João Donato, born João Donato de Oliveira Neto (17 August 1934 in Rio Branc… Read Full Bio ↴João Donato, born João Donato de Oliveira Neto (17 August 1934 in Rio Branco, Acre, Brazil – 17 July 2023 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) was a Brazilian jazz and bossa nova pianist, composer and a multi-instrumentalist. João was a celebrated musician and iconic among his peers.
Along the piano, he also played accordion, was an arranger and a singer. In his music, he blended additional rhythms such as baião and forro as well as incorporated Caribbean rhythms after living in the US in the 1950s. He first worked with Altamiro Carrilho and went on to perform with Antônio Carlos Jobim and Astrud Gilberto .
Songs by João Donato have enchanted the general public in a career span that lasted over 70 years; perhaps many do not attribute his authorship to very popular songs in Brazil. He recorded with names such as Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso, Chico Buarque, Martinho da Vila and Gal Costa.
Background and Life
João Donato was born in the state of Acre, in 1934. He was the middle child of a musical family. His father, a military man, played the mandolin in his spare time. When Donato was 11 years old, he moved with his family to Rio de Janeiro and began to frequent music circuits.
When her fingers touched the piano keys, a smile always appeared on his face and the world filled with melody.
The first composition was at the age of 7 with the accordion he got as a Christmas gift. The song was composed for his first great passion, and in it João Donato's verses already said: "I can't live without love".
From the accordion he went to the piano, where arrangements and other compositions would be born. João Donato's love for music appeared in many ways. This son of the north of Brazil took Brazilian music to the world.
As a teenager, he demonstrated more musical than scholastic ability and so he left school in 1949. He lived with fellow musicians, played guitar in the bars of Rio de Janeiro and, of course, talked about music. In the 1950s he visited the “Sinatra-Farney Fan Clube”, considered by many specialists as the school that created the Bossa Nova. Donato befriended individuals such as João Gilberto, Tom Jobim, Vinícius de Moraes, Johny Alf, and others, although he never recorded with them. Instead, he was a musician who played for himself.
His first album “Chá Dançante”, was recorded in 1956 when he was 22, at the invitation of Antônio Carlos Jobim, artistic director of the label who took turns with Donato on the piano.
In 1959, he moved to Los Angeles, California. He stayed in the United States for 13 years. His time in the US is where he developed his musical style. It gave him the opportunity to incorporate African Cuban music with Jazz; Inspired by Latin music, he created his trademark syncopated piano beat.
“ I wanted jazz, I went there to learn, to meet the guys I admired so much. I found jazz people very sad because there was nowhere to play, they played in Latin orchestras, which was where they had jobs. So I went looking for the Latin orchestras to find the jazz people.” - João Later told show host Pedro Bial.
In 1970 he composed the album "Bad Donato" - considered one of the best in Brazilian music. And he brought "O Sapo", an early version of the hit, "A Rã", which would later have lyrics by Caetano Veloso.
João also sang, and the best version of his song “Flor de Maracujá”, covered by many Brazilian artists, was his original recording for his 1975 album “Mpb Especial” recorded only with only voice and piano.
Gilberto Gil was a partner in songs such as "A Paz". ”He stayed there on the sofa, fell asleep, dozed a little on the sofa. When he woke up, I had already written the lyrics ”, said Gil.
João Donato also recorded with Chico Buarque, Martinho da Vila and Gal Costa. João Donato was considered a master of bossa nova masters, owner of an irresistible swing.
“This mix of Brazil and Cuba, with samba, that’s his characteristic, and he's always looking for young people and working with young people. He is a man who never aged, always working and always looking for new things. A daring man, ahead of his time said singer-songwriter Danilo Caymmi.
João Donato innovated by adding synthesizers to the piano. His son, Donatinho, was a breeding partner.
Another constant partner was his brother: Lysias Enio.
During the pandemic he released an album with new songs titled “Síntese do Lance" along with Jards Macalé. In 2022, he released his last album "Serotonina" featuring newer artists.
Death & Homages
João Donato died died in the early hours of Monday, July 17. 2023 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Donato was hospitalized at Casa de Saúde São José, in the South Zone of Rio, and the cause of death was pneumonia.
“Today the sky of composers dawned happier: João Donato went there to play his beautiful melodies”, his social media announced. “Now, its joy and its chords remain eternal throughout the universe.”
