Bird of Paradise is an album by the Brazilian musician Djavan.[1][2] It was released in 1988 via Columbia Records, part of a Brazilian push by the label that also included albums by Milton Nascimento (Yauaretê) and Simone (Vicio).[3][4]
The album was produced by Ronnie Foster.[5] Three of its songs are sung in English; Djavan had others write the lyrics to them.[6] Djavan recorded the album in Los Angeles, using session musicians.[7]
"Stephen's Kingdom", to which Stevie Wonder contributed, is about the South African township of Soweto.[8][9]
The Sun Sentinel wrote that Djavan's "voice is a clear, strong, masculine baritone, his guitar distinctly grounded in but not enslaved to the samba beat, the melodies are long, lilting, undulating lines rising above a plush, complex harmonic carpet."[13]The Boston Globe thought that "Djavan's upbeat Anglo-Brazilian pop will appeal to West Coast jazz fusion fans as well as pop listeners."[14]
The Washington Post determined that, "as slick and predictable as it is, though, the album is redeemed by a few of Djavan's lyrics, including the compulsive love song 'Madness' and the temptress tale 'Miss Susanna'."[5]The New York Times concluded that, "as a singer, Djavan doesn't have the angelic, impeccable intonation of Mr. Nascimento or Mr. [Caetano] Veloso; he sounds a little more fallible and earthly, perhaps more approachable for American pop listeners."[15]The Philadelphia Inquirer deemed the album "predictable, Westernized funk."[16]
AllMusic called the album "full of strong, haunting, lusciously melodic songs often backed by that gently jumping, uplifting rhythm that runs through much of his material."[10]
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