Seu Jorge  - Cru (20th Anniversary Edition)

未発表のボーナストラック「Carolina Carol Bela」が収録。国際的に著名なブラジルのシンガー・ソングライターであり俳優のSeu Jorgeが再び登場。2024年に彼のセカンド・ソロアルバム『CRU』が20周年を迎える。このアルバムは「クラシック」として認識され、彼をブラジル音楽の新たな「王」として確立した。『CRU』は、カルト映画『City of God』の公開後にリリースされ、Jérôme Pigeonとのコラボレーションで制作された。パリの伝説的なパーティーでの創造的な興奮の中で、Matthieu Chedidとの出会いがあり、彼はアルバムのレコーディングに参加。

また、Chedidのオープニングアクトを務めたり、Rioのイパネマビーチで行われたコンサートに共演したりするなど、両者の親交が深まった。伝説によれば、Seu Jorgeの『CRU』収録のエルビス・プレスリーの「Don't」のカヴァーを聞いたウェス・アンダーソンが映画『Life Aquatic』に出演オファーをした。映画では、David Bowieの楽曲をポルトガル語で披露し、Bowie自身がその美しさを称賛した。

『CRU』以降、Seu Jorgeは国際的にツアーを行い、成功を収めたアルバムをリリースし、U2やColdplay、Chico Buarqueなど著名なアーティストとコラボしてきた。彼はJorge BenやCaetano Velosoの後継者として、多くの音楽ファンの心をつかんでいる。彼のアーティストとしての才能に加え、リオのファヴェーラ出身の彼は、特に人種平等のための戦いに深く関与しており、隠れた奴隷制度が今なお存在する国で、反人種差別や反外国人感情に立ち向かっている。

『CRU』を語る上で外せないのは、全トラックに参加している優れた音楽家Pretinho da Serrinha。アルバムのカバーは、当時キャリアをスタートさせた視覚アーティストVik Munizによるもので、ミキシングを手がけたRenaud Letang（Feist、Manu Chao、Alain Souchon、Chilly Gonzales）による繊細な仕上げが、この timeless アルバムを不朽の名作にしている。20年後もその輝きを失わない『CRU』のアニバーサリー記念のフィジカル再発を祝い、カヴァー（Gainsbourg、Elvis Presley、Bezerra Da Silva）とSeu Jorgeや当時の若手ブラジル作家のオリジナル作品から成るこのアルバムを手に入れるチャンスをお見逃しなく。

A1. Tive Razão
A2. Chatterton
A3. Fiore De La Città
A4. Bem Querer
A5. Don't
B1. São Gonça
B2. Bola De Meia
B3. Una Mujer
B4. Eu Sou Favela
B5. Carolina Carol Bela [Unreleased Track From Original Sessions]

Includes an unreleased bonus track recorded during the original sessions: "Carolina Carol Bela." Seu Jorge, the internationally renowned Brazilian singer and actor, needs no introduction. In 2024, his second solo album, CRU, will celebrate its 20th anniversary. This album, now considered a "classic," established him as the new "king" of Brazilian music. Released shortly after the cult Brazilian film City of God, in which he played the role of the bus driver "Mané Galinha," CRU was immediately praised by the international press and acclaimed by audiences worldwide. The album was the result of a collaboration between Seu Jorge and French producer Jérôme Pigeon (Favela Chic) and was conceptualized during one of the legendary Parisian parties of the time. In the midst of this creative and festive excitement, Seu Jorge met Matthieu Chedid, who would later participate in the album’s recording (Tive Razão). Chedid invited Seu Jorge to open for him at Bercy, they shared the stage at the Encantado festival, and Seu Jorge later invited Matthieu for an unforgettable concert on Ipanema Beach in Rio, in front of millions of spectators. Legend has it that after hearing Seu Jorge’s cover of Elvis Presley’s "Don’t" on CRU, Wes Anderson offered him a role in his film Life Aquatic alongside Bill Murray, Willem Dafoe, Cate Blanchett, and Anjelica Houston. In the film, Seu Jorge performs several David Bowie songs in Portuguese, with Bowie himself praising Jorge's versions, saying they elevated the tracks to "a new level of beauty." Since CRU, Seu Jorge has continued to tour both internationally and in Brazil, release successful albums (all produced by Mario Caldato Jr. of Beastie Boys fame), and collaborate with prestigious artists (U2, Coldplay, Chico Buarque, etc.). He has established himself as the worthy successor to Jorge Ben and Caetano Veloso, capturing the hearts of Brazilians and music lovers across five continents. In addition to his immense artistic talent, Seu Jorge, once a kid from the favelas of Rio ("Eu Sou Favela"), is deeply committed to the fight for racial equality, particularly through his involvement in combating racism and xenophobia in a country where disguised slavery sadly still exists. One cannot speak of CRU without mentioning Pretinho da Serrinha, the brilliant musician featured on all the tracks of the album, whose talent is now sought after by all Brazilian stars. Also noteworthy is the extraordinary album cover by Vik Muniz, a globally recognized visual artist who was then at the start of his career, and Renaud Letang (Feist, Manu Chao, Alain Souchon, Chilly Gonzales), whose exceptionally refined mixing helped make this timeless album a masterpiece that, 20 years later, has lost none of its splendor. Let us celebrate the physical reissue of CRU for its anniversary, thanks to "Diggers Factory" and "Babelville Prod."—an album equally composed of surprising covers (Gainsbourg, Elvis Presley, Bezerra Da Silva) and original compositions by Seu Jorge and young Brazilian writers of the time.