In a career spanning over 70 years, João Donato has turned fans into partners. So with the news of his passing the homages came pouring:
"João Donato was one of my first enchantments in Brazilian music. And then I was lucky to become his partner, a friend, in many adventures, in many stories. He is a person who has dedicated his life to bringing joy to the world" said singer-songwriter Joyce.
Marcos Valle posted a photo with his friend and published: ”may you be welcomed with lots of music and lots of colors"
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva wrote on a social network: “João Donato was one of the geniuses of Brazilian music. Today we lost one of our greatest and most creative composers.
Roberto Menescal João Donato's companion since the bossa nova era, spoke of the importance of his friend in his musical formation.
"Of course I would be a musician even without João Donato, but I wouldn't be the musician I am today, with what I learned from him. Me and all the others of my generation who were lucky enough to come across and play with him like I did.”
Brazil-based British musician and singer Ritchie posted: I had the privilege of receiving João at my house 2 or 3 times a week throughout 1989. He used to come and record his "demos" in my studio. I learned a lot of Brazilian music with him. Go in peace, my friend. Grateful for the honor of meeting you more personally.
Caetano Veloso posted on social networks: “ I had the grace to partner with João Donato. He was heaven on earth. I'm proud to have written lyrics in "Naturally" and even "The Frog". Gal's (sic: Gal Costa) show, which I directed and which featured his piano and his genius, was so good that even Nelsinho Motta didn't understand. "Cantar", the album from which this show came out of, was a critical, commercial and sales failure. Today it is loved. Donato was never late for the season's performances. João Gilberto used to say that Donato played the piano with more than ten fingers. Tom Jobim had a photo of him in his living room. Macalé was blessed with a record in partnership with Donato. Gil composed miracles with him. His music, samba-jazz free from samba-jazz, is always perfect. The highest achievement of extreme complexity in extreme simplicity. 🖤🌹“.
Sources:
g1: https://g1.globo.com/google/amp/jornal-nacional/noticia/2023/07/17/joao-donato-compositor-e-multi-instrumentista-morre-aos-88-anos.ghtml
Wiki: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/João_Donato
Along the piano, he also played accordion, was an arranger and a singer. In his music, he blended additional rhythms such as baião and forro as well as incorporated Caribbean rhythms after living in the US in the 1950s. He first worked with Altamiro Carrilho and went on to perform with Antônio Carlos Jobim and Astrud Gilberto .
Songs by João Donato have enchanted the general public in a career span that lasted over 70 years; perhaps many do not attribute his authorship to very popular songs in Brazil. He recorded with names such as Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso, Chico Buarque, Martinho da Vila and Gal Costa.
Background and Life
João Donato was born in the state of Acre, in 1934. He was the middle child of a musical family. His father, a military man, played the mandolin in his spare time. When Donato was 11 years old, he moved with his family to Rio de Janeiro and began to frequent music circuits.
When her fingers touched the piano keys, a smile always appeared on his face and the world filled with melody.
The first composition was at the age of 7 with the accordion he got as a Christmas gift. The song was composed for his first great passion, and in it João Donato's verses already said: "I can't live without love".
From the accordion he went to the piano, where arrangements and other compositions would be born. João Donato's love for music appeared in many ways. This son of the north of Brazil took Brazilian music to the world.
As a teenager, he demonstrated more musical than scholastic ability and so he left school in 1949. He lived with fellow musicians, played guitar in the bars of Rio de Janeiro and, of course, talked about music. In the 1950s he visited the “Sinatra-Farney Fan Clube”, considered by many specialists as the school that created the Bossa Nova. Donato befriended individuals such as João Gilberto, Tom Jobim, Vinícius de Moraes, Johny Alf, and others, although he never recorded with them. Instead, he was a musician who played for himself.
His first album “Chá Dançante”, was recorded in 1956 when he was 22, at the invitation of Antônio Carlos Jobim, artistic director of the label who took turns with Donato on the piano.
In 1959, he moved to Los Angeles, California. He stayed in the United States for 13 years. His time in the US is where he developed his musical style. It gave him the opportunity to incorporate African Cuban music with Jazz; Inspired by Latin music, he created his trademark syncopated piano beat.
