Kaleb E. GoldschmittI know I’m just one academic, but the lack of coverage or Astrud Gilberto’s recent passing is a painful example of just how “machista” Brazilian popular music scholarship and criticism is. I highly doubt Getz/Gilberto would have won Album of the Year without her. Yet when any other famous bossa nova musician who is a man happens to pass, the attention is much louder.
The treatment of women in Brazilian popular music, in general, has been horrifyingly bad. It’s been even worse for the women who manage to appeal to a large international audience. Astrud Gilberto had a lengthy career in the U.S.; love it or hate it, her unique voice defined Brazilian music for many.
I’m far from the only scholar who has devoted significant space to her (and I wish I had given her even more in my book). If you want another perspective that takes her seriously, I highly recommend Bryan McCann’s 33 1/3 book on Getz/Gilberto.
And yeah, I know there’s a typo in the first toot. Sorry about that.