BBC - Radio 3 - Awards for World Music 2005

BEBEL GILBERTO (BRAZIL)

Full track details

Bebel Gilberto is the stuff of musical royalty: her father is Joao Gilberto, the pioneering bossa nova guitarist, her stepmother is Astrid 'Girl From Ipanema' Gilberto and her mother is Miuchia - a hugely gifted Brazilian singer. When Bebel released her 2000 debut album "Tanto Tempo" it garnered very favourable reviews across Europe (she signed with Belgium’s Crammed Discs) yet little did anyone know that the album would go on to become the most successful Brazilian album internationally ever. To date "TantoTempo" has sold over a million copies, a phenomenal success for a bossa nova artist who has made no concessions to the Western pop audience.

Growing up in the public eye is not always easy and Bebel chose to leave Brazilian celebrity for New York anonymity in the early 1990s. Here she waited on tables while developing her confidence as a singer by working alongside the likes of David Byrne, Arto Lindsey and others of Manhattan’s downtown avant music scene. Confident that she had found her own voice, Bebel returned to Brazil in 1999 and began working on a series of demos with a Yugoslav DJ/producer nicknamed Suba. Suba was pioneering new ways of presenting bossa nova and Bebel, with her New York experience, felt they should work together. Out of this they created "Tanto Tempo".

Tragedy struck in the album’s final stages: a fire in Suba’s apartment killed the gifted producer. Bebel completed the album herself and, now based in London, began performing live (albeit nervously). Slowly it be came a favourite with not just fans of bossa nova but as a club and chill out album. Indeed, Bebel’s success has helped open doors for the likes of such equally gentle singers as Nora Jones.

The album's success meant that by 2004 Bebel was signed to East West for her follow-up album, titled "Bebel". Here again she sings with seemingly effortless and sensual ease, making music suitable for both a beach party and the bedroom. Appropriately, ex-President Bill Clinton is a fan, calling "Tanto Tempo" one of his favourite albums. To which Bebel replies, "he’s one of my heroes. That he likes my album is a great compliment."

Garth Cartwright (courtesy of fRoots)

Tanto Tempo album review
Bebel Gilberto official website

Your Comments

Ayax / Honduras
Well, I hear Bebel Cd`s (Tanto Tempo) in the car of a friend, so!!! I told him, give it to me Bro!!!, since that day, I love her music, shes is fantastic, and also shes beautiful, I listen every day and always i`m tryin to get more of her music by the net. Good Luck Bebel!!!!

Trevor, Belfast
She has the most soothing sensual voice that I ve ever heard.Especially fond of Tanto Tempo (original) and the remixed versions of You Can Close Your Eyes and Ceu Distante but all are superb.Can't wait for her next CD!

Clarissa Cruz and Fernando Cruz , Pouso Alegre,
We're happy and proud to see Bebel Gilberto on BBC files. She's absolutely super, hearing her sing reminds us of the best of brazilian music, the good traditional MPB with a flavour of renovation. Needless to say, we have others here too that would deserve to be higly acclaimed internationally. Congratulations, Bebel.

Glauber, Brazil
It`s kind funny how those nice artists make more sucess in others countries than in brazil. Thats very nice anyway.

Krunal, India.
What a deep romatic music with sensuous and versatile voice..

poly / New York
I had the chance to meet her in the blue note jazz club and she is not only a great perfomer, but a wonderful person

Matthew, San Diego, California USA
Bebel gives me hope that pure talent still exists. Her remixed album is suberb. I'm looking forward to seing her in San Diego this September.

lyngdoh,India
absolutly sensual!!

Martin Hargous Australia
She is superb.

Natalia,Bulgaria
I like her music very much,she is so talanted!

Desislava Sh., Bulgaria
I cannot say that she isn't any good but we all have to admit that there are plenty of better artists that her.Bebel cannot even be compared to one of them.She may be good but DEFINITELY NOT the best.

Eddie Petkov, California
Samba interpreted by Bebel Gilberto - it's like nothing else out there. She is undoubtedly a WORLD CLASS performer.

Anna, BULGARIA
I like her music very much :)

Marcos Avilez/ Chile
I have her two cds. She es definetly wonderful

Simon Levett
I have only heard the one track [Aganju] which is superb. If the rest of the album is as good, then it's the album of the year as far I am concerned.

Yuliana, Sofia, Bulgaria
She's lovely, one of a kind!

abdulfez
In 2005 it is great to know that other forms of music can expand and that the audience is always there to listen. Too much attention is paid to so called digital music and the creeping digitalisation in the Media (BBC televsion being a good example as all the link music sounds like it was extracted from some mad DJs rave collection). There is room for everyone and everything as long as real music (music that is produced from a non-digital source and following an acoustic direction) is not pushed aside and discriminated against for the sake of greed or trendiness.

Yana- Bulgaria
She's a phenomenal singer- I just adore her comforting voice. One of my personal favorites:)

ivan / bulgaria
is not good song

James and Kate. London
We were introduced to her music while on a business flight to Hong Kong on our return we rushed from the airport to the store to pick up a CD.Always a pleasure to listen too, her sensual warm tones relax all.

David, Hay on Wye
I've seen her live and she's amazing! On meeting her after the show - she's not as tall as I thought she'd be! It was great to meet her and chat with her and also get my ticket and CD's signed!