elizio de buzios: tamanqueiro
Francisco Espregueira
Time for a classic. Hailing from Campo Grande in the Rio de Janeiro state, Elizio De Buzios was noticed by a local representative of international major label Polygram, who gave him the opportunity to record two songs. The year was 1980 and De Buzios was just a young kid from a middle class city in the immensity of Brazil that didn’t even sang in public before. The excitement led him to search for inspiration. After noticing a display of then fashionable Portuguese clogs outside the store, De Buzios popped inside to talk to the owner. It turned out that he was a tamanqueiro – as clog-makers are traditionally called in his native Portugal – and was as passionate about music as he was about the footwear he made. Thus inspired, De Buzios returned home to work more on the lyrics and music.
The next day “Tamanqueiro” was born. He headed into the studio to record the song, and eventually recorded a second one. From the start, it was clear that “Tamanqueiro” would be the single’s A-side. Incredibly catchy and funky, with some subtle disco elements, the song remained distinctively Brazilian thanks to the use of the cuíca. The simple word play, with that Brazilian smile (that absolutely can be heard) eventually would be listened all around the world. “Sou Um Louco” is a mesmerizing and joyful ballad that didn’t get the attention it deserves and together with “Tamanqueiro” is one of the only two songs Elizio De Buzios recorded in his life. More than 40 years later, Amsterdam-based imprint New Dawn reissues a gold piece of Brazil’s infinite musical output. The energy and the simplicity of Elizio will live forever through this invaluable release that is available on vinyl.