Olivia Byington
Encyclopedia
Olívia Byington is a Brazil
ian singer.
Olívia started her career as a vocalist with the rock band, Antena Coletiva, with Jacques Morelembaum, at the end of the 1970s. She was immediately considered by the critic Sérgio Cabral as the “best singer of her generation”. Her first record, “Corra o Risco”, was recorded in 1978 with “Barca do Sol.” The following year, Olívia reached the top of the hit parade with the song “Lady Jane
”.
Her third album, recorded in Cuba
on the invitation of Silvio Rodriguez
, broadened her horizons internationally. Olívia arrived in Lisbon
in 1994, after many albums, shows, music... There, she performed in memorable concerts at the Maria Matos Theater, captivating an audience as yet unfamiliar with her work with her impressive vocal range and singing. Her style is so popular that it impresses with its sophistication, so erudite that it swiftly touchs everybody’s heart.
The public and critics responded with such surprise that the following year Olívia went to Belém
to perform in the great hall at the city’s cultural center. She returned to Portugal
for Expo 98 in Évora
, Monsaraz
, and Aveiro. Recently she performed at Lisbon
’s Aula Magna, and at Porto
’s Coliseu with the great Egberto Gismonti
. As a matter of fact, Olívia has always been in the company of great names, such as Tom Jobim, Chico Buarque
, Edu Lobo
, Djavan
, Wagner Tiso
, Radamés Gnatali, and João Carlos de Assis Brasil.
In her career, Olívia has released several albums: Anjo vadio (1980), Identidad (1981), Para Viver um Grande Amor (1983), Música (1984), Encontro (1984) (Chiquinha Gonzaga Award), Melodia Sentimental (1986), Olivia Byington and João Carlos Assis Brasil (1990) and A Dama do Encantado (1997), the former in tribute to Aracy de Almeida
. In 2003, she released Canção do Amor Demais
, in which she re-recorded an anthological album first recorded in 1958 by Elizeth Cardoso, featuring songs by Tom Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes
.
In 2005, a meeting with the Portuguese poet Tiago Torres da Silva in Rio de Janeiro
drove Olívia back to songwriting, which she missed greatly. Having played the guitar from the age of eight, Olívia easily picked up the lyrics of “Areias do Leblon,” and brought the song all the sensuality and music of the beaches of Rio de Janeiro
. After this song, others followed, many with the lyrics written by the Portuguese writer, but also songs written by other poets, such as Geraldo Carneiro, Cacaso, and Marcelo Pires.
Songs such as these, so characteristic of her nature, have created the most confessional album of her career, a record in which Olívia not only assumes the role of a great singer, one that the critics and the public are following attentively in Brazil, but as a great song writer, able to create harmonically rich songs, with exceptionally original melodies.
The work being intimate, Byington surrounded herself with friends. She invited Leandro Braga to do part of the musical arrangement, and also the Portuguese Pedro Jóia, who played with her in “Clarão” and “Balada do Avesso”, and many other great musicians like Marco Pereira
, João Lyra, Zero and Zé Canuto.
She also wanted to share the singing, so she shared the microphone with Seu Jorge
in “Na Ponta dos Pés,” and with the great singer Maria Bethânia
in “Mãe Quelé,” a homage to Clementina de Jesus
, a deceased Afro-Brazilian singer.
“Olivia Byington” the record has the same characteristics as “Olivia Byington” the singer. The extraordinary sophistication of both record and artist makes these songs originally popular and delightfully erudite.
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian singer.
Olívia started her career as a vocalist with the rock band, Antena Coletiva, with Jacques Morelembaum, at the end of the 1970s. She was immediately considered by the critic Sérgio Cabral as the “best singer of her generation”. Her first record, “Corra o Risco”, was recorded in 1978 with “Barca do Sol.” The following year, Olívia reached the top of the hit parade with the song “Lady Jane
Lady Jane
"Lady Jane" is a Rolling Stones' song written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards featured on their 1966 album Aftermath.In America Lady Jane was the B-side to "Mother's Little Helper", but "Lady Jane" reached #24 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart...
”.
Her third album, recorded in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
on the invitation of Silvio Rodriguez
Silvio Rodríguez
Silvio Rodríguez Domínguez is a Cuban musician, and a leader of the nueva trova movement.He is considered Cuba's best known folk singer and known for his highly eloquent and symbolic lyrics. Many of his songs have become classics in Latin American music, such as Ojalá, Playa Girón, Unicornio and...
, broadened her horizons internationally. Olívia arrived in Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
in 1994, after many albums, shows, music... There, she performed in memorable concerts at the Maria Matos Theater, captivating an audience as yet unfamiliar with her work with her impressive vocal range and singing. Her style is so popular that it impresses with its sophistication, so erudite that it swiftly touchs everybody’s heart.
The public and critics responded with such surprise that the following year Olívia went to Belém
Belém
Belém is a Brazilian city, the capital and largest city of state of Pará, in the country's north region. It is the entrance gate to the Amazon with a busy port, airport and bus/coach station...
to perform in the great hall at the city’s cultural center. She returned to Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
for Expo 98 in Évora
Évora
Évora is a municipality in Portugal. It has total area of with a population of 55,619 inhabitants. It is the seat of the Évora District and capital of the Alentejo region. The municipality is composed of 19 civil parishes, and is located in Évora District....
, Monsaraz
Monsaraz
Monsaraz is a civil parish and municipal seat of the municipality of the Reguengos de Monsaraz, on the right margin of the Guadiana River in Portuguese Alentejo region, near its border with Spain...
