Saturday 10 July 2021

The Woman of the End of the World*

Another day, another new "Diva discovery"...

A true survivor in every sense of the word, the remarkable Elza Soares is (rightly) revered in her native Brazil. Across the world she may be less well-known, but she was apparently voted "Singer of the Millennium" in 2000 by the BBC, and she lived in New York in the 1980s, where her friends included none other than Eartha Kitt!

Outlandish and outspoken, even at her venerable age [she claims not to know how old she really is; most sources say she was born in 1937, but Wikipedia lists her as born seven years earlier, which makes her 91 this year!] she's still recording music and fighting - as she has done throughout her seven-decade career - for the rights of women, black people and LGBT people, despite nowadays needing to use a wheelchair.

I reckon she looks like a "Drag Queen Davros", but I'd never say that to her face - she's fearsome! And fabulous...

Soberba!

More about Elza Soares.

An interview with Elza Soares in The Guardian in November 2020.

[*Mulher do Fim do Mundo = "The Woman of the End of the World" in Portuguese.]

10 comments:

  1. Unfamiliar with, but I see the Eartha Kitt influence as she's aged. A true warrior, on the right side of everything! Thanks for sharing your discovery. Kizzes.

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    1. Hope you enjoyed her music - there's sixty years' worth to catch up on! Jx

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  2. A fabulous find and she immediately ranks with the Divine and Adored.
    I love her voice, such power and emotion and pathos.

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    1. How we never stumbled across her before is a mystery! Jx

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  3. I used to have a Brazilian boyfriend years ago who introduced me to all the essential samba and bossa nova music and Elza Soares is totally venerated as a veteran diva, especially among Brazilian LGBTQ community. She rocked some fierce looks over the decades and yes - her music slaps HARD!

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    1. Shame she never ran for President, really - can you imagine? Jx

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  4. Blimey! Yep, I think I'd mind my Ps and Qs in her presence as well.
    Sx

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    1. She's like Grace Jones's granny! Scary. Jx

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