“ I wanted jazz, I went there to learn, to meet the guys I admired so much. I found jazz people very sad because there was nowhere to play, they played in Latin orchestras, which was where they had jobs. So I went looking for the Latin orchestras to find the jazz people.” - João Later told show host Pedro Bial.
In 1970 he composed the album "Bad Donato" - considered one of the best in Brazilian music. And he brought "O Sapo", an early version of the hit, "A Rã", which would later have lyrics by Caetano Veloso.
João also sang, and the best version of his song “Flor de Maracujá”, covered by many Brazilian artists, was his original recording for his 1975 album “Mpb Especial” recorded only with only voice and piano.
Gilberto Gil was a partner in songs such as "A Paz". ”He stayed there on the sofa, fell asleep, dozed a little on the sofa. When he woke up, I had already written the lyrics ”, said Gil.
João Donato also recorded with Chico Buarque, Martinho da Vila and Gal Costa. João Donato was considered a master of bossa nova masters, owner of an irresistible swing.
“This mix of Brazil and Cuba, with samba, that’s his characteristic, and he's always looking for young people and working with young people. He is a man who never aged, always working and always looking for new things. A daring man, ahead of his time said singer-songwriter Danilo Caymmi.
João Donato innovated by adding synthesizers to the piano. His son, Donatinho, was a breeding partner.
Another constant partner was his brother: Lysias Enio.
During the pandemic he released an album with new songs titled “Síntese do Lance" along with Jards Macalé. In 2022, he released his last album "Serotonina" featuring newer artists.
Death & Homages
João Donato died died in the early hours of Monday, July 17. 2023 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Donato was hospitalized at Casa de Saúde São José, in the South Zone of Rio, and the cause of death was pneumonia.
“Today the sky of composers dawned happier: João Donato went there to play his beautiful melodies”, his social media announced. “Now, its joy and its chords remain eternal throughout the universe.”
In a career spanning over 70 years, João Donato has turned fans into partners. So with the news of his passing the homages came pouring:
"João Donato was one of my first enchantments in Brazilian music. And then I was lucky to become his partner, a friend, in many adventures, in many stories. He is a person who has dedicated his life to bringing joy to the world" said singer-songwriter Joyce.
Marcos Valle posted a photo with his friend and published: ”may you be welcomed with lots of music and lots of colors"
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva wrote on a social network: “João Donato was one of the geniuses of Brazilian music. Today we lost one of our greatest and most creative composers.
Roberto Menescal João Donato's companion since the bossa nova era, spoke of the importance of his friend in his musical formation.
"Of course I would be a musician even without João Donato, but I wouldn't be the musician I am today, with what I learned from him. Me and all the others of my generation who were lucky enough to come across and play with him like I did.”
Brazil-based British musician and singer Ritchie posted: I had the privilege of receiving João at my house 2 or 3 times a week throughout 1989. He used to come and record his "demos" in my studio. I learned a lot of Brazilian music with him. Go in peace, my friend. Grateful for the honor of meeting you more personally.
Caetano Veloso posted on social networks: “ I had the grace to partner with João Donato. He was heaven on earth. I'm proud to have written lyrics in "Naturally" and even "The Frog". Gal's (sic: Gal Costa) show, which I directed and which featured his piano and his genius, was so good that even Nelsinho Motta didn't understand. "Cantar", the album from which this show came out of, was a critical, commercial and sales failure. Today it is loved. Donato was never late for the season's performances. João Gilberto used to say that Donato played the piano with more than ten fingers. Tom Jobim had a photo of him in his living room. Macalé was blessed with a record in partnership with Donato. Gil composed miracles with him. His music, samba-jazz free from samba-jazz, is always perfect. The highest achievement of extreme complexity in extreme simplicity. 🖤🌹“.
Sources:
g1: https://g1.globo.com/google/amp/jornal-nacional/noticia/2023/07/17/joao-donato-compositor-e-multi-instrumentista-morre-aos-88-anos.ghtml
Wiki: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/João_Donato
Chorou chorou
João Donato Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Passo a passo, andando eu vim
Alguém disse: Alô alô
Como vai?
