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{{redirect|Simone (Brazilian singer)||Simone Mendes|and|Simone (disambiguation)#People}}
{{Infobox Musical artist

| Img = Simone cantora Brasil.jpg
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2020}}
| Img_size = 150px |
{{multiple issues|
| Name = Simone
{{over-quotation|date=November 2019}}
| Background = solo_singer
{{BLP sources|date=July 2009}}
| Birth_name = Simone Bittencourt de Oliveira
}}
| Alias = ''Cigarra'' (''Cicada'', ''Buzzer'')

| Born = ], ]
{{Infobox musical artist
| Origin = ], ]
| name = Simone
| Genre = ], ], ]
| Occupation = ] | image = Simone (cropped).jpg
| image_size = 200px
| Associated_acts = Ivan Lins, Chico Buarque, Sueli Costa, Isolda, Martinho da Vila, Milton Nascimento
| Years_active = ]- present | caption = Simone in 2009
| Label = Odeon, ], Universal | background = solo_singer
| birth_name = Simone Bittencourt de Oliveira
| URL =
| alias = ''Cigarra'' (''Cicada'', ''Buzzer'')
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1949|12|25}}
| birth_place = ], Bahia, Brazil
| genre = ], ], ]
| occupation = Singer
| years_active = 1973–present
| label = Odeon, ], Universal
| associated_acts = Ivan Lins, Chico Buarque, Sueli Costa, Isolda, Martinho da Vila, Milton Nascimento
| website =
}} }}


'''Simone Bittencourt de Oliveira''', better known as '''Simone''', is a ]ian singer and a major performer of ] who has recorded more than 31 albums.<ref></ref> '''Simone Bittencourt de Oliveira''' (born December 25, 1949), better known as '''Simone''', is a Brazilian singer of ] (MPB) who has recorded more than 30 albums.<ref></ref>


==Biography== ==Biography==
Simone was born on ], ] in ] as the seventh daughter in a family of nine children. During her teenage years she was a professional ] player and moved to ] to become a member of ]. She studied in ], majoring in ]. Simone was born on December 25, 1949, in ], as the seventh daughter in a family of nine children. During her teenage years, she was a professional ] player and moved to ] to become a member of ]. She studied in ], majoring in ].


==Career== ==Career==
Her career begun when a close friend and ] teacher Elodir Barontini invited her to sing in a pre-schedule dinner with '']''´s marketing manager. At the end of this meeting, specially scheduled for the performance, came an offer of a contract to record not one but four albums at once. Her ] debut album <ref> </ref> was recorded in October ] at low cost and with a few musicians, conducted by José Briamonte. This inaugural edition circulated only for friends, relatives and artists; ten years later it would be re-edited and with a different cover. By the ] ], ''Simone'' was launched for the ] in a closed meeting at the ''Hilton Hotel'', in São Paulo; later on she would appear for the first time ever on a Tv program, for ''Tv Bandeirantes''. Followed by another expected show up on ''Mixturação''<ref> </ref> (director/producer Walter Silva, April, 1973), a ''Tv Record'' program where she was one of the promising new talented. Thus success gradually took place. Her music career began when a close friend and ] teacher Elodir Barontini invited her to sing at a dinner with ]'s marketing manager. At the end of this encounter, specially scheduled for her performance, came an offer of a contract to record not one but four albums at once. Her ] debut album<ref>{{cite web|url=http://simonepedacos.multiply.com/journal/item/1|title=First album recorded|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060814030505/http://simonepedacos.multiply.com/journal/item/1|archive-date=August 14, 2006}}</ref> was recorded in October 1972 at a low cost and with a few musicians, conducted by José Biamonte. It circulated only among friends, relatives, and artists; ten years later it would be re-edited and with a different cover. On March 20, 1973, ''Simone'' was launched for the ] in a closed meeting at the Hilton Hotel in São Paulo; later on, she would appear for the first time on a TV program, for ''TV Bandeirantes''. This was followed by an appearance on ''Mixturação''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://simonepedacos.multiply.com/reviews/item/11|title=Mixturação|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070223225941/http://simonepedacos.multiply.com/reviews/item/11|archive-date=February 23, 2007}}</ref> (director/producer Walter Silva, April 1973), a TV Record program where she was one of the promising new talents. Thus, success gradually took place.


A previous sportswoman who had already met success now turned to the stage, supported by the family's incentive, her father, an ] amateur singer, and her mother, a pianist, from whom she received a great stimulus. Before becoming familiar to the Brazilian audience, she was one of those invited to participate in an international tour in ], starting with a presentation at the ''Olympia'', in ]<ref> </ref>. This tour was organized by ] <ref></ref>, regarded as one of the most important ] in Brazil. They performed at ''Olympia'', '']'', in ], ] and ] with great success, originating ''Brasil Export 73'' e ''Festa Brasil'' - both produced by Hermínio Bello who would also produce the next two albums, ''Quatro paredes'' and ''Gotas d´água''; the latest with ]´s production <ref></ref>. When she transitioned from sports to stage performance, she was supported by her father, an amateur opera singer, and her mother, a pianist. Early in her musical career, she was invited to participate in an international tour, starting with a presentation at the Olympia in Paris.<ref></ref> This tour was organized by ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://simone.art.br/website/am_32.htm|title=Picture of Simone and Hermínio Bello|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070401215909/http://www.simone.art.br/website/am_32.htm|archive-date=April 1, 2007}}</ref> a major ] in Brazil. They performed at Olympia, ] in New York City, ], and Canada with great success, launching two albums, ''Brasil Export 73'' and ''Festa Brasil.''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.simone.art.br/website/biografia.htm|title=Simone'', ''Official WebSite|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706150657/http://www.simone.art.br/website/biografia.htm|archive-date=July 6, 2011}}</ref> Both were produced by Hermínio Bello, who would also produce the next two albums, ''Quatro Paredes'' and ''Gotas D'Água,'' the last with ]'s production.<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927011111/http://www.simone.art.br/website/historia_1975.htm |date=September 27, 2007 }}</ref>


===Success, Shows, Tv festivals=== ===Shows and TV festivals===
In the late 1970s, in 1977, she reached national recognition singing ''Jura Secreta'', ''Face a face'' and ''O que será''. The last, by ] featured the soundtrack of '']'', by ], which helped to popularize the music; an outstanding year when she also met ] at the studio: "''O que será'' opened doors for me and my career". By 1977, she reached national recognition in Brazil, notably with ''Jura Secreta'', ''Face a Face'' and ''O Que Será''. The last, composed by ], was featured in the soundtrack of the film '']'', by ], which helped to popularize the music. The same year, she also met ] at the studio and said, "''O Que Será'' opened doors for me and my career."


From June 16 to September 15, 1978, she was among artists of the ''Projeto Pixinguinha'' that traveled around the country with upcoming new singers. An excerpt from the ''Projeto'' comments on her success:
In the following year (from June 16 to September 15, 1978), her name stood by those artists of the ''Projeto Pixinguinha'' which aimed to travel around the country with renowned and also new talented singers. An excerpt of the ''Projeto'' comments the growing success: ''In 1977, beyond launching 'Face a Face' and '']'' soundtrack, she was acclaimed in a spectacle at the 'Museu de Arte moderna'. At the 'Teatro Clara Nunes', directed by ] presented 'Face a Face'. She is improving her performance in each spectacle and is featured now among Brazil's best singers. She has just recorded 'Cigarra', singing Gonzaguinha's 'Petúnia Resedá', Fagner and Abel Silva ('Sangue e Pudins'), ] and Ronaldo Bastos ('Cigarra')''; a prognostic of a career ascension still not outlined. (Excerpt by ''Funarte''.) Along with Belchior young Simone crowded ''João Caetano theater'' presenting ''Seis e meia'' (25 August, 1977) and was highly acclaimed when singing ''Gota d´água''; ''Seis e meia'' marked her first national recognition.
<blockquote>In 1977, beyond launching 'Face a Face' and the '']'' soundtrack, she was acclaimed in a spectacle at the Museu de Arte Moderna. At the Teatro Clara Nunes, directed by Hermínio Bello de Carvalho, she presented "Face a Face". She is improving her performance in each spectacle and is featured now among Brazil's best singers. She has just recorded "Cigarra", singing Gonzaguinha's "Petúnia Resedá" as well as songs by Fagner and ] ("Sangue e Pudins"), ] and Ronaldo Bastos ("Cigarra").</blockquote>
A performance in 1977 was also claimed to be one of her best. (Excerpt by ''Funarte''): "Along with Belchior, young Simone brought crowds to João Caetano theatre for her ''Seis e Meia'' performance on August 25, 1977, and was highly acclaimed when singing 'Gota D'Água'; ''Seis e Meia'' marked her first national recognition."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.simone.art.br/website/bio_70_04.htm|title=Simone'', ''Official WebSite|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706150733/http://www.simone.art.br/website/bio_70_04.htm|archive-date=July 6, 2011}}</ref>


