Artist: Daniela Mercury Album: Swing Da Cor

Year: 2000
Duration: 0:0-1

Swinging through Daniela Mercury's 'Swing Da Cor': A Critical Review

Brazilian music is vibrant, colorful, and soulful. It is a mix of various cultures, traditions, and genres. One artist who perfectly encapsulates all of these is Daniela Mercury, a renowned Brazilian musician with a career spanning over three decades. Her 1992 album Swing Da Cor marked a significant shift in the music industry and set a template for future generations. In this blog post, we'll take a closer look at the album's tracks, the artist's history, the music genre, the most innovative elements, and finally, a critical review of the entire work.

Daniela Mercury was born and raised in Salvador de Bahia, Brazil. She started singing in the choir at the age of eight and later formed her band. Her musical style reflects the Afro-Brazilian rhythms and culture of her hometown, Salvador. Mercury started her career as a backing vocalist for various artists before launching her solo career. She is renowned for her powerful vocals, electric energy on stage, and her impeccable sense of style. Mercury's first album Daniela Mercury released in 1991, blew up the music scene in Brazil, and it was this success that led to her next release, Swing Da Cor.

Swing Da Cor is a fusion of various styles such as samba-reggae, afoxé, axé, and funk. The album is a celebration of life, love, and rhythm. The beats make it impossible for anyone not to move their hips while listening. The album starts with the upbeat O Canto da Cidade, a track that exemplifies Mercury's musical style. The song is a mix of samba-reggae, axé, and frevo. The next few tracks, Coracão, Levada Brasileira, and Swing da Cor continue in the same vein, setting the tone for the rest of the album.

The album's most innovative part is the inclusion of the track Rapunzel, which has a funk beat. The song's lyrics are catchy and fun, and it is a personal favorite. The album also includes ballads like Sol do Sul and Nobre Vagabundo, which showcase a different side to Mercury's music. The album concludes with Maimbe Dandá, a song that combines afoxé beats with Mercury's vocals.

In a critical review of Swing Da Cor, one has to recognize the album's pivotal role in the Brazilian music industry. The album's success led to Mercury becoming a household name in Brazil and other parts of the world. The fusion of different styles was a departure from the traditional samba and MPB that were dominant at the time. The album's success inspired other musicians to experiment with various styles, leading to a genre known as axé music. However, the album does have its flaws. Some of the tracks are quite similar, and the electronic instruments used in some of the songs can feel dated.

Swing Da Cor is a classic album that showcases Daniela Mercury's undeniable talent and energy. It is a celebration of life, culture, and rhythm. The album's fusion of various styles set it apart from other albums of the time and inspired future generations of musicians to experiment with different genres. The album is not perfect and has a few flaws but its influence on the Brazilian music industry cannot be understated. If you're looking for an album that will transport you to the vibrant and colorful streets of Salvador de Bahia, put on Swing Da Cor, and start moving your hips.