Northeast had always been one of the most Brazilian’s creative nests, especially when the subject is music. Marked by joyful rhythms, the region emerged and developed genres like Samba, Bossa Nova, MPB, Tropicália, and others… And the Rock, where is it?
The genre remained dormant for years. Ok, some groups like Os Novos Baianos tried something, but nothing concrete. Only in the mid-seventies a fella called Raul Seixas appeared as the odd man out. However, Raul produced a Rock with a big influence in regional music. It’s not possible to say that he was totally Rock.
Here comes Marcelo Nova. A radio broadcaster with almost 30 years old and without any musical skills saw in the Punk Rock revolution his big break. With some friends and friends of friends, he created the Camisa de Vênus. The controversial name is a synonym for condoms. “Vênus” is a reference to the Roman goddess of beauty and love. Literally, it can be translated as “Venus’ Shirt”.
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| The controversial name impacted on the album's divulgation. |
After a single released by a local label, a big label called Som Livre invested in their first LP. Problems with censorship, fights with Som Livre and the lack of divulgation impacted the sales. Those problems weren’t enough to stop them; the chaos was already planted and the disc had been a success.
Camisa de Vênus breathes Punk Rock. Nós Passamos por Isto, the first track, is a shot in the music industry and show how acid they are (“You will learn to enjoy MPB/ While the masters of good taste/ Are putting Samba for me”).
Not satisfied, they bring Metástase, leading to the same level as Hitler names like Jesus, Marx and Freud.
Amid the voracious criticism and inquiries, Camisa de Vênus created hits like Bete Morreu, a success that narrates a kidnapping and maybe a rape. Other highlights are: O Adventista, an irony about our beliefs; Pronto pro Suicídio, which talks about the frustrations of a common man (“Disguises your sorrows between the pages of Veja¹/ Expired rent and the beer is over”); and Meu Primo Zé, one version of My Perfect Cousin, originally recorded by The Undertones.
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| The Undertones, direct influence. |
Camisa de Vênus doesn’t focus in the quality. It’s the contrary, the disc is technically horrible. On the other hand, his role in society and his impact inside the Brazilian’s northeast transcends any kind of claim about quality. Revolutionary for its time and a thorn for the press…
It’s bad. But it’s good… Very good!
¹ - Brazilian magazine with the higher classes as a target audience.
¹ - Brazilian magazine with the higher classes as a target audience.
"Freud sacou, um dia; que ele podia pirar. Mas havia centenas; para ele analisar. Seu problema é esquizofrenia; agora pague e volte outro dia!"
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FACTSHEET:
Artist: Camisa de Vênus
Year: 1983
Album: Camisa de Vênus
Genre: Post-Punk / Punk Rock
Country: Brazil
Members: Aldo Machado (drums), Gustavo Mullem (guitar), Karl Hummel (guitar), Marcelo Nova (vocals), Robério Santana (bass).
TRACKS:
1 - Passamos por Isto
2 - Metástase
3 - Bete Morreu
4 - Correndo sem Parar
5 - Negue
6 - O Adventista
7 - Dogmas Tecnofacistas
8 - Homem não Chora
9 - Passatempo
10 - Pronto pro Suicídio
11 - Meu Primo Zé
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