Two years later, on December 12, 1979, her next LP ''Pedaços'' was launched at Canecão ]; it was positively received by critics and drew over 120,000 attendees for the album tour.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dicionariompb.com.br/detalhe.asp?nome=Simone&tabela=T_FORM_A&qdetalhe=art|archive-url=https://archive.today/20070704161038/http://www.dicionariompb.com.br/detalhe.asp?nome=Simone&tabela=T_FORM_A&qdetalhe=art|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 4, 2007|title=Dicionario Mpb}}</ref> ''Pedaços'' gave her her first golden disc.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.simone.art.br/website/biografia.htm|title=Simone'', ''Official webSite|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706150657/http://www.simone.art.br/website/biografia.htm|archive-date=July 6, 2011}}</ref>
Two years later, ''Pedaços'' (December 12, 1979, ], ]), was a definitive landmark and acclaimed by critics and audience <ref> </ref>. First presented in October, was considered ''the best show of the year'', and in terms of audience, it was only surpassed by annual spectacle of ]. Directed by Flávio Rangel, who included '']'' (''Caminhando'') in the repertory, celebrating ''the first public hearing'' of this political hymn in her voice. For such was the excellent repercussion amid critics and audience that her interpretation was just not more popular than that of the composer himself, ]. Simone was ''the first artist ever to sing 'Caminhando''' after censorship's lift: ''When I started to sing at the 'Canecão', everybody sang together and this was wonderful. 'Caminhando' is a typical song of the collective unconscious and this is very moving for lots of people''.


===The largest album seller of the 1980s===
The birth of a social artistic attitude and its excellent response would follow her along the career and would be emphasized by other coming successes, such as: ''Disputa de Poder and Louvor a Chico Mendes, Maria, Maria, Uma nova mulher, O sal da Terra, Será, Pão e poesia e Isto aqui o qué''. At the end of the broadcasted ''Delírios e delícias'' (]) show she claimed for '']'', the greatest popular demand for democracy and the end of dictatorship in the country's history. Later, in ], along with ] and Cláudia Raia, she made public her support to the right-wing candidate and close friend ]. An artist whose shows ended with flowers distributed to the audience was now not only the greatest voice for Vandre's lyrics, she was also, along with many other artists, living each verse of them: ''Yet they make of a flower their strongest refrain, And believe flowers to defeat guns''.
According to '']'' (Brazil's largest weekly news magazine): "Simone Bittencourt de Oliveira was born twice. The first time, in 1949, in a lower-class ] area, in ]. The second time was last February 7 at the ']', in ], when she raised a vibrant chorus of 90,000 at the 'Canta Brasil' spectacle, singing 'Caminhando'. When her presentation ended, she was another shining star in the sky." She recorded her career's first golden disc and an eponymous program for '']'', recorded live at the 'Globo Theater' (March 1980). The program, ''Simone Bittencourt de Oliveira'', was the first of a series called ''Grandes Nomes.'' Also in 1979, she was present at the ''Festival de Música Popular Brasileira'', interpreting ''Para Lennon & McCartney'' (by Márcio and ] and Fernando Brant). In 1982, the same magazine would declare Simone to be the largest album seller of the decade<ref>{{cite web|url=http://noticias.bol.uol.com.br/entretenimento/2009/04/01/ult4738u22082.jhtm|title=Caixa reúne fase de maior prestígio artístico da cantora Simone – BOL Notícias|website=noticias.bol.uol.com.br}}</ref> on the cover, with seven pages of coverage.


From the 1960s, when the ''Festival de Música Popular Brasileira'' series was launched (]), until the 1980s, Brazilian television broadcast programs from live music festivals. ''Mulher 80'' (]) exhibited a series of interviews and musicals discussing women's role in society with an approach to the national music evolution and the predominance of female voices, including ], ], ], ], Simone, ], ], ], ] and ] and Narjara Turetta from the '']'' TV series. In an interview given to '']'' journal (nº 572, from June 13 to 19, 1980), Elis Regina said about her: "I Like Simone very much. Potentially, there is a talent to bloom out. She is a beautiful woman; her repertoire is very good, and she is very well guided by Flávio Rangel and Nelson Ayres."
===The largest album seller of the Eighties===
According to '']'' (Brazil's largest weekly news magazine): ''Simone Bittencourt de Oliveira was born twice. The first, in 1949, in a low-class ] area, in ]. The second, in the last February 7, at the ']', in ], when she raised a vibrant chorus of 90,000 at the 'Canta Brasil' spectacle, singing 'Caminhando'. When presentation ended, she was another shining star in the sky''. Success assured career's ''first golden disc'' and an eponymous program for '']'', recorded alive at the 'Globo Theater' (march, 1980). The program, ''Simone Bittencourt de Oliveira'', was the first of a series called ''Grandes Nomes''. Still, in this glorious year of 1979, she was present at the ''Festival de Música Popular Brasileira'', interpreting ''Para Lennon & McCartney'' (by Márcio and ] and Fernando Brant). In ], the same magazine would stamp Simone, the largest album seller of the decade, on the cover, with a seven pages coverage.


At the age of 32, she became the first female singer to fill the ]. In February 1982, 15,000 to 20,000 people attended ''Canta Brasil'' to see her perform music by ], ], ], ], ], ], ], Hermínio Bello de Carvalho, Isolda, ] and ]. In December 1983, she drew a crowd of 150,000 people to '']'' to see a live transmission of '']'' for a New Year's TV show.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.simone.art.br/website/bio_80_03.htm|title=Simone'', ''Official WebSite|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706150738/http://www.simone.art.br/website/bio_80_03.htm|archive-date=July 6, 2011}}</ref>
Since the 1960s, when ''Festival de Música Popular Brasileira'' series were launched (]), until the 1980s, Brazilian television was marked by the great audience of those broadcasted programs from live music festivals. ''Mulher 80'' (]) was one of these remarkable ones; the program exhibited a series of interviews and musicals aimed to discussing women's role in society with an approach to the national music evolvement and the indisputable predominance of female voices: presenting ], ], ], ], Simone, ], ], ], ] and the extra participation of ] and Narjara Turetta, from '']'' TV series. On an interview to '']'' journal (nº 572, from 13th to 19/06/1980), Elis Regina talks about her: ''Elis, from all of these new talents, is there anyone to look at with attention?: "I Like Simone very much. Potentially, there is a talent to bloom out. She is a beautiful woman, her repertory is very good and she is very well orientated by Flávio Rangel and Nelson Ayres"''.


As her career grew, Simone became increasingly involved in political activities. She helped raise funds with '']'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.raimundofagner.com.br/nordesteja.htm|title=Raimundo Fagner – O Blog d Raimundo|website=Raimundo Fagner|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070816062634/http://www.raimundofagner.com.br/nordesteja.htm|archive-date=August 16, 2007}}</ref> a Brazilian version of the American charity efforts '']'' or '']''. The 155 ] of voices recorded a compact disc with two songs of hers, ''Chega de Mágoa'' and ''Seca D'Água''.
At the age of 32 she became the first female singer to fill the ]. In February ] 15 to 20 thousand people crowded ''Canta Brasil'' to see her perform music by ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], Isolda, ] and ]. In December ] she drew a crowd of 150 thousand people to '']'' to see a live transmission of '']'' for a New Year's TV show.


