudu Nobre more than met my expectation. In a year and a half it kept selling more and more", he claims.
The new album does not have a name, yet, but the repertoire is all set. The highlight is Blitz Funk, whose lyrics were made by veteran MPB songwriter Aldir Blanc, but no one should hope for radical moves toward popular music. "It has a funk groove, but I respect my tradition. What is cool about my work is that I fit other influences into the samba, and not the opposite", he declares. Dudu promises to surpise the audience when he plays that track live: "When I manage to do it on stage, it's gonna be so great"
There will be 11 songs written by Dudu in his next album. Three were written with Roque Ferreira (such as Para o Amor Render, which was recorded by Martinho da Vila) and others written with the likes of Zeca Pagodinho and Arlindo Cruz. He has also recorded Se Liga Doutor (Beto Sem Braço and Aluízio Machado) and Orai Por Nós (Almir Guineto and Luverci). The sub-style partido-alto is revered in this work. "I grow sadder every year. There's nobody new making partido-alto, which is the most typically carioca (from Rio) type of samba", regrets the musician, always paying attention to what his mates are recording. "Their albums might feature two partidos, at best, and about 300 love songs!"
Mitsubishi into the samba
Dudu Nobre is not at all against renewing the grounds of samba, but he'd rather do it his way: playing freely with tradition. "We change the approach of the lyrics, a bit. Using the partido groove and talking about Mitsubishi cars, and stuff...", he explains. With that recipe in hand, he wrote hit tracks that have been recorded by big samba names ever since Dudu was very young. Starting with Zeca Pagodinho, his artistic bestman, who has recorded Posso Até Me Apaixonar, Água da Minha Sede (written with Roque Ferreira), Chico Não Vai Na Curimba and Vou Botar Teu Nome na Macumba (the last two written with Zeca). Martinho da Vila turned Pro Amor Vender into a big hit, and the group Fundo de Quintal boost their sales with Levada desse Tantã (written with Luizinho SP).
Dudu discloses that the upcoming album is bound to be more eclectic than the previous. "I am happier with the repertoire and arrangements. My work has a more defined direction, now, I'm not starting everything from ground level." Produced by Rildo Hora ("always"), the songs bring more electric guitars than Dudu Nobre. "The guitars were very well accepted and helped me penetrate the rock-pop realms."
The large pants and T-shirts worn by Dudu also reveal that he's a big rap enthusiast. Not by chance, his show will have guest appearances by rappers MV Bill and Gabriel o Pensador. "Rap is about to become a new segment of Brazilian music", he states. "Nowadays there are more good young rappers than good young samba musicians."
With a tight schedule - besides his own shows and promotional tours, he records with muscians like Nei Lopes and João Bosco - Dudu is out for a little rest during Carnival. Right after that, he embarks into the whirlwind of the new disc. "Now I have got to rest, I am taking a break for the first time in my life. I had never figured how tiring this business could be", he jokingly complains.
, from 1999) sold almost 200 thousand copies due to hit songs like No Mexe Mexe, no Bole Bole, Feliz da Vida and Quebro, Não Envergo. "And that happened during the height of axé and pagode", he celebrates.
Next Friday, February 2nd, the samba musician wraps the promotion of that disc with a few shows along with the drum section of samba school Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel. Dudu's follow-up album is about ready, due to come out by March or April on BMG. "Dudu Nobre more than met my expectation. In a year and a half it kept selling more and more", he claims.
The new album does not have a name, yet, but the repertoire is all set. The highlight is Blitz Funk, whose lyrics were made by veteran MPB songwriter Aldir Blanc, but no one should hope for radical moves toward popular music. "It has a funk groove, but I respect my tradition. What is cool about my work is that I fit other influences into the samba, and not the opposite", he declares. Dudu promises to surpise the audience when he plays that track live: "When I manage to do it on stage, it's gonna be so great"
There will be 11 songs written by Dudu in his next album. Three were written with Roque Ferreira (such as Para o Amor Render, which was recorded by Martinho da Vila) and others written with the likes of Zeca Pagodinho and Arlindo Cruz. He has also recorded Se Liga Doutor (Beto Sem Braço and Aluízio Machado) and Orai Por Nós (Almir Guineto and Luverci). The sub-style partido-alto is revered in this work. "I grow sadder every year. There's nobody new making partido-alto, which is the most typically carioca (from Rio) type of samba", regrets the musician, always paying attention to what his mates are recording. "Their albums might feature two partidos, at best, and about 300 love songs!"
Mitsubishi into the samba
Dudu Nobre is not at all against renewing the grounds of samba, but he'd rather do it his way: playing freely with tradition. "We change the approach of the lyrics, a bit. Using the partido groove and talking about Mitsubishi cars, and stuff...", he explains. With that recipe in hand, he wrote hit tracks that have been recorded by big samba names ever since Dudu was very young. Starting with Zeca Pagodinho, his artistic bestman, who has recorded Posso Até Me Apaixonar, Água da Minha Sede (written with Roque Ferreira), Chico Não Vai Na Curimba and Vou Botar Teu Nome na Macumba (the last two written with Zeca). Martinho da Vila turned Pro Amor Vender into a big hit, and the group Fundo de Quintal boost their sales with Levada desse Tantã (written with Luizinho SP).
Dudu discloses that the upcoming album is bound to be more eclectic than the previous. "I am happier with the repertoire and arrangements. My work has a more defined direction, now, I'm not starting everything from ground level." Produced by Rildo Hora ("always"), the songs bring more electric guitars than Dudu Nobre. "The guitars were very well accepted and helped me penetrate the rock-pop realms."
The large pants and T-shirts worn by Dudu also reveal that he's a big rap enthusiast. Not by chance, his show will have guest appearances by rappers MV Bill and Gabriel o Pensador. "Rap is about to become a new segment of Brazilian music", he states. "Nowadays there are more good young rappers than good young samba musicians."
With a tight schedule - besides his own shows and promotional tours, he records with muscians like Nei Lopes and João Bosco - Dudu is out for a little rest during Carnival. Right after that, he embarks into the whirlwind of the new disc. "Now I have got to rest, I am taking a break for the first time in my life. I had never figured how tiring this business could be", he jokingly complains.