Assim, assim
E nasceu o amor, amor
Mas no dia-a-dia
Eu vi você,
Você mudou
Logo, logo eu percebi
E morreu o amor, amor
Quem partiu, partiu chorando
Mas o que passou passou
Quem, quem ficou,
Ficou lembrando
Quem chorou, chorou chorou
Eu pergunto a Deus, a Deus
Ora, ora, o que é que eu sou
Diz-me o que será, será
Sem o meu amor, amor
Alguém disse: Alô alô
Como vai?
Assim, assim
E nasceu o amor, amor
Mas no dia-a-dia
Eu vi você,
Você mudou
E morreu o amor, amor
Quem partiu, partiu chorando
Mas o que passou passou
Quem, quem ficou,
Ficou lembrando
Quem chorou, chorou chorou
Eu pergunto a Deus, a Deus
Ora, ora, o que é que eu sou
Diz-me o que será, será
Sem o meu amor, amor
The lyrics of João Donato's "Chorou, Chorou" follows a straightforward narrative about a love that blossomed and faded away. The first lines, "Passo a passo, andando eu vim" sets the pace for the singer’s journey in seeking love. While on this journey, someone greets him and asks how he's doing. He replies that he's doing just okay, and thus began the birth of his love. However, as time passes, he notices that the person he loves has changed, and it's a change he can't handle. The singer quickly realizes that their love is not the same, and it eventually dies off. The twist in the song comes when the author reveals that it was the person who left that was crying, and the person who stayed behind was left with the memory of those tears. As the song comes to an end, the singer pleads to God to reveal who he is without his love.
One can interpret the song in different ways. The lyrics paint a picture of how love can be intense at the beginning but lose its magic over time. Sometimes, people grow apart, and nothing can be done to save the situation, letting go is the only option. Maybe the tears referenced in the song depict the pain of letting go or a reflection of what was lost.
Line by Line Meaning
Passo a passo, andando eu vim
Slowly and steadily, I walked forward
Alguém disse: Alô alô
Someone said: Hello, hello
Como vai?
How are you?
Assim, assim
So-so
E nasceu o amor, amor
And love was born, love
Mas no dia-a-dia
But in day-to-day life
Eu vi você,
I saw you
Você mudou
You changed
Logo, logo eu percebi
Soon, I realized
E morreu o amor, amor
And love died, love
Quem partiu, partiu chorando
Whoever left, left crying
Mas o que passou passou
But what's done is done
Quem, quem ficou,
Whoever stayed
Ficou lembrando
Stayed remembering
Quem chorou, chorou chorou
Whoever cried, cried and cried
Eu pergunto a Deus, a Deus
I ask God, oh God
Ora, ora, o que é que eu sou
Pray, pray, what am I?
Diz-me o que será, será
Tell me, what will be will be
Sem o meu amor, amor
Without my love, love
Contributed by William N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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@alanfindingzen
Passo a passo, andando eu vim
Alguém disse: "alô, alô"
"Como vai?"
"Assim, assim..."
E nasceu o amor, amor
Mas, no dia-a-dia, eu vi
Que você, você mudou
Logo, logo, eu percebi
Que morreu o amor, amor
Quem partiu, partiu chorando
Mas o que passou, passou
Quem ficou, ficou lembrando
Quem chorou, chorou, chorou...
E eu pergunto a Deus, a Deus:
"Ora, ora, o que é que eu sou?
Diz-me o que será, será
Sem o meu amor, amor?"
Quem partiu, partiu chorando
Mas o que passou, passou
Quem ficou, ficou lembrando
Quem chorou, chorou, chorou...
E eu pergunto a Deus, a Deus:
"Ora, ora, o que é que eu sou?
Diz-me o que será, será
Sem o meu amor, amor?"
@mauropm.6989
Tem mais gringo que brasileiros nos comentários... bora valorizar Brasil!!
@vininavarro9278
O brazil nao conhece o Brasil
@TEMPOREX
This song has a special place in my heart
@mounir2923
Lmao what's good
@jem229
I just discovered this album today and came here and discovered your music yowza what a day
@pdrbeats8286
A meu Brasil
@thbittar
😎✌🏼legalize
@erold
my left ear feels like it ate mint
@alloallie
I first heard this maybe around two years ago, and I remember just smiling. The Rhodes, João's voice, that Purdie-esque shuffle --- all lovely !
@DeejayAlexPaz
Fender Rhodes + Donato <3