In May 2006, in a pocket show at ''Bourbon Street Nightclub'' in ], Simone and her band performed for the ''Credicard Project''. Notable recent performances include the ones in ], where the audience stood by the stage clapping for more than five minutes straight; and in Miami, along with ]. By June 2007, the ''Coliseum of Santos'' received an icon of ] who had once been a resident. ''Amigo é Casa'', sharing the stage with ], was a show for the recording of an eponymous DVD and aimed to mark the partnership she had with ] for the past two years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.coliseudoporto.pt/net/desenvEvento.aspx?c=482&a=1705|title=Coliseu do Porto'', ''Simone e Zelia Duncan|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100522005452/http://www.coliseudoporto.pt/net/desenvEvento.aspx?c=482&a=1705|archive-date=May 22, 2010}}</ref>
As her success grew, Simone continued to be involved in political activities. She helped raise funds with '']''<ref> </ref>, a Brazilian version of the American charity efforts '']'' or '']''. The 155 ] voices recorded a ] with two songs, ''Chega de mágoa'' and ''Seca d´água''.

In may 2006, in a pocket show at ''Bourbon Street Nightclub'' in ], Simone along with the band presented a romantic repertoire and delighted the audience with unusual arrangements, within a '']y'' tone, for the ''Credicard Project''. Among the most recent presentations, stands out the ones in ], where she was praised by the audience who stood by the stage clapping for more than five minutes straight; in ], along with ], was acclaimed by critics who considered the show one of the best ones in recent years. By June 2007, the ''Coliseum of Santos'' enthusiastically received an icon of ] who was one day an unknown dweller. ''Amigo é Casa'', sharing the stage with ], was a show for the recording of an eponymous DVD and aimed to mark the partnership she evolved along with ] for the past two years.


==Repertoire== ==Repertoire==
In the history of MPB the tradition of romanticism was overly intensified during the eighties and the themes of ''romantic love'', ''passion'', were thoroughly explored by singers and composers. Simone, whose repertoire has been predominantly romantic since the beginning of her career, is one of them, and she is for this reason categorized as a ''romantic singer''; her repertoire comprehends some 350 interpretations, one of the largest and most diversified among Brazilian female singers. The themes of ''romantic love'', ''passion'', (''Começar de Novo, Jura Secreta, Corpo, Medo de Amar nº2, Raios de luz, Lenha''), ''samba'', (''O Amanhã, Disputa de Poder, Ex-amor''), and ''religious songs'', (''Cantos de Maculelê, Reis e rainhas do Maracatu, Então é Natal, Ave Maria, Jesus Cristo''), are the most frequent on her work. Her repertoire includes some 350 interpretations, one of the largest among Brazilian female singers. The themes of romantic love and passion (''Começar de Novo, Jura Secreta, Corpo, Medo de Amar nº2, ]'', and ''Lenha''), samba (''O Amanhã, To Voltando, Disputa de Poder, and Ex-amor''), and religious songs (''Cantos de Maculelê, Reis e rainhas do Maracatu, Então é Natal, Ave Maria'', and ''Jesus Cristo''), are the frequent in her work.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Mazzola|first=Marco|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X5u8DwAAQBAJ&dq=%22raios+de+luz%22+++%22simone%22&pg=PT173|title=Ouvindo estrelas|date=2019-11-06|publisher=Mza|isbn=978-85-9486-313-3|language=pt-BR}}</ref>


During childhood and teenage years the main references of this romantic repertoire were ], ], of whom she is a great fan and who has a great influence on her work, ], Ângela Maria, ] -- the most relevant names of the '']'' or ''fossa'' (''gloom'') gender. Often compared to ], for the featured exaltation and exploration of romantic love or the suffering of a non accomplished love affair was also called "''elbow ache''" (jealousy, heart ache). Samba-canção preceded the ] music style, with which Maysa was associated. But this one, inheritor of the American ], presented a more refined, gentle and soft ] and interpretations, in detriment of those resented, melancholic ones. Maysa's legacy, although it points to a bossa nova bias, is that of a more dramatic singer and it would be more properly linked to the ] and ] rhythm <ref> {{pt icon}} </ref>. Simone's manifested fondness for ''boleros'' results from this musical heritage <ref> </ref>. During her childhood and teenage years, the main influences on this romantic repertoire were ], ], ], Ângela Maria, and ]—names of the '']'' or ''fossa'' (''gloom'') genre. Samba-canção preceded the ] music style, with which Maysa was associated, and had presented more gentle or soft ] and interpretations. Maysa's legacy, even with its bossa nova bias, is that of a more dramatic singer and it would be more properly linked to the ] and ] rhythm.<ref> {{in lang|pt}}</ref> Simone's fondness for boleros results from this musical heritage.<ref></ref>


From the albums recorded after the eighties, a period regarded as a more popular one, stands out ''Simone Bittencourt de Oliveira'' (1995), that brought ''ballads'' among other classic and consecrated samba composers; ''Café com leite'' (1996), a tribute to ]; ''Seda pura'', an incursion to the pop (2001) and ''Baiana da gema'', a tribute to ] (2004)--works regarded as a reunion of a more refined repertoire and more selective arrangements. Among these stands out the renowned ''Café com leite'', in which she notably interprets Martinho da Vila's sambas. The singer and composer ] is among the public admirers of this album: ''Simone's album with ]'s compositions, I find divine, divine and nobody said anything... The press fakes that is not anything. That is divine. His repertoire fits her very well -- that album is the kind I like to listen to at home, alone, together with my favourites. She gave clarity to those compositions, it is beautiful. And it was a project thought by the recording of a singer that would sing an author, combined, don't know how was it, but it is beautiful, it is wonderful the result. And she is a great singer, very good, I adore. A very beautiful voice which makes one feels good''. Among her albums recorded after the 1980s, those that stand out include ''Simone Bittencourt de Oliveira'' (1995), featuring ballads among other classic and consecrated samba composers; ''Café com Leite'' (1996), a tribute to ]; ''Seda Pura'', an incursion into pop (2001) and ''Baiana da gema'', a tribute to ] (2004)--works regarded as a reunion of a more refined repertoire and more selective arrangements. Among these is ''Café com Leite'', in which she interprets Martinho da Vila's sambas. Singer and composer ] publicly offered his admiration for this album:
<blockquote>Simone's album of ]'s compositions, I find divine, divine and yet it went unheralded... The press acted as if it was nothing special. It is divine. His repertoire fits her very well—that album is the kind I like to listen to at home, alone, together with my favourites. She gave clarity to those compositions, it is beautiful. And it was a project conceived as the recording of a singer perfectly suited to interpret a composer, I don't know how it came to be, but it is beautiful, it is a wonderful result. And she is a great singer, very good, I adore her. A very beautiful voice which makes one feels good.<ref>''Jornal da Tarde'', June 2006</ref></blockquote>


''As an interpreter'', ], Vitor Martins, ], Fernando Brant, Paulo César Pinheiro, ], ], ], ], ], ], Isolda, ], ], ], Sueli Costa e Abel Silva, ''are those with larger number of interpretations in the voice''. The ''current repertoire'' includes ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and ]. As an interpreter of others' compositions, Simone has foregrounded ], Vitor Martins, ], Fernando Brant, Paulo César Pinheiro, ], ], ], ], ], ], Isolda, ], ], ], Sueli Costa and ]. Her current repertoire includes ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Simone Best Songs List: Top, New, & Old|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/simone-mn0000048571/songs|access-date=2022-02-07|website=AllMusic|language=en}}</ref>


=="Começar de novo"==
==Spirituality==
The song "Começar de novo", from her ''Pedaços'' album (1979), stands out for being the theme song of the TV series '']'' (''Rede Globo'', 1979), a primetime soap opera that involved controversial issues at that time such as women's liberation, divorce, abortion, and ]. The character Malu (played by ]) was the first to take birth-control pills on a TV drama. Simone was chosen to interpret it instead of ], who also sought that distinction.{{Citation needed|date=July 2009}} The composition was written especially for the series by Ivan Lins and Vítor Martins.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://memoriaglobo.globo.com/Memoriaglobo/0,27723,GYN0-5273-249902,00.html|title=MALU MULHER|website=memoriaglobo.globo.com|access-date=February 14, 2009|archive-date=April 25, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090425012947/http://memoriaglobo.globo.com/Memoriaglobo/0,27723,GYN0-5273-249902,00.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
] has been expressed publicly in her career, especially esoteric and religious interests. At the beginning of her career, she had a very significant encounter with Mário Troncoso, who introduced to ] and was her ] <ref> </ref> <ref> </ref> for some years. Since she was a child, Simone used to see a light focus that appeared occasionally and which she attributed to the eleven degree near-sightedness of her right eye. The guru, without knowing her, explained the occurrence of this phenomenon by introducing her to some ] principles and to the ] <ref> </ref>.


