"Manhã de Carnaval" ("Carnival Morning"), often referred to as "Black Orpheus", is a song by Brazilian composerLuiz Bonfá and lyricistAntônio Maria.
"Manhã de Carnaval" appeared as a principal theme in the 1959 Portuguese-language filmOrfeu Negro[1] by French directorMarcel Camus. The film's soundtrack also included songs byAntônio Carlos Jobim andVinícius de Moraes, as well as the composition by Bonfá "Samba de Orfeu". "Manhã de Carnaval" appears in the film, including versions sung or hummed by both the principal characters (Orfeu and Euridice), as well as an instrumental version,[2] so that the song has been described as the main musical theme of the film.[3] In the portion of the film in which the song is sung by the character Orfeu, portrayed byBreno Mello, the song was dubbed byAgostinho dos Santos. The song was initially rejected for inclusion in the film by Camus, but Bonfá was able to convince the director that the music forManhã de Carnaval was superior to the song Bonfá composed as a replacement.[3]Orfeu Negro was an international success (winning, for example, anAcademy Award in 1960),[4] and brought the song to a large audience.
"Manhã de Carnaval" became one of the firstBossa Nova compositions to gain popularity outside Brazil.[3] In France, the song is also known as "La Chanson d'Orphée". Particularly in the United States, the song is considered to be one of the most important Brazilian Jazz/Bossa songs that helped establish the Bossa Nova movement in the late 1950s. It is still performed regularly by a wide variety of musicians around the world in its different vocalized versions or just as an instrumental. American songwriterCarl Sigman'srelyricization called "A Day in the Life of a Fool" is ajazz standard and the melody may also be called "Carnival", "Theme from Black Orpheus", or simply "Black Orpheus" in the US. All versions of foreign texts were written by lyricists other than Antônio Maria, using Bonfá's original music.[citation needed]
Percy Faith,Plays Latin Themes For Young Lovers track #12, LP, label: CBS (D), 1965.
Luiz Bonfá on guitar plays with Caterina Valente, vocal & guitar, for the TV Variety Show. Ms Valente hosted the show atThe Hollywood Palace. Audio/Video, 1965.
João Donato,The New Sound Of Brazil, LP, track #4, label: RCA Victor, (USA), 1965. (instrumental)
Perry Como,The Songs I Love, LP, RCA, (USA), 1966.
(Note: This is the same version sung in 1963 by Perry Como, now titled "Manhã de Carnaval")
Finding a New Friend, a collaborative album between singer-pianistOscar Brown Jr. and singer-guitarist Luiz Henrique, features a vocal version of "Manhã de Carnaval", label: Fontana, 1966.[9]
Luciano Pavarotti andCaetano Veloso, Live: atPavarotti & Friends for Cambodia and Tibet, track #18, CD, label: Decca, (Italy), 2000
(Note: VHS released by Polygram Records in English in 7/28/2001, containing selection on track #20, (USA).)
Daniel Barenboim,Brazilian Rhapsody, CD, label: Teldec May 2000.
Luiz Bonfá,Composer of Black Orpheus Plays and Sings Bossa Nova, (originally released in 1962), track #5, CD, Polygram Records, label: Verve (USA), March 2000.
Although not as popular as the vast number of interpretations with Portuguese lyrics,[29] the song can also be found with a few English lyrics adaptations and in some other languages as well. None of the versions in other languages were written by Brazilian songwriters.
In 1970Marisa Sannia in its LPMarisa Sannia canta Sergio Endrigo... e le sue canzoni created anitalian version with lyrics byMario Panzeri.
Luis Miguel sang the song in a Spanish version, whileJulio Iglesias sang a different Portuguese version in a more Spanish sounding Portuguese, without his distinguished accent. Both versions were titled in Spanish, "Mañana de Carnaval", although their rhythmic interpretations vary greatly.
In 2002, the music of Manhã de Carnaval was used in an Arabic version called "Shou Bkhaf" (How I fear) with lyrics written byZiad Rahbani (Lebanese musician and composer). His mother, the Lebanese diva singerFairouz, very popular in the Arab world, released this song in herWala Kif album.
Arabic : " Shu Bkhaf (How I Fear, or I Fear So Much, or I Dread So Much)" sung by Fairuz in Lebanese Arabic in her Wala Kif album released in january 2002. The lyrics were adapted into Lebanese Arabic and the music was reorchestrated by Fairuz son, Ziad Rahbany.
Vietnamese: “Bài ngợi ca tình yêu (Romance)”, lyrics adapted byPhạm Duy. The song was sung by multiple Vietnamese singers such asBằng Kiều,Thanh Hà,Khánh Hà, Quang Dũng, and many more.
