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Bossa Nova can destroy the brain!

In the past three months Manila has been hit with a bossa nova revival. This probably was ignited by Sergio Mendes' songs being reinterpreted by groups such as the "Black Eyed Peas".

Of all the new artists that have been launched, Sitti seems to have caught the revival in stride. Her admirers say she is good but some critics say her voice hasn't reached that Astrud-like coolness. Well I'd say she is still quite young and her voice will reach that Astrudesque maturity in due time.

Sitti is given a run for her money by Sofia, whose voice is more cool than hers. I really don't give much of a bother whose better than the other. What bothers me is that any song has been reinterpreted in bossa nova style! Record producers want to cash in on the bossa nova boom.

Yuck. All the VST and Co. disco hits of the 1970s have been made into bossa nova. I heard a "Boyfriends" song reinterpreted. What's next? Probably they would reinterpret Ka Freddie Aguilar's songs into bossa nova! If that happens, I wish the world ends soon so my brain would be spared an untimely death.

I first heard bossa nova when I was in grade school. My sisters (who were then in high school) were big fans of Astrud Gilberto and Sergio Mendes. I did find the music cool and extremely appropriate for rainy days. My elder sister who was a music major played these hits on her piano and organ. However the old adage that too much of a good thing is bad rings true.

In the 1980s bossa nova faded into the background and even Sergio Mendes had to reinterpret his songs along a disco beat. Suddenly disco died!

Well, Sitti seems to be the featured artist on Philippine Airlines flights. During a bumpy flight to and from Melbourne, in order to tune out of the beeping warnings of "please fasten your seatbelts", I listened to Sitti for a straight 9 hours! (the inflight movie wasn't that good!)

I landed in Manila almost brain dead!

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