"Começar de Novo" was also recorded by ] and ]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://memoriaglobo.globo.com/Memoriaglobo/0,27723,GYN0-5273-249902,00.html|title=MALU MULHER|website=memoriaglobo.globo.com|access-date=February 14, 2009|archive-date=April 25, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090425012947/http://memoriaglobo.globo.com/Memoriaglobo/0,27723,GYN0-5273-249902,00.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> with English lyrics as "The Island". Because of this interpretation, the North American producer ] cites Simone as "one of the world's greatest singers".<ref>''Rede Bandeirantes, Flash Program, 2006''</ref> Alongside Jones, ], compares her to Sarah Vaughan and ], referring to her "strong identity, passion, and grace".<ref>Folha de S. Paulo, (June 9, 2007)</ref> ] has referred to Simone as one of his favourites among Brazilian female singers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.estadao.com.br/estadaodehoje/20081104/not_imp271947,0.php|title=''O estado de S. Paulo'', ''Não canto mais pelo dinheiro'', diz Iglesias}}</ref>
Aside from her initiation into the principles of Theosophy, what stands out among all that was learned, was the association of this light focus to a spiritual master's discovery, activated by the white light of ], an ] who works with the fourth ray and the ''base of the spine chakra'', as well as the ''heart chakra'' (on the diaphragm), the fourth ] (in the Catholic tradition, this ''chakra'' is symbolized by the ''luminous heart'' of Christ), guiding spiritual artists and musicians in harmony and creativity. In the public life this discover had as consequence the practice of some idiosyncrasies, guided by Troncoso, as the adoption ever since of the inseparable white clothing, that symbolizes the Spiritual Purity, Peace and the ascension to the Light and it seeks to honor the master, besides the habit of lighten incenses and praying before entering in the stage. Thus, it is for this reason that ''Simone is always wearing a white clothing''; also in honor of her master she recorded ''Raios de luz'' Cd (''Rays of light'') (]), which was also a tribute to ]. ``''The roses are a form of gratitude, it is my memory to the audience. And the white clothes already comes from a long time. The white is the unification of all the colors and it symbolizes my spiritual master, that accompanies me always''´´ <ref> ''Jornal Paraná On-Line'', September 28 2007 </ref>.

Her Christian spirituality is thus manifested in the songs she chooses as repertoire, the clothing, scenery, and in her personal life:
*Born in the Christmas day, December 25;
*The gesture of opening her arms like a cross, so much that ] declared: "''When Simone opens her arms on the stage, no one is more powerful on ]''";
*The biblical ] is recurrent for her: she is the ''seventh'' daughter, born ''seven'' minutes after midnight, in a ''seven'' day (2 + 5); according to the ] the sum of her name results in a ''seven'' ("6" is the sum of all vowels and "1" the sum of all consonants) and has twenty ''seven'' letters; the first two letters of her name ''SI'' is also the ''seventh'' musical note: Do - Re - Mi - Fa - Sol - La - '''Si'''; her rising sign is ], the ''seventh'' star sign of the ];
*In the beginning of her career she met a ] that introduced her to the principles of Theosophy after the first meeting between them. Without telling him anything, he explained why she used to see a light colorless focus. Together they discovered Simone's spiritual master, ], who acts on the fourth ray by a colorless light (or white), which is, in the ] tradition, symbolized by the ''luminous heart of Christ'';
*The habit of praying before entering the stage; the many statements she does thanking ] for her gifts;
*''25 December'' is the name of an album she launched and which was the record sale of the career, reaching over 1.2 million copies in the ] version and 2.0 million in the ] version;
*As one of the top romantic singers in Brazil, she has love (which is also the central philosophy of Christianity) as the central theme of her repertoire.

==Hits==
She is known for her charismatic stage presence, her tall, athletic body dressed in white clothes and—and a characteristic gesture where she opens her arms in a cross <ref> </ref>, as if contemplating the songs. Simone ends her shows by distributing flowers, white roses, to the audience. On request, she received in ], from her friend ''Bituca'', Milton Nascimento <ref> </ref>, the composition that later became the nickname, ''Cigarra'' (''Buzzer''), of the homonymous disk thrown in the same year. The request for a song with the ''cicada'' theme came from Simone herself because of an event that happened in Salvador, when Simone affirms she was surprised by a voice that repeated three times the word ''cicada'' being addressed her and in an unusual way.

The lyric refers to ]'s famous fable, the '']'', as in the passage:

::...''because you asked for a song to sing, as the cicada it tears of so much light and it fills with sound the air... because the ant is the best friend of the cicada, roots of the same fable that she scratches, she weaves and she spreads in the air...because it is still winter in our heart, that song is to sing as the cicada lights the summer and it illuminates the air...''

Apart from ''Cigarra'', many other songs were consecrated on her voice: ''Começar de Novo, Jura Secreta, Medo de amar no. 2, O ronco da cuíca, Face a face, Cordilheiras, Bodas de Prata, Quem é você, De frente pro crime, Fantasia, Quatro paredes, Desgosto, Mar e lua, Novo tempo, Música música, Condenados, Encontros e Despedidas, A distância, Outra vez, Danadinho danado, Canta canta minha gente, Disritmia, Sangrando, Cantos do maculelê, Louvor a Chico Mendes, Será, Sou eu, Você é real, Voltei pro morro, Samba de Orly, Reis e rainhas do maracatu, Caçador de Mim, Sob medida, Maria Maria, Iolanda, Quem te viu quem te vê, Tô que tô, Tô Voltando, Gota d'água, Me deixas louca, Vida, Pão e Poesia, O Amanhã, Pra não dizer que não falei das flores, Disputa de Poder, Uma nova mulher, O que será, Loca, Procuro Olvidarte, Raios de Luz, Tudo por amor, Tudo bem, Alma, Corpo, Amor no coração, Codinome beija-flor, Ex-amor, Um Desejo só não Basta, Amor explícito, Então é Natal, Jesus Cristo, Lenha, Separação, É festa, Pedaço de mim, Desesperar jamais, Saindo de mim, Começaria tudo outra vez, Veneziana, Idade do céu, Matriz ou filial, Cofre de seda, Muito estranho, Então me diz, Existe um céu'' <ref> </ref>.

The anthological ''Começar de novo'', from ''Pedaços'' album (]), stands out as the most outstanding success <ref> </ref> and for it being also the theme song of the Tv series '']'' (''Rede Globo'', 1979), that revolved controversial issues at that time such as the feminine emancipation, ], ] and ]. The character ''Malu'' (played by ]) was the first to take birth-control pill on Tv. Simone was chosen to interpret it in detriment of ], also cogitated for the interpretation. The composition, that was written especially for the series, by Ivan Lins and Vítor Martins, became a great success at the time and a landmark in the history of MPB <ref> </ref>.

''Começar de Novo'' was also recorded by ] and ] <ref> </ref>. The North American producer ] stands as one of her greatest admirers of this interpretation; admiration which he extends to her talent, citing Simone as "one of the world´s greatest singers" <ref> ''Rede Bandeirantes, Flash Program, 2006'' </ref>. Along with Jones, stands ], who compares her to ] and ], referring her ''strong identity, passion and grace"'' <ref> Folha de S. Paulo, (June 9th 2007) </ref>. ] <ref> </ref> , ], the Portuguese composer ] and ], who mentions her ''unique voice'' and who has ''downloaded all her songs to his personal IPod'' <ref> </ref>, refer Simone as one of their favourites among Brazilian female singers.

==Duets==
Simone has performed duets with many other well known artists, including ], ], Isolda, ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], José Luis Rodrigues, ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], Hebe Camargo, Marília Gabriela, Ângela Maria, and ].

Her albums have sold over 15.0 million copies with twenty ]s, sixteen ]s, and one ].


