Toada ‘Lamento de Raça’ is re-released in a campaign to preserve the forest

Voice of the Amazon

‘Lamento de Raça’ by the composer from Parintin, Emerson Maia, immortalized in the voice of David Assayag returns remastered 26 years after its release

A classic from the Amazon songbook returns to the scene 26 years after its release. The tune “Lamento de Raça” by Parintina composer Emerson Maia, recorded in 1996 on the album “Lendas, Rituais e Sonhos” by Boi Garantido, was remastered and featured a music video.

The promotion is from the São Paulo record label Atraction, holder of the album’s production rights and responsible for the return to the market of the work immortalized in the voice of David Assayag.

The relaunch is part of the “Amazônia Pede Socorro” campaign and will be available on YouTube and all streaming platforms from December 8th.

According to Ana Maria Mendez, CEO of the record label Atraction, the company is committed to what it records.

“Atraction is a Brazilian music record company, which has always been attentive and committed to social responsibility. At this moment, concerned with issues that affect environmental preservation, she created the ‘Amazônia Pede Socorro’ campaign to add her voice to all those who are fighting to defend the largest tropical forest in the world, considered the greatest manifestation of life on the entire planet.” , he declared. According to her, “Lamento de Raça” contains at the same time the poetry of Emerson Maia and the