Discover the eclectic career of Elza Soares, who passed away this Thursday.
In her 34 released albums, she has explored samba, jazz, electronic music, hip hop, and funk, and says the mix is intentional.
Geledés - Elza Soares died at age 91 this Thursday (20), in Rio de Janeiro. “It is with great sadness and regret that we inform you of the passing of singer and composer Elza Soares, at age 91, at 15:45 pm at her home in Rio de Janeiro, due to natural causes,” says the statement sent by the singer's press office.
"An icon of Brazilian music, considered one of the greatest artists in the world, the singer chosen as the Voice of the Millennium had an apotheotic, intense life that moved the world with her voice, her strength, and her determination."
"The beloved and eternal Elza has rested, but she will forever be in the history of music and in our hearts and the hearts of thousands of fans around the world. As Elza Soares wished, she sang until the end."
From samba-swing to electronic music
Elza Gomes da Conceição is considered one of the greatest singers in Brazilian music, with a samba career that began in the late 50s. She began as part of the sambalanço scene with "Se Acaso Você Chegasse" in 1959.
In her 34 albums, she has explored samba, jazz, electronic music, hip hop, and funk, and says the mix is intentional. Her latest album, "Planeta Fome," was released in 2019.
"I've always wanted to do something different. I can't stand labels, I'm not a soda fountain," Elza compared. "I move with the times, I'm not boxy, there's no such thing as standing still. The thing is to move forward. I always move with the times."
Since releasing the album "A mulher do fim do mundo" in 2015, the singer has experienced another phase of artistic rebirth. "Let me sing until the end," Elza pleaded in a verse from the song that gives the album its name.
Characterized primarily by the swing and rhythm of samba, the singer's first golden age encompasses albums recorded by Elza in the 60s with singer Miltinho (1928 – 2014) and drummer Wilson das Neves (1936 – 2017).
Releases from this era include “O samba é Elza Soares” (1961), “Sambossa” (1963), “Na roda do samba” (1964) and “Um show de Elza” (1965).
Other phases followed. In the 70s, he chose to sing samba with a more traditional rhythm. This phase yielded hits such as “Salve a Mocidade” (Luiz Reis, 1974), “Bom dia, Portela” (David Correa and Bebeto Di São João, 1974), “Pranto livre” (Dida and Everaldo da Viola, 1974) and “Malandro” (Jorge Aragão and Jotabê, 1976).
The artist endured a period of ostracism in the 1980s and, when she considered giving up singing, she literally knocked on Caetano Veloso's door at a hotel in São Paulo to ask for help.
The help came in the form of an invitation for Elza to participate in the recording of the samba-rap "Língua" (Caetano Veloso, 1984), a track from the singer's pop album, "Velô" (1984).
This participation showcased Elza Soares's black bossa nova to a new generation and paved the way for the singer to record and release, in 1985, an album less focused on samba, "Somos todos iguais" (We are all the same), with music by Cazuza (1958 – 1990).
In 2002, under the artistic direction of José Miguel Wisnik, she released one of her most modern albums, "Do cóccix até o pescoço" (From the Coccyx to the Neck). The following year, she released "Vivo feliz" (I Live Happily), which was more focused on electronic music.
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