==Bibliography== ==Bibliography==

* ''Travessia: A vida de Milton Nascimento''. Maria Dolores. 2006. Rcb Publisher. * ''Travessia: A vida de Milton Nascimento''. Maria Dolores. 2006. Rcb Publisher.
* ''1985, O ano em que o Brasil recomeçou''. Edmundo Barreiros e Pedro Só. 2006. Ediouro Publisher. * ''1985, O ano em que o Brasil recomeçou''. Edmundo Barreiros e Pedro Só. 2006. Ediouro Publisher.
* ''História sexual da MPB. Rodrigo Faour''. 2006. Rcb publisher. * ''História sexual da MPB. Rodrigo Faour''. 2006. Rcb publisher.
* ''Nada será como antes, a MPB nos anos 70. Ana Maria Bahiana''. 2006. Senac Publisher. * ''Nada será como antes, a MPB nos anos 70. Ana Maria Bahiana''. 2006. Senac Publisher.
* ''Timoneiro - Perfil Biográfico de Hermínio Bello de Carvalho''. Alexandre Pavan. 2006. Casa da Palavra Publisher. * ''Timoneiro – Perfil Biográfico de Hermínio Bello de Carvalho''. Alexandre Pavan. 2006. Casa da Palavra Publisher.
* ''Toquinho: 40 anos de música''. João Carlos Pecci. 2005. RCS Publisher . * ''Toquinho: 40 anos de música''. João Carlos Pecci. 2005. RCS Publisher .
* ''Viver de Teatro - Uma biografia de Flávio Rangel''. José Rubens Siqueira. Nova Alexandria Publisher. * ''Viver de Teatro – Uma biografia de Flávio Rangel''. José Rubens Siqueira. Nova Alexandria Publisher.
**''Bibliography not critical. Just citations.''


==Discography== ==Discography==
===]=== ===EMI===
* 1973 - ''Simone'' * 1973 – ''Simone''
* 1973 - ''Brasil Export'' * 1973 – ''Brasil Export''
* 1973 - ''Expo Som 73 - ao vivo'' * 1973 – ''Expo Som 73 – ao vivo''
* 1974 - ''Festa Brasil'' * 1974 – ''Festa Brasil''
* 1974 - ''Quatro Paredes'' * 1974 – ''Quatro Paredes''
* 1975 - ''Gotas D'Água'' * 1975 – ''Gotas D'Água''
* 1977 - ''Face a Face'' * 1977 – ''Face a Face''
* 1978 - ''Cigarra'' * 1978 – ''Cigarra''
* 1979 - ''Pedaços'' * 1979 – ''Pedaços''
* 1980 - ''Simone Ao Vivo no Canecão'' * 1980 – ''Simone Ao Vivo no Canecão''
* 1980 - ''Simone'' (Atrevida) * 1980 – ''Simone'' (Atrevida)


===Sony BMG / CBS=== ===Sony BMG / CBS===
* 1981 - ''Amar'' * 1981 – ''Amar''
* 1982 - ''Corpo e Alma'' * 1982 – ''Corpo e Alma''
* 1983 - ''Delírios e Delícias'' * 1983 – ''Delírios e Delícias''
* 1984 - ''Desejos'' * 1984 – ''Desejos''
* 1985 - ''Cristal'' * 1985 – ''Cristal''
* 1986 - ''Amor e Paixão'' * 1986 – ''Amor e Paixão''
* 1987 - ''Vício'' * 1987 – ''Vício''
* 1988 - ''Sedução'' * 1988 – ''Sedução''
* 1989 - ''Simone'' (Tudo por Amor) * 1989 – ''Simone'' (Tudo por Amor)
* 1991 - ''Raio de Luz'' * 1991 – ''Raio de Luz''
* 1991 - ''Simone - ]'' (Espanhol) (featuring ]) * 1991 – ''Simone – ]'' (Spanish) (featuring ])
* 1993 - ''Sou Eu'' * 1993 – ''Sou Eu''
* 1993 - ''La Distancia'' (Espanhol) * 1993 – ''La Distancia'' (Spanish)
* 1995 - ''Simone Simone'' * 1995 – ''Simone Simone''
* 1995 - ''Dos Enamoradas'' (Espanhol) * 1995 – ''Dos Enamoradas'' (Spanish)


===Universal / Polygram=== ===Universal / Polygram===
* 1995 - ''25 de Dezembro'' * 1995 – ''25 de Dezembro''
* 1996 - ''Café com Leite'' * 1996 – ''Café com Leite''
* 1996 - ''25 de diciembre'' (Spanish) * 1996 – ''25 de diciembre'' (Spanish)
* 1997 - ''Brasil, O Show'' - Live * 1997 – ''Brasil, O Show'' – Live
* 1998 - ''Loca'' (Espanhol) * 1998 – ''Loca'' (Espanhol)
* 2000 - ''Fica Comigo Esta Noite'' * 2000 – ''Fica Comigo Esta Noite''
* 2001 - ''Seda Pura'' * 2001 – ''Seda Pura''
* 2002 - ''Feminino'' - Live * 2002 – ''Feminino'' – Live


===EMI=== ===EMI===
* 2004 - ''Baiana da Gema'' * 2004 – ''Baiana da Gema''
* 2005 - ''Simone ao Vivo'' * 2005 – ''Simone ao Vivo''


===]=== ===Biscoito Fino===
* ''Amigo é Casa'' * ''Amigo é Casa'' (CD)
* ''Amigo é Casa'' (DVD) * ''Amigo é Casa'' (DVD)
* ''Na Veia''


===EMI===
==Brazilian soap opera theme songs==
* ''Um desejo só não basta'' (Corpo a Corpo) - Sony * ''O canto da Cigarra nos anos 70'' (CD)
* ''Pensamentos'' (Explode Coração) - Universal
* ''Íntimo'' (Uma Esperança no Ar) - Sony
* ''Naquela noite com Yoko'' (Brilhante) - Sony
* ''Quem é Você'' (A Próxima Vítima) - Sony
* ''É festa'' (Senhora do Destino) - Universal
* ''Sentimental demais'' (Laços de Família) - Universal
* ''Será'' (Perigosas Peruas) - Sony
* ''Desafio'' (]) - Sony
* ''Apaixonada''(]) - Sony
* ''Então Me Diz'' (Belíssima) - EMI
* ''Raios de Luz'' (De Corpo e Alma) - Sony
* ''Muito Estranho'' (Desejos de Mulher) - Universal
* ''Veneziana'' (A Lua me Disse) - EMI
* ''Seu Corpo'' (Sassaricando) - Sony
* ''Loca-Crazy'' (Torre de Babel) - Universal
* ''Tô Que Tô'' (Sol de Verão) - Sony
* ''Anjo de Mim'' (Anjo de Mim) - Sony
* ''Em Flor'' (Roda de Fogo) - Sony
* ''Amor explícito'' (Corpo Santo) - Sony
* ''Carta Marcada'' (Araponga) - Sony
* ''Beija, Me Beija, Me Beija'' (O Amor Está no Ar) - Universal
* ''Uma Nova Mulher'' (Tieta) - Sony
* ''Sob Medida'' (Os Gigantes) - EMI
* ''Saindo de Mim'' (Chega Mais) - EMI
* ''Medo de Amar nº 2'' (Sinal de Alerta) - EMI
* ''Povo da Raça Brasil'' (Terras do Sem Fim) - EMI
* ''Mulher da Vida'' (Champagne) - Sony
* ''O Tempo Não Pára'' (O Salvador da Pátria) - Sony
* ''Começar de Novo'' (Malu Mulher) - EMI
* ''A Outra'' (Roque Santeiro) - Sony
* ''Desesperar jamais'' (Água Viva) - EMI
* ''Face a Face'' (O Pulo do Gato) - EMI
* ''Valsa do Desejo'' (Força de um Desejo) - Universal
* ''Mundo Delirante'' (Elas por Elas) - Sony
* ''Vento nordeste'' (Pé de Vento) - EMI
* ''Existe um céu'' (Paraíso Tropical) - EMI
* ''Jura secreta'' (O Profeta e Memórias de Amor) - EMI
* ''Cigarra'' (Cara a Cara) - EMI'
* ''Ela disse-me assim'' (Os Imigrantes - Terceira Geração) - EMI
* ''Então vale a pena'' (Salário mínimo) - EMI
* ''O que será'' (]) - EMI
* ''Enrosco'' (Paixões Proibidas) - EMI

