This compilation covers
Gal Costa's work during the years between 1967 and 1983, in other words when the famous singer from Bahia was at the peak of her career. The selection of songs is very good and representative, yet avoids some of the most obvious tracks. "Saudosismo," for example, is a beautiful tropicalismo bossa, written for
Gal by the great poet and songwriter
Caetano Veloso, to whom
Gal has always had a special musical relationship. Other magnificent
Veloso compositions sung by
Gal and included here are "Baby" (another tropicalismo classic) and the sweet "Flor de Maracujá." "Lágrimas Negras," written by
Jorge Mautner and Nelson Jacobina, is a gentle, melancholic, and slightly jazzy ballad performed to perfection by
Gal. The choro classic "Noites Cariocas" and
Dorival Caymmi's "Festa de Rua" are turned into soft, captivating sambas. All in all, this is a very good collection of
Gal Costa songs which manages to capture much of the essence of her best work.
–
Philip Jandovský, Rovi