I first came across this song on Esperanza Spalding’s 2008 album, Esperanza. Ponta de Areia was written by Fernando Brant & Milton Nascimento and performed by Milton Nascimento and was featured on his 1975 album Minas. The album’s title is taken from the state in Brazil where he was born and raised, Minas Gerais. He’s known as the crooner of Brazilian music and his style is described as being post-bossa nova which was a jazzy Brazilian musical style popular in the 1950’s and 60’s. If you’re drawing a blank when you hear the words bossa nova, just think of The Girl From Ipanema.
LINKS:
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Email: spacetimemusicpodcast@gmail.com
The SpaceTimeMusic theme music is a sample of the Ana-Tole x Jonah Christian Remix of Ready or Not by the Fugees.
SONG CREDITS:
Ponta de Areia
Elis
Elis Regina
1974
Minas
Milton Nascimento
1975
Native Dancer
Wayne Shorter
1975
Ponta de Areia (Brazilian Rhyme)
All ‘N All
Earth, Wind & Fire
1977
Boca Livre
Boca Livre
1979
Silvana Malta Group
Crave e Canela
2001
Esperanza Spalding
Esperanza
2008
Ponta de Areia
Ponta de areia, ponto final
Da Bahia à Minas, estrada natural
Que ligava Minas ao porto, ao mar
Caminho do ferro mandaram arrancar
Velho maquinista com seu boné
Lembra o povo alegre que vinha cortejar
Maria Fumaça, não canta mais
Para moças, flores, janelas e quintais
Na praça vazia, um grito um ai
Casas esquecidas, viúvas nos portais
Ponta de areia (Sand Point), last stop
Of the Bahia-Minas, a natural road
That connected Minas to the sea and its ports
Iron road that they ordered to be ripped out
The old conductor with his cap
Remembers the joyful, simple people he used to greet
The steam locomotive that doesn’t sing anymore
To the ladies, flowers and backyards
At the empty public square, a scream, an “ouch”
Forgotten old houses that became widows at the cities’ portals