==Album Sales==
* Simone (1972) - 5 thousand
* Quatro Paredes (1974) - 50 thousand
* Gota d'Água (1975) - 50 thousand
* Face a Face (1977) - 140 thousand
* Cigarra (1978) - 140 thousand
* Pedaços (1979) - 250 thousand
* Ao Vivo (1980) - 300 thousand
* Simone (1980) - 300 thousand
* Amar (1981) - 400 thousand
* Corpo e Alma (1982) - 700 thousand
* Delírios e Delícias (1983) - 300 thousand
* Desejos (1984) - 300 thousand
* Cristal (1985) - 500 thousand
* Amor e Paixão (1986) - 800 mil thousand
* Sedução (1988) - 250 thousand
* Simone (1989) - 250 thousand
* Raio de Luz (1991) - 100 thousand
* Simone Bittencourt de Oliveira (1995) - 300 thousand
* 25 de Dezembro (1995) - 1,2 million
* Café com Leite (1996) - 600 thousand
* 25 de diciembre (1996) - 2 million
* Brasil O Show (1997) - 100 thousand
* Loca (1998) - 100 thousand
* Fica Comigo Esta Noite (2000) - 100 thousand
* Seda Pura (2001) - 68 thousand
* Feminino (2002) - 53 thousand
* Baiana da Gema (2004) - 50 thousand
* Ao Vivo (2005) - 100 thousand
* Ao Vivo (2006) (DVD) - 25 thousand
* '''Total: 7.231.'''


===Brazilian soap opera theme songs===
==Main Spectacles==
* ''Um desejo só não basta'' (Corpo a Corpo) – Sony
* 1973: ''Panorama brasileiro'' Feira ''Brasil Export de Bruxelas'' (''Bélgica'') e ''Olympia de Paris'' (''França'')
* ''Pensamentos'' (Explode Coração) – Universal
* 1973: ''Simone'', Turnê nos ''Estados Unidos'' e no ''Canadá''
* ''Íntimo'' (Uma Esperança no Ar) – Sony
* 1973: ''Expo 73'', ''Esporte Clube Pinheiros'', São Paulo
* ''Naquela noite com Yoko'' (Brilhante) – Sony
* 1977: ''Projeto Pixinguinha'', ''Teatro Dulcina'', ''Rio de Janeiro'' e turnê nacional
* ''Quem é Você'' (A Próxima Vítima) – Sony
* 1978: ''Cigarra'', ''Canecão'', ''Rio de Janeiro''
* ''É festa'' (Senhora do Destino) – Universal
* 1979: ''Pedaços'', ''Canecão'' (RJ) e turnê nacional
* ''Sentimental demais'' (Laços de Família) – Universal
* 1981: ''Simone'', ''Maracanãzinho'', ''Rio de Janeiro''
* ''Será'' (Perigosas Peruas) – Sony
* 1982: ''Canta Brasil'', ''Estádio do Morumbi'', ''São Paulo''
* ''Desafio'' (]) – Sony
* 1982: ''Corpo e alma'', ''Canecão'', ''Rio de Janeiro''
* ''Apaixonada'' (]) – Sony
* 1992: ''Sou eu'', ''Estádio do Morumbi'', ''São Paulo''
* ''Então Me Diz'' (Belíssima) – EMI
* 1997: ''Brasil, o Show'', ''Metropolitan'', ''Rio de Janeiro''
* ''Raios de Luz'' (De Corpo e Alma) – Sony
* 2000: ''Fica comigo esta noite'', ''Canecão'', ''Rio de Janeiro''
* ''Muito Estranho'' (Desejos de Mulher) – Universal
* 2004: ''Baiana da Gema'', ''Tom Brasil'', ''São Paulo''
* ''Veneziana'' (A Lua me Disse) – EMI
* 2004: ''Baiana da Gema'', ''Canecão'', ''Rio de Janeiro''
* ''Seu Corpo'' (Sassaricando) – Sony
* 2004: ''Baiana da Gema'', ''Scala'', ''Rio de Janeiro''
* ''Loca-Crazy'' (Torre de Babel) – Universal
* 2005: ''Baiana da gema'', ''Claro Hall'', ''Rio de Janeiro''
* ''Tô Que Tô'' (Sol de Verão) – Sony
* 2006: ''Projeto Credicard Vozes'', ''Bourbon Street'', ''São Paulo''
* ''Anjo de Mim'' (Anjo de Mim) – Sony
* 2006: ''Simone'' ''Canecão'', ''Rio de Janeiro''
* ''Em Flor'' (Roda de Fogo) – Sony
* 2006: ''Simone e Ivan Lins'', ''Au-Rene Theater'', ''Broward Center'', ''Miami''
* ''Amor explícito'' (Corpo Santo) – Sony
* 2006: ''Tom Acústico com Zélia Duncan'', ''Tom Brasil'', ''São Paulo''
* ''Carta Marcada'' (Araponga) – Sony
* 2007: ''Santos Coliseum''
* ''Beija, Me Beija, Me Beija'' (O Amor Está no Ar) – Universal
* 2007: ''Casino, Estoril'', ''Portugal''
* ''Uma Nova Mulher'' (Tieta) – Sony
* 2008: ''National tour in Brazil'', ''Amigo é casa'', along with Zélia Duncan
* ''Sob Medida'' (Os Gigantes) – EMI
* 2009: ''National tour in Portugal'', ''Amigo é casa'', along with Zelia Duncan
* ''Saindo de Mim'' (Chega Mais) – EMI
* 2009: ''Em Boa companhia'', Canecão, Rio de Janeiro
* ''Medo de Amar nº 2'' (Sinal de Alerta) – EMI
* 2009: ''Em Boa companhia'', Teattro Bourbon, Rio de Janeiro
* ''Povo da Raça Brasil'' (Terras do Sem Fim) – EMI
* ''Mulher da Vida'' (Champagne) – Sony
* ''O Tempo Não Pára'' (O Salvador da Pátria) – Sony
* ''Começar de Novo'' (Malu Mulher) – EMI
* ''A Outra'' (Roque Santeiro) – Sony
* ''Desesperar jamais'' (Água Viva) – EMI
* ''Face a Face'' (O Pulo do Gato) – EMI
* ''Valsa do Desejo'' (Força de um Desejo) – Universal
* ''Mundo Delirante'' (Elas por Elas) – Sony
* ''Vento nordeste'' (Pé de Vento) – EMI
* ''Existe um céu'' (Paraíso Tropical) – EMI
* ''Jura secreta'' (O Profeta e Memórias de Amor) – EMI
* ''Cigarra'' (Cara a Cara) – EMI'
* ''Ela disse-me assim'' (Os Imigrantes – Terceira Geração) – EMI
* ''Então vale a pena'' (Salário mínimo) – EMI
* ''O que será'' (]) – EMI
* ''Enrosco'' (Paixões Proibidas) – EMI


==References and notes== ==References==
{{Reflist}} {{Reflist}}


==External links== ==External links==
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*
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{{Wikiquote|Simone Bittencourt de Oliveira}} {{Wikiquote|Simone Bittencourt de Oliveira}}
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{{Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award}}
{{Authority control}}

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Latest revision as of 20:29, 22 August 2024

"Simone (Brazilian singer)" redirects here. For other uses, see Simone Mendes and Simone (disambiguation) § People.

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Simone
Simone in 2009Simone in 2009
Background information
Birth nameSimone Bittencourt de Oliveira
Also known asCigarra (Cicada, Buzzer)
Born (1949-12-25) December 25, 1949 (age 75)
Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
GenresRomantic, MPB, samba
OccupationSinger
Years active1973–present
LabelsOdeon, EMI, Universal
Websitewww.Simone.art.br
Musical artist

Simone Bittencourt de Oliveira (born December 25, 1949), better known as Simone, is a Brazilian singer of Música Popular Brasileira (MPB) who has recorded more than 30 albums.

Biography

Simone was born on December 25, 1949, in Salvador, Bahia, as the seventh daughter in a family of nine children. During her teenage years, she was a professional basketball player and moved to São Paulo to become a member of the women's national basketball team. She studied in Santos, São Paulo, majoring in physical education.

