Almost five stars but...
..except for a small number weak tunes and the odd 'short blips' between full songs, this is a wonderful CD. Favorite tracks include a very hip 'Corcodova' by Everything but the Girl and a wonderful duet by George Michael and legendary girl-from-Ipanema, Astrud Gilberto. Maxwell, the David Byrne/Marisa Monte duet, Cesaria Evoria and Caetano Veloso are also outstanding. I taped the video of this album when it first came available in various PBS channels on VHS. Unfortunately the quality is poor especially on HDTVs so I wish MTV through it's original producer, subsidiary MTV Brasil would someday make a DVD available.

try it you'll like it
I purchased this CD about ten years ago at a store that was going out of business. I had heard some Brazilian music on the internet and thought I'd give it a try since the CD was so cheap. WOW, it was a purchase that to this day I have never regretted.

This CD really gave me a small, very small taste of Brazilian music and that small taste was more than satisfying. I can only say that Brazilian music is so unique, toe tapping, rhythmatic, just different in a good way. It was from this CD that I soon discovered the greats of Brazilian music, Jobim, Nascimento, Gil, Veloso, etc. Granted, these are modern interpretations of Brazilian classics but whether you hear the new or old versions, each is unique and enjoyable in its own context.

If you do buy this and enjoy it, I would highly and I mean highly recommend any of the Brazilian music CD's put out by David Byrne. Byrne's "Beleza Tropical Volume 1" allowed me to sample, enjoy even more great Brazilian artists.

All I can say is "try it, you'll like it."

Maxwell Fan
I only purchased this album because it has a very beautiful song on it by the artist known as "Maxwell".

rhythm music
I bought this for a friend after I bought it for myself. Great variety of songs. Wonderful for parties. Would recommend.

red hot and best!
of the many red hots i've listened to, this one is the best!

the music, those great catchy samba and bossa nova tunes that became wildly popular during the 1960s, are suited to each of the artists making a guest appearance on the cd.

among the highlights are the trip-hop infused 'corcovado' by everything but the girl, the dance-club happy 'boy from ipanema' by crystal waters--which also contains one of her best vocal performances--, sting's loving, pensive 'how insensitive', maxwell's calming 'security' and caetano veloso's highly erotic 'e preciso perdoar'.

the collection, generally speaking, is a great party cd and each song is treated with a great deal of ingenuity and integrity.