, and Aveiro. Recently she performed at Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
’s Aula Magna, and at Porto
Porto
Porto , also known as Oporto in English, is the second largest city in Portugal and one of the major urban areas in the Iberian Peninsula. Its administrative limits include a population of 237,559 inhabitants distributed within 15 civil parishes...
’s Coliseu with the great Egberto Gismonti
Egberto Gismonti
Egberto Gismonti Amin is a Brazilian composer, guitarist and pianist.Gismonti began his formal music studies at the age of six on piano. After studying classical music for 15 years, he went to Paris to study orchestration and analysis with Nadia Boulanger and the composer Jean Barraqué, a disciple...
. As a matter of fact, Olívia has always been in the company of great names, such as Tom Jobim, Chico Buarque
Chico Buarque
Francisco Buarque de Hollanda , popularly known as Chico Buarque , is a singer, guitarist, composer, dramatist, writer and poet...
, Edu Lobo
Edu Lobo
Eduardo de Góes "Edu" Lobo is a Brazilian bossa nova singer, guitarist, and composer. He achieved fame in the 1960s as part of the bossa nova movement...
, Djavan
Djavan
Djavan is a Brazilian singer/songwriter, Djavan combines traditional Brazilian rhythms with popular music drawn from the Americas, Europe and Africa. He can arguably be categorized in any of the following musical genres: Música Popular Brasileira , samba, or Latin dance...
, Wagner Tiso
Wagner Tiso
Wagner Tiso Veiga is a musician, arranger, conductor, pianist and composer from Brazil.-Biography:Tiso learned music theory with Paulo Moura and specialised in keyboards. In 1970, he joined Som Imaginário, working with Milton Nascimento. Tiso and Nascimento were then together in Clube da Esquina,...
, Radamés Gnatali, and João Carlos de Assis Brasil.
In her career, Olívia has released several albums: Anjo vadio (1980), Identidad (1981), Para Viver um Grande Amor (1983), Música (1984), Encontro (1984) (Chiquinha Gonzaga Award), Melodia Sentimental (1986), Olivia Byington and João Carlos Assis Brasil (1990) and A Dama do Encantado (1997), the former in tribute to Aracy de Almeida
Aracy de Almeida
Aracy de Almeida was a Brazilian singer, a famous artist of the Golden Age of Brazilian radio.Her 1950 album Noel Rosa was voted by Rolling Stone Magazine one of the greatest Brazilian albums of all time.-References:...
. In 2003, she released Canção do Amor Demais
Canção do Amor Demais
Elizete Cardoso's 1958 album Canção do Amor Demais is officially considered the first bossa nova album, mostly because it was the first time João Gilberto's guitar beat was heard. With all songs on the LP composed by Vinícius de Moraes and Antonio Carlos Jobim, it had an immense influence on the...
, in which she re-recorded an anthological album first recorded in 1958 by Elizeth Cardoso, featuring songs by Tom Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes
Vinicius de Moraes
Marcus Vinicius de Moraes , known as Vinicius de Moraes and nicknamed O Poetinho , was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Son of Lydia Cruz de Moraes and Clodoaldo Pereira da Silva Moraes, he was a seminal figure in contemporary Brazilian music...
.
In 2005, a meeting with the Portuguese poet Tiago Torres da Silva in Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
drove Olívia back to songwriting, which she missed greatly. Having played the guitar from the age of eight, Olívia easily picked up the lyrics of “Areias do Leblon,” and brought the song all the sensuality and music of the beaches of Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
. After this song, others followed, many with the lyrics written by the Portuguese writer, but also songs written by other poets, such as Geraldo Carneiro, Cacaso, and Marcelo Pires.
Songs such as these, so characteristic of her nature, have created the most confessional album of her career, a record in which Olívia not only assumes the role of a great singer, one that the critics and the public are following attentively in Brazil, but as a great song writer, able to create harmonically rich songs, with exceptionally original melodies.
The work being intimate, Byington surrounded herself with friends. She invited Leandro Braga to do part of the musical arrangement, and also the Portuguese Pedro Jóia, who played with her in “Clarão” and “Balada do Avesso”, and many other great musicians like Marco Pereira
Marco Pereira
Marco Pereira is a Brazilian classical guitarist. He was born in São Paulo and took lessons from Isaias Savio, an important Uruguaian guitarist and teacher who brought Llobet's technique to Brasil...
, João Lyra, Zero and Zé Canuto.
She also wanted to share the singing, so she shared the microphone with Seu Jorge
Seu Jorge
Seu Jorge is a Brazilian musician, singer/songwriter and actor. Born Jorge Mário da Silva, he was raised in a favela in the city of Belford Roxo in the Baixada Fluminense region of Rio de Janeiro state. He is considered by his fans a renewer of Brazilian pop samba...
in “Na Ponta dos Pés,” and with the great singer Maria Bethânia
Maria Bethânia
Maria Bethânia Vianna Telles Veloso , better known as Maria Bethânia , is a singer and sister of Caetano Veloso. She started her career in Rio de Janeiro in 1964 with the show "Opinião"...
in “Mãe Quelé,” a homage to Clementina de Jesus
Clementina de Jesus
Clementina de Jesus was born on February 7, 1901, in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She worked as a maid for more than 20 years until she was discovered in 1963 by the composer Hermínio Bello de Carvalho. She is considered queen of the Samba style Partido alto and represents the musical...
, a deceased Afro-Brazilian singer.
“Olivia Byington” the record has the same characteristics as “Olivia Byington” the singer. The extraordinary sophistication of both record and artist makes these songs originally popular and delightfully erudite.