Career

Her music career began when a close friend and guitar teacher Elodir Barontini invited her to sing at a dinner with Odeon's marketing manager. At the end of this encounter, specially scheduled for her performance, came an offer of a contract to record not one but four albums at once. Her eponymous debut album was recorded in October 1972 at a low cost and with a few musicians, conducted by José Biamonte. It circulated only among friends, relatives, and artists; ten years later it would be re-edited and with a different cover. On March 20, 1973, Simone was launched for the press in a closed meeting at the Hilton Hotel in São Paulo; later on, she would appear for the first time on a TV program, for TV Bandeirantes. This was followed by an appearance on Mixturação (director/producer Walter Silva, April 1973), a TV Record program where she was one of the promising new talents. Thus, success gradually took place.

When she transitioned from sports to stage performance, she was supported by her father, an amateur opera singer, and her mother, a pianist. Early in her musical career, she was invited to participate in an international tour, starting with a presentation at the Olympia in Paris. This tour was organized by Hermínio Bello de Carvalho, a major record producer in Brazil. They performed at Olympia, Madison Square Garden in New York City, Belgium, and Canada with great success, launching two albums, Brasil Export 73 and Festa Brasil. Both were produced by Hermínio Bello, who would also produce the next two albums, Quatro Paredes and Gotas D'Água, the last with Milton Nascimento's production.

Shows and TV festivals

By 1977, she reached national recognition in Brazil, notably with Jura Secreta, Face a Face and O Que Será. The last, composed by Chico Buarque, was featured in the soundtrack of the film Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands, by Bruno Barreto, which helped to popularize the music. The same year, she also met Chico Buarque at the studio and said, "O Que Será opened doors for me and my career."

From June 16 to September 15, 1978, she was among artists of the Projeto Pixinguinha that traveled around the country with upcoming new singers. An excerpt from the Projeto comments on her success:

In 1977, beyond launching 'Face a Face' and the Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands soundtrack, she was acclaimed in a spectacle at the Museu de Arte Moderna. At the Teatro Clara Nunes, directed by Hermínio Bello de Carvalho, she presented "Face a Face". She is improving her performance in each spectacle and is featured now among Brazil's best singers. She has just recorded "Cigarra", singing Gonzaguinha's "Petúnia Resedá" as well as songs by Fagner and Abel Silva ("Sangue e Pudins"), Milton Nascimento and Ronaldo Bastos ("Cigarra").

A performance in 1977 was also claimed to be one of her best. (Excerpt by Funarte): "Along with Belchior, young Simone brought crowds to João Caetano theatre for her Seis e Meia performance on August 25, 1977, and was highly acclaimed when singing 'Gota D'Água'; Seis e Meia marked her first national recognition."

Two years later, on December 12, 1979, her next LP Pedaços was launched at Canecão Rio de Janeiro; it was positively received by critics and drew over 120,000 attendees for the album tour. Pedaços gave her her first golden disc.

The largest album seller of the 1980s

According to Revista Veja (Brazil's largest weekly news magazine): "Simone Bittencourt de Oliveira was born twice. The first time, in 1949, in a lower-class Salvador area, in Bahia. The second time was last February 7 at the 'Morumbi Stadium', in São Paulo, when she raised a vibrant chorus of 90,000 at the 'Canta Brasil' spectacle, singing 'Caminhando'. When her presentation ended, she was another shining star in the sky." She recorded her career's first golden disc and an eponymous program for Rede Globo, recorded live at the 'Globo Theater' (March 1980). The program, Simone Bittencourt de Oliveira, was the first of a series called Grandes Nomes. Also in 1979, she was present at the Festival de Música Popular Brasileira, interpreting Para Lennon & McCartney (by Márcio and Lô Borges and Fernando Brant). In 1982, the same magazine would declare Simone to be the largest album seller of the decade on the cover, with seven pages of coverage.

From the 1960s, when the Festival de Música Popular Brasileira series was launched (Rede Record), until the 1980s, Brazilian television broadcast programs from live music festivals. Mulher 80 (Rede Globo) exhibited a series of interviews and musicals discussing women's role in society with an approach to the national music evolution and the predominance of female voices, including Elis Regina, Maria Bethânia, Fafá de Belém, Marina Lima, Simone, Rita Lee, Joanna, Zezé Motta, Gal Costa and Regina Duarte and Narjara Turetta from the Malu Mulher TV series. In an interview given to O Pasquim journal (nº 572, from June 13 to 19, 1980), Elis Regina said about her: "I Like Simone very much. Potentially, there is a talent to bloom out. She is a beautiful woman; her repertoire is very good, and she is very well guided by Flávio Rangel and Nelson Ayres."

At the age of 32, she became the first female singer to fill the Maracanãzinho Stadium. In February 1982, 15,000 to 20,000 people attended Canta Brasil to see her perform music by Milton Nascimento, Ary Barroso, Chico Buarque, Tom Jobim, Fernando Brant, Vítor Martins, Paulo César Pinheiro, Hermínio Bello de Carvalho, Isolda, Sueli Costa and Abel Silva. In December 1983, she drew a crowd of 150,000 people to Quinta da Boa Vista to see a live transmission of Rede Globo for a New Year's TV show.

As her career grew, Simone became increasingly involved in political activities. She helped raise funds with Nordeste já, a Brazilian version of the American charity efforts We are the World or USA for Africa. The 155 choruses of voices recorded a compact disc with two songs of hers, Chega de Mágoa and Seca D'Água.

In May 2006, in a pocket show at Bourbon Street Nightclub in São Paulo, Simone and her band performed for the Credicard Project. Notable recent performances include the ones in Peru, where the audience stood by the stage clapping for more than five minutes straight; and in Miami, along with Ivan Lins. By June 2007, the Coliseum of Santos received an icon of MPB who had once been a resident. Amigo é Casa, sharing the stage with Zélia Duncan, was a show for the recording of an eponymous DVD and aimed to mark the partnership she had with Zélia Duncan for the past two years.

Repertoire

Her repertoire includes some 350 interpretations, one of the largest among Brazilian female singers. The themes of romantic love and passion (Começar de Novo, Jura Secreta, Corpo, Medo de Amar nº2, Raios de luz, and Lenha), samba (O Amanhã, To Voltando, Disputa de Poder, and Ex-amor), and religious songs (Cantos de Maculelê, Reis e rainhas do Maracatu, Então é Natal, Ave Maria, and Jesus Cristo), are the frequent in her work.

During her childhood and teenage years, the main influences on this romantic repertoire were Roberto Carlos, Maysa Matarazzo, Dolores Duran, Ângela Maria, and Nora Ney—names of the samba-canção or fossa (gloom) genre. Samba-canção preceded the bossa nova music style, with which Maysa was associated, and had presented more gentle or soft melodies and interpretations. Maysa's legacy, even with its bossa nova bias, is that of a more dramatic singer and it would be more properly linked to the bolero and samba-canção rhythm. Simone's fondness for boleros results from this musical heritage.

Among her albums recorded after the 1980s, those that stand out include Simone Bittencourt de Oliveira (1995), featuring ballads among other classic and consecrated samba composers; Café com Leite (1996), a tribute to Martinho da Vila; Seda Pura, an incursion into pop (2001) and Baiana da gema, a tribute to Ivan Lins (2004)--works regarded as a reunion of a more refined repertoire and more selective arrangements. Among these is Café com Leite, in which she interprets Martinho da Vila's sambas. Singer and composer Caetano Veloso publicly offered his admiration for this album:

Simone's album of Martinho da Vila's compositions, I find divine, divine and yet it went unheralded... The press acted as if it was nothing special. It is divine. His repertoire fits her very well—that album is the kind I like to listen to at home, alone, together with my favourites. She gave clarity to those compositions, it is beautiful. And it was a project conceived as the recording of a singer perfectly suited to interpret a composer, I don't know how it came to be, but it is beautiful, it is a wonderful result. And she is a great singer, very good, I adore her. A very beautiful voice which makes one feels good.

As an interpreter of others' compositions, Simone has foregrounded Ivan Lins, Vitor Martins, Milton Nascimento, Fernando Brant, Paulo César Pinheiro, Gonzaguinha, Chico Buarque, Martinho da Vila, Fátima Guedes, João Bosco, Aldir Blanc, Isolda, Roberto Carlos, Hermínio Bello de Carvalho, Paulinho da Viola, Sueli Costa and Abel Silva. Her current repertoire includes Zélia Duncan, Cássia Eller, Adriana Calcanhotto, Aldir Blanc, Joyce, Martinho da Vila, Paulinho da Viola, and Zeca Pagodinho.

"Começar de novo"

The song "Começar de novo", from her Pedaços album (1979), stands out for being the theme song of the TV series Malu Mulher (Rede Globo, 1979), a primetime soap opera that involved controversial issues at that time such as women's liberation, divorce, abortion, and domestic violence. The character Malu (played by Regina Duarte) was the first to take birth-control pills on a TV drama. Simone was chosen to interpret it instead of Maria Bethânia, who also sought that distinction. The composition was written especially for the series by Ivan Lins and Vítor Martins.

"Começar de Novo" was also recorded by Barbra Streisand and Sarah Vaughan with English lyrics as "The Island". Because of this interpretation, the North American producer Quincy Jones cites Simone as "one of the world's greatest singers". Alongside Jones, Brad Mehldau, compares her to Sarah Vaughan and Dinah Washington, referring to her "strong identity, passion, and grace". Julio Iglesias has referred to Simone as one of his favourites among Brazilian female singers.

Bibliography

  • Travessia: A vida de Milton Nascimento. Maria Dolores. 2006. Rcb Publisher.
  • 1985, O ano em que o Brasil recomeçou. Edmundo Barreiros e Pedro Só. 2006. Ediouro Publisher.
  • História sexual da MPB. Rodrigo Faour. 2006. Rcb publisher.
  • Nada será como antes, a MPB nos anos 70. Ana Maria Bahiana. 2006. Senac Publisher.
  • Timoneiro – Perfil Biográfico de Hermínio Bello de Carvalho. Alexandre Pavan. 2006. Casa da Palavra Publisher.
  • Toquinho: 40 anos de música. João Carlos Pecci. 2005. RCS Publisher .
  • Viver de Teatro – Uma biografia de Flávio Rangel. José Rubens Siqueira. Nova Alexandria Publisher.

Discography

EMI

  • 1973 – Simone
  • 1973 – Brasil Export
  • 1973 – Expo Som 73 – ao vivo
  • 1974 – Festa Brasil
  • 1974 – Quatro Paredes
  • 1975 – Gotas D'Água
  • 1977 – Face a Face
  • 1978 – Cigarra
  • 1979 – Pedaços
  • 1980 – Simone Ao Vivo no Canecão
  • 1980 – Simone (Atrevida)

Sony BMG / CBS

  • 1981 – Amar
  • 1982 – Corpo e Alma
  • 1983 – Delírios e Delícias
  • 1984 – Desejos
  • 1985 – Cristal
  • 1986 – Amor e Paixão
  • 1987 – Vício
  • 1988 – Sedução
  • 1989 – Simone (Tudo por Amor)
  • 1991 – Raio de Luz
  • 1991 – Simone – Procuro olvidarte (Spanish) (featuring Hernaldo Zúñiga)
  • 1993 – Sou Eu
  • 1993 – La Distancia (Spanish)
  • 1995 – Simone Simone
  • 1995 – Dos Enamoradas (Spanish)

Universal / Polygram

  • 1995 – 25 de Dezembro
  • 1996 – Café com Leite
  • 1996 – 25 de diciembre (Spanish)
  • 1997 – Brasil, O Show – Live
  • 1998 – Loca (Espanhol)
  • 2000 – Fica Comigo Esta Noite
  • 2001 – Seda Pura
  • 2002 – Feminino – Live

EMI

  • 2004 – Baiana da Gema
  • 2005 – Simone ao Vivo

Biscoito Fino

  • Amigo é Casa (CD)
  • Amigo é Casa (DVD)

EMI

  • O canto da Cigarra nos anos 70 (CD)

Brazilian soap opera theme songs

  • Um desejo só não basta (Corpo a Corpo) – Sony
  • Pensamentos (Explode Coração) – Universal
  • Íntimo (Uma Esperança no Ar) – Sony
  • Naquela noite com Yoko (Brilhante) – Sony
  • Quem é Você (A Próxima Vítima) – Sony
  • É festa (Senhora do Destino) – Universal
  • Sentimental demais (Laços de Família) – Universal
  • Será (Perigosas Peruas) – Sony
  • Desafio (Mulheres de Areia) – Sony
  • Apaixonada (Pantanal) – Sony
  • Então Me Diz (Belíssima) – EMI
  • Raios de Luz (De Corpo e Alma) – Sony
  • Muito Estranho (Desejos de Mulher) – Universal
  • Veneziana (A Lua me Disse) – EMI
  • Seu Corpo (Sassaricando) – Sony
  • Loca-Crazy (Torre de Babel) – Universal
  • Tô Que Tô (Sol de Verão) – Sony
  • Anjo de Mim (Anjo de Mim) – Sony
  • Em Flor (Roda de Fogo) – Sony
  • Amor explícito (Corpo Santo) – Sony
  • Carta Marcada (Araponga) – Sony
  • Beija, Me Beija, Me Beija (O Amor Está no Ar) – Universal
  • Uma Nova Mulher (Tieta) – Sony
  • Sob Medida (Os Gigantes) – EMI
  • Saindo de Mim (Chega Mais) – EMI
  • Medo de Amar nº 2 (Sinal de Alerta) – EMI
  • Povo da Raça Brasil (Terras do Sem Fim) – EMI
  • Mulher da Vida (Champagne) – Sony
  • O Tempo Não Pára (O Salvador da Pátria) – Sony
  • Começar de Novo (Malu Mulher) – EMI
  • A Outra (Roque Santeiro) – Sony
  • Desesperar jamais (Água Viva) – EMI
  • Face a Face (O Pulo do Gato) – EMI
  • Valsa do Desejo (Força de um Desejo) – Universal
  • Mundo Delirante (Elas por Elas) – Sony
  • Vento nordeste (Pé de Vento) – EMI
  • Existe um céu (Paraíso Tropical) – EMI
  • Jura secreta (O Profeta e Memórias de Amor) – EMI
  • Cigarra (Cara a Cara) – EMI'
  • Ela disse-me assim (Os Imigrantes – Terceira Geração) – EMI
  • Então vale a pena (Salário mínimo) – EMI
  • O que será (Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands) – EMI
  • Enrosco (Paixões Proibidas) – EMI

References

  1. All Music Profile: Simone – Biography
  2. "First album recorded". Archived from the original on August 14, 2006.
  3. "Mixturação". Archived from the original on February 23, 2007.
  4. Biography at AllMusic
  5. "Picture of Simone and Hermínio Bello". Archived from the original on April 1, 2007.
  6. "Simone, Official WebSite". Archived from the original on July 6, 2011.
  7. The repercussion of Gotas d'água Archived September 27, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  8. "Simone, Official WebSite". Archived from the original on July 6, 2011.
  9. "Dicionario Mpb". Archived from the original on July 4, 2007.
  10. "Simone, Official webSite". Archived from the original on July 6, 2011.
  11. "Caixa reúne fase de maior prestígio artístico da cantora Simone – BOL Notícias". noticias.bol.uol.com.br.
  12. "Simone, Official WebSite". Archived from the original on July 6, 2011.
  13. "Raimundo Fagner – O Blog d Raimundo". Raimundo Fagner. Archived from the original on August 16, 2007.
  14. "Coliseu do Porto, Simone e Zelia Duncan". Archived from the original on May 22, 2010.
  15. Mazzola, Marco (November 6, 2019). Ouvindo estrelas (in Brazilian Portuguese). Mza. ISBN 978-85-9486-313-3.
  16. Com letras e melodias sofridas, estrelas como Maysa, Dolores Duran e Nora Ney fizeram brilhar o samba-canção em sua versão mais sentimental, a música de fossa (in Portuguese)
  17. CliqueMusic
  18. Jornal da Tarde, June 2006
  19. "Simone Best Songs List: Top, New, & Old". AllMusic. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  20. "MALU MULHER". memoriaglobo.globo.com. Archived from the original on April 25, 2009. Retrieved February 14, 2009.
  21. "MALU MULHER". memoriaglobo.globo.com. Archived from the original on April 25, 2009. Retrieved February 14, 2009.
  22. Rede Bandeirantes, Flash Program, 2006
  23. Folha de S. Paulo, (June 9, 2007)
  24. "O estado de S. Paulo, Não canto mais pelo dinheiro, diz Iglesias".

External links

Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
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