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

Jodel
João Donato Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ai, meu Deus, cadê Jodel?
Eu gosto tanto de Jodel
Acho que tá muito errado
Ela ter me abandonado
Ela foi-se da cidade
Com seis anos de idade
Acho que não tá direito

'To morrendo de saudade
Mas que coisa mais sem graça
Não é coisa que se faça
Era minha namorada
A minha coisa mais amada

Se ela me visitar
Um presente vou lhe dar
Nem que seja uma semana
Já é bom pra quem se ama
Quero ver o seu sorriso

Ai, meu Deus, como eu preciso
Se ela voltar um dia
Eu morro de tanta alegria

Ai, meu Deus, cadê Jodel?
Gosto tanto de Jodel
Acho que tá muito errado
Ela ter me abandonado, Jodel

Cadê Jodel?

Jodel? Cadê Jodel?
Cadê Jodel? Cadê Jodel? Cadê Jodel? Cadê?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of João Donato’s song Jodel portray the singer’s longing for his lost love, Jodel. The song’s repetitive structure emphasizes the desperation of the singer as he searches for Jodel. The use of the rhetorical question “Cadê Jodel?” throughout the song implies the singer’s confusion and sense of loss without her. He reminisces on their relationship and expresses his belief that it was wrong for Jodel to abandon him.

The singer’s love for Jodel is emphasized through his promise to give her a gift upon her return, even if it is just for a week. His desire to see her smile and his willingness to die in joy if she were to return shows the intensity of his emotions towards her. The song’s simple melody reflects the rawness of the singer’s emotions and the repetition of the lyrics adds to the overall sadness of the theme.

Line by Line Meaning

Ai, meu Deus, cadê Jodel?
The singer is desperately searching for Jodel and is concerned about her whereabouts.

Eu gosto tanto de Jodel
The singer has strong feelings for Jodel and loves her.

Acho que tá muito errado Ela ter me abandonado
The singer believes that it is wrong for Jodel to have left him and feels abandoned.

Ela foi-se da cidade Com seis anos de idade Acho que não tá direito
Jodel left the city when she was only six years old, which the singer thinks is not right.

'To morrendo de saudade
The singer is dying of longing for Jodel.

Mas que coisa mais sem graça Não é coisa que se faça Era minha namorada A minha coisa mais amada
The singer finds Jodel leaving him to be dull, inappropriate, and hurtful. She was his girlfriend and the most important thing in his life.

Se ela me visitar Um presente vou lhe dar Nem que seja uma semana Já é bom pra quem se ama Quero ver o seu sorriso
If Jodel visits him, the singer promises to give her a gift. Even if she can only stay for a week, it would still make him happy to spend time with her and see her smile.

Ai, meu Deus, como eu preciso Se ela voltar um dia Eu morro de tanta alegria
The singer desperately needs Jodel, and if she ever comes back, he will be overwhelmed with joy.

Cadê Jodel?
The singer continues to search for Jodel, and asks where she could be.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, ABRAMUS, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Joao Donato De Oliveira Neto, Marcos Kostenbader Valle

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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