Brazzil
February 1999
Brief and Longer Notes

Just So-so
Frolics

With the exhibition of genitalia banned in Rio's parade, it was in the streets of Goiânia, capital of Goiás that model Kellene Elizandra,20, decided to show it all with just a little leaf to cover part of her pudenda. Her dream is to pose in the nude for a men's magazine. Said she, "I am a pioneer and I hope that others will follow in my steps."

Francesco Venes

By national standards this year's Brazil Carnaval was too tame and way too well-behaved. Among the frolic's hit tunes were some religious hymns sung by pop sensation Father Marcelo Rossi and among the exposed women celebrities' breasts a fair amount were not legitimate ones, but made of silicone. Not every woman was willing to admit to her fake boobies though and confess that they had gone under a plastic surgeon's scalpel. That's why dozens of Rio's socialites, in what was considered a faux-pas by many, decided not to participate in Caprichosos de Pilares escola de samba (samba club) parade when it was announced that world renowned plastic surgeon Ivo Pitangui would also be parading.

For Solange Gomes—the model who paraded with Salgueiro and about whom all the media were talking —parading on Carnaval was her big chance of showing an improved frame of herself, or so she believes: "It's no secret that I had plastic surgery on my breasts two months ago, but only now I'm doing the premiere. I waited for the impact to show them on the Sambódromo and I am very happy with the result."

Another model, Luma de Oliveira, drew repeated applause by exhibiting her scalpel-improved breasts leading the Escola de Samba Viradouro's percussion wing. Although some criticized her for improving a little too much what nature had already given her generously, Luma herself was ecstatic with the results. "I'm feeling great," she said. "The plastic worked the way I wanted. And, best of all, it passed the avenue test with flying colors." Viviane Araújo, another bare-breasted beauty, who paraded in front of União da Ilha, having opted for the natural look chided her colleagues: "These are really mine, I'm glad with them and have no plans to have plastic surgery."

Luciana Gimenez, the Brazilian model that British tabloids say is carrying the child of rock star Mick Jagger, was parading her uncovered seven-month pregnant belly. Radiant and accompanied everywhere by two security agents, Gimenez was maintaining the mystery by not naming the baby's father. Dressed in a skimpy wedding gown the proud mother's float was a church and she was accompanied by a "priest" who continually blessed her.

While the street Carnaval in São Paulo didn't bring to that city's Sambódromo more than 32,000 people, Father Marcelo, also from São Paulo, was able to gather 100,000 faithful on Monday of Carnaval for what was called Trio Elétrico do Senhor (The Lord's Carnaval). "Erguei as Mãos" (Raise Your Hands) was one of the most popular songs by the singer priest heard across Brazil during Carnaval.

In São Paulo, in an odd tribute, the escola de samba Unidos do Peruche paid homage to Microsoft's founder with the story "Bill Gates—The Brain of the Future". So nobody would have doubts, his bespectacled and uncarnaval-like portrait was plastered down the imposing float

Back in Rio, the winner of the Carnaval parade was escola de samba Imperatriz Leopoldinense, the club from the Ramos neighborhood which presented the story "Mostra a tua Cara no Theatrum Rerum Naturalium Brasiliae (Show Your Face in the Theater of Brazil's Natural Things), a portrait of Brazil inspired by 17^th century paintings by Dutch artists. From a total of 270 points possible, Imperatriz, made 269.5, losing only half point in the allegories category. Beija-Flor came in a very close second with 269 points, followed by Viradouro (267.5) and Mocidade (266.5). The Imperatriz presentation, however, didn't stir higher emotion among the public or the critics. The jury was apparently swayed by the perfect technique of the group.

With the exhibition of genitalia banned in Rio's parade, it was in the streets of Goiânia, capital of Goiás that model Kellene Elizandra decided to show it all with just a little leaf to cover part of her pudenda. She paraded with escola de samba Unidos da Mangueira. Gorgeous Elizandra, 20, who was born in Campo Grande (state of Mato Grosso do Sul), talked about her dream: to pose in the nude for a men's magazine. And spoke of her pride for disrobing in the avenue: "In Goiânia this kind of thing doesn't happen. I am a pioneer and I hope that others will follow in my steps." The stunt has worked. The model, who didn't have a job for four months, was already contacted by Colégio Objetivo to promote that high school.

For years the Salvador (capital of Bahia state) Carnaval has been competing—and winning—with Rio's world-famous Carnaval. It is estimated that this year's street revelries in that northeastern town drew close to one million visitors from Brazil and overseas, generating around $60 million. While Rio offers a more showy party, Salvador presents a more participatory bash in which spectators get dragged to the streets jumping behind the famous trios elétricos (wired-for-sound trucks) playing Carnaval songs.

This year, American President Bill Clinton and the Monica Lewinsky affair were the inspiration for a song by one of the top Baiano composers, Carlinhos Brown.

Puxada de Clinton Carlinhos Brown Não pode parar, não pode parar... Aqui em Salvador não tem crise, Não tem Mônica E não existe Lewinsky Quando a bolsa tá baixa Dá de cara com o cinto Danço, balanço e brinco... Quem jogou lá pra baixo Foi puxada de Clinton Danço, balanço e brinco... É que o som do atabaque Tá com cara de quinto Danço, balanço e brinco... Quando findar a farra Vou pra casa com cinco Danço, balanço e brinco... Eu quero é bumbo, bum bum... (não pode parar) Solte o seu corpo pra relaxar Bote a mão no ombro do outro e comece a apertar No clima da massagem... (não pode parar) Não vale sacanagem... (não pode parar) Aperta, aperta, aperta! (ôôi...) Aperta, aperta, aperta! (Mônica...) Aperta, aperta, aperta! (Muauia...)

Brought Down by Clinton   You can't stop You can't stop Here in Salvador there is no crisis There is no Monica There is no Lewinsky When the stock market is low It's facing the belt I dance, swing, and play… Who threw it down there It was brought down by Clinton I dance, swing, and play… The atabaque sound Seems like a fifth I dance, swing, and play… When the frolic ends I'll go home with five I dance, swing, and play… I want a bumbo, bum, bum (you can't stop) Loosen up your body to relax Place your hand on another's shoulder and start to squeeze In the massage mood… (you can't stop) Debauchery is not allowed… (you can't stop) Squeeze, squeeze, squeeze! (hey…) Squeeze, squeeze, squeeze! (Monica…) Squeeze, squeeze, squeeze! (Muauia…)

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