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Deixa Isso Pra La

by Samm Bennett - Polarity Records

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about

I actually first learned this little fragment of samba poetry when I was living in Boston, around the year 1978. I had a duo percussion band with a Brazilian musician Junno Homrich, who taught it to me. I've been doing it off and on, on occasion, over the years: dropping it in spontaneously in improvised music situations and so forth. I didn't ever know anything about it, other than that it comes from Brazil, and that most Brazilians I've met (and tested it out on!) in the ensuing years seemed to know it. I recorded this version in 2008, and it wasn't until then that I actually researched the song and heard the original by Jair Rodriguez (that's Rodriguez's pixely face on the jacket art).

The original song features a "rap" section as well as a sung part. I've left off the sung part for my cover version. I've also done it not in the usual samba feel but with a vaguely capoeira-like rhythmic feel, complete with faux-berimbau. The "berimbau" I'm using for that 2-note rhythm bit is a Cambodian two-string fiddle (though I'm only using 1 string!) that I bought at a flea market here in Tokyo. It's called a tro. Obviously I'm not playing it with a bow, but rather with a stick, berimbau stylee, and pulling on the string to get the 2nd pitch.

Other instruments in use are WaveDrum (on a customized tabla patch), onboard clavinet, wooden rattley bell, a little battery-operated fan gadget playing a piece of metal, hand clap, and a kind of vocal bass line.


Here's the Portuguese lyrics to the spoken part. And by the way, there are syllables that I'm definitely mispronouncing. Apologies to native speakers!

Deixa que digam
Que pensem
Que falem

Deixa isso pralá
Vem pra cá
O que que tem
Eu não estou fazendo nada
Você tambem
Faz mal bater um papo
Assim gostoso com alguem ?
Faz mal bater um papo
Assim gostoso com alguem ?

Here is a (rough?) English translation:

Let them say
think
talk

Leave that over there
Come over here
What's with you?
I'm not doing anything
You aren't either
What's wrong with a good rap
like this with someone?

NOTE: Since this is not my original song, I offer it as a free download. There is a "pay more if you want" option, and, and should you decide to do so, I greatly appreciate your generosity in this regard, to further the musical pursuits. Many thanks.

credits

released February 1, 2021
Samm Bennett: vocal and all instruments
Recorded at Polarity Studio, 2008

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Samm Bennett - Polarity Records image

Samm Bennett - Polarity Records Tokyo, Japan

Singer and songwriter, player of unusual string instruments such as 3-string and 1-string guitar, plus jaw harps, mouthbow, electronics and junk, plus all manner of drums and percussion.

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