Caetano Veloso/Hable Con Ella

[Roger Bradley]

Very interesting to hear Charlie playing that "live" version of 'Cucurrucuci Paloma' by Caetano Veloso last night (Aug 20). Seems to explain why I was disappointed with the song on the 'Hable Con Ella' soundtrack CD that I bought after enjoying the film.

I can't remember for certain which version I actually heard while watching the film, but I think the credits given on the CD are quite telling. They list just three musicians accompanying Veloso, not the small orchestra we saw on screen, and heard on the version played last night.

Makes me feel quite cheated to have this anaemic substitute! Although, to be fair, the soundtrack CD does have two or three other good pieces on it, especially the main title theme which is an excellent (uncredited) re-arrangement of No. 8 from the 'Twelve Spanish Dances' by Granados (if you'll forgive me showing off for a minute).

If you haven't seen it yet, 'Hable Con Ella' (Talk To Her) is one Pedro Almodovar's best films. It crops up occasionally on one of the Sky Cinema channels and I strongly recommend it.

[neil foxlee]

It's my recollection that the scene in the film took place in the open air, rather than in a hotel lounge, in which case it's unlikely to be the version from his 1995 live album.

[Con Murphy]

I have to say, I'm glad I heard the 'pared down' version of the song first (it's on the Awards For World Music 2004 CD as well as the film soundtrack), because that way I couldn't be disappointed by it. The full-blown orchestra version sounds a whole lot better, and is made even more appealing by Caetano's untreated(?) live vocal. I haven't seen the film yet (but will soon, I hope) so can't comment on the provenance of that live version.

[stuart]

The live version I think Charlie was talking about is from Caetano's 1995 album called "Fina Estampa - En Vivo". It features an orchestra, led by
cellist Jacques Morelenbaum, and was recorded in a concert hall (it's also on DVD.) I think the Hable Con Ella version was different (unless he was lip-syncing the 1995 live recording ...)

[Roger Bradley]

Just been taking another diversion on this subject (when I ought to be doing something else!).

Did you know that Amazon lists 319 albums that contain a version of 'Cucurrucucu Paloma'? There must be a lot of duplication in there but I still had no idea the song was so popular. It has no right to be when it's so impossible to spell correctly.

Caetano Veloso's live version appears on a few different albums and generally seems to be the recording from 'Fina Estampa ao Vivo' that Stuart mentioned above. That original CD is available at £4.50 which must be pretty good value (but be aware that there is also a purely studio CD called just 'Fina Estampa').

Most curious is a 2-CD set put out last year on the Milan label. CD One is the 'Hable con Ella' soundtrack album that I discussed above, with the quieter studio version of the Cucu song. CD Two is 'Viva Tristeza', a 'various artists' collection of songs used by Almodovar in his films, and 'Hable con Ella' is represented by the live version of the song! So you get both in one package.

But I still haven't found out if the version we actually heard in the film was a completely original performance or Veloso miming to his 1995 live track. So the question remains open, Charlie.

[neil foxlee]

Dunno if it's any help, but the Internet Movie Database gives these details, with a general warning that tracks it lists may not be available on CD soundtracks:

"Cucurrucucú Paloma"
(Tomás Mendez Sosa)
Performed by Caetano Veloso
(c) Editorial Mexicana de Música Internacional
Courtesy of Peermusic Española, S.A.
By Arrangement with Universal Music Brazil

I'm pretty sure the scene in the film is an outdoors party/barbecue sort of thang.

[Charlie]

emailed during the broadcast by Jon Lusk, editor of Third Edition of Rough Guide to World Music:

--------------------
Am loving the show tonight!

I strongly suggest you play André Toussaint's version of the song Caetano Veloso did.

It's on the Naxos World CD 'Bahamian ballads'.

I'm sure you''ll love it too.

Jon

[uiwangmike]

I first heard the song on a 1958 LP "An Evening with Belafonte". Almodovar was not the first film director to use a version by Caetano Veloso. Another one appeared (if that's the word) on the soundtrack of Wong Kar-wai's Happy Together in 1997.

[Mark Wallace]

The version on "Hable con Ella" appeared to be recorded live for the film and had upright bass, cello and classical guitar accompanying the vocal.
The scene was a small outdoor concert under a large balcony of a mansion style building.