Os Mulheres Negras ( Portuguese for "The Black Women") are a Brazilian experimental rock duo formed in São Paulo in 1985, by musicians André Abujamra (vocals, electric guitar, synthesizer, drum machine) and

Maurício Pereira Maurício Pereira (born November 8, 1959) is a Brazilian singer-songwriter, lyricist, journalist, saxophonist, Announcer#Television and other media, television announcer, stage actor and record producer best known for his work with experimental ...

(vocals, saxophone). Self-described as "the world's third smallest big band", they are known for their eclectic musical style characterized by humorous, "cartoonish" lyrics and elaborate theatrical performances which attained them a passionate

cult following A cult following refers to a group of fans who are highly dedicated to some person, idea, object, movement, or work, often an artist, in particular a performing artist, or an artwork in some medium. The lattermost is often called a cult classic. ...

History

and André Abujamra (son of the late

Antônio Abujamra Antônio Abujamra (15 September 1932 – 28 April 2015) was a Brazilian theatre and television director and actor. Having majored in journalism and philosophy at the Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul in 1957, he started a car ...

) met in 1984, at a lecture about African percussion instruments and music (what inspired them to choose the name "Os Mulheres Negras" later on). United by their similar musical tastes and convictions, they began to write material together the following year, and perform in bars around São Paulo, usually wearing stylized, colored

overcoat An overcoat is a type of long coat (clothing), coat intended to be worn as the outermost garment, which usually extends below the knee. Overcoats are most commonly used in winter when warmth is more important. They are sometimes confused with ...

s and straw bowler hats. Their unusual style caught the attention of WEA (present-day Warner Music Group), who offered them a contract; in 1988 they released their debut, ''

Música e Ciência ''Música e Ciência'' (Portuguese language, Portuguese for "''Music and Science''") is the debut album by Brazilian experimental rock duo Os Mulheres Negras, released in 1988 by Warner Music Group, WEA (present-day Warner Music Group). Produced by ...

'', produced by

Pena Schmidt Pena may refer to: *Pena (footballer), Brazilian soccer player *Pena (musical instrument), an Indian musical instrument *Pena (surname) *Pena National Palace, Sintra, Portugal *"Pena", a song by Captain Beefheart on the album ''Trout Mask Replica'' ...

. Characterized by a heavily eclectic sonority which mixed numerous genres, such as ''

samba Samba (), also known as samba urbano carioca (''urban Carioca samba'') or simply samba carioca (''Carioca samba''), is a Brazilian music genre that originated in the Afro-Brazilian communities of Rio de Janeiro in the early 20th century. Havin ...

'', '' baião'', '' lambada'', '' música sertaneja'',

rap music Rapping (also rhyming, spitting, emceeing or MCing) is a musical form of vocal delivery that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and street vernacular". It is performed or chanted, usually over a backing beat or musical accompaniment. The ...

, Muzak and the works of The Beatles,

Heitor Villa-Lobos Heitor Villa-Lobos (March 5, 1887November 17, 1959) was a Brazilian composer, conductor, cellist, and classical guitarist described as "the single most significant creative figure in 20th-century Brazilian art music". Villa-Lobos has become the ...

, George Gershwin and Tom Jobim, it was a commercial failure despite the good critical reception. A slightly less experimental and more accessible follow-up, '' Música Serve pra Isso'', came out also through WEA in 1990. Both of their albums were re-issued in CD format by Warner Music Group in 2001. The duo went their separate ways in 1991; Abujamra formed the world music project Karnak in 1992, and also became a film and television composer and actor. Pereira began a prestigious solo career and formed the side project Turbilhão de Ritmos in 2003. They continued to collaborate occasionally however; in 1995 they teamed up to write and perform songs for the soundtrack of the popular children's program '' Castelo Rá-Tim-Bum''. In 2002, they recorded the song "Mestre Jonas" for the soundtrack of the film ''

Durval Discos ''Durval Discos'' is a 2002 Brazilian film by Anna Muylaert shot in Pinheiros (district of São Paulo), Pinheiros, a borough of São Paulo. The film is noticeable for its soundtrack made up of 1970s Brazilian music that reflects the protagonist's ...

'', in which Abujamra cameos as Fat Marley. In 2012, the duo officially returned to active, and in 2015 they realized a special tour to celebrate their 30th anniversary. They have also stated that they have not ruled out the possibility of working on a third album. In 2013, Sandro Serpa and Bel Bechara directed a critically acclaimed documentary film about the duo, entitled ''Música É para Isso: Uma História d'Os Mulheres Negras''.

Discography

Studio albums

Miscellaneous

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Mulheres Negras, Os Musical groups established in 1985 Musical groups disestablished in 1991 Musical groups reestablished in 2012 1985 establishments in Brazil 1991 disestablishments in Brazil 2012 establishments in Brazil Brazilian experimental rock groups Comedy rock musical groups Synthpop groups Brazilian indie rock groups Brazilian art rock groups Indie pop groups Musical groups from São Paulo Rock music duos