The true Carmem, before Hollywood turned

She was an icon and an idol in Brasil for good reason. Her voice. She dominated the radiowaves and even had a couple of successfull movies. She was still happy and carefree, as her voice playfully shows here. Then came Hollywood - she mutated from Carmem into a spanish-like Carmen, made fun of herself, and on her first journey back home after all the dollars was booed as "too americanized". She was hurt and only came back once more, near the end of her life. Reconciled, happier. This album is a poignant witness as to the mystery of why she never got the great recognition she deserved and so deaperately seeked in the US. Well, she got it on Broadway, to a certain extent. But Hollywood made mincemeat out of her.
Listen to her here at/on the top of her form as an entertainer and vocalist - despite some poorly kept recordings - and understand why when her body went back to Rio for burial half a million people lined the streets. Mutual forgiveness? Whatever it was - it was fiercely linked to clumsiness back in California. Neglect, even.
Let the pleasure of the songs wash over you and redeem all of whatever and feel her so ebullient again.

8/10