In 1991, the singer released her first album featuring original songs
Marisa Monte shook up the music scene after the special "MM Ao Vivo," broadcasted by Rede Manchete in 1989. The show featured unique renditions of Brazilian music classics like "Comida," "Negro Gato," "Ando Meio Desligado," as well as a Portuguese version of the Italian song "E Po' Che Fa," adapted by Nelson Motta as "Bem Que Se Quis."
After the success of the live album, it was time to explore new paths. So in 1991, Marisa released "Mais," her first studio album with original songs. Produced by Arto Lindsay, the LP included hits like "Beija Eu" (Marisa Monte, Arnaldo Antunes, Arto Lindsay), "Ainda Lembro" (Marisa Monte, Nando Reis), "Eu Sei (Na Mira)" (Marisa Monte), and many others.
While these songs have crossed generational boundaries and become staples of Brazilian music, at the time of its release, the album "Mais" wasn’t as warmly received by the press, particularly by critics in Rio de Janeiro.
The criticisms were directed specifically at Marisa’s songwriting. The headline in O Globo on March 18, 1991, read: "Singer Yes, Songwriter No." The article, penned by journalist Luciano Trigo, claimed that the artist’s lyrics resembled "the musings of a preschooler."
Meanwhile, Mauro Ferreira, a revered music critic known for his admiration of female singers, praised Marisa Monte's eclectic shift in "Mais," but labeled her debut as a songwriter "a mistake." Years later, the journalist changed his tune, hailing "Mais" as a modern album that has stood the test of time and grown even more significant since its release.
On the other hand, O Estado de S. Paulo offered a positive review. In an article by Lauro Lisboa Garcia, it was noted that in "Diariamente" (Marisa Monte, Nando Reis), Marisa came close to evoking something like Gal Costa in the late ’60s. "A debut with the freshness of a first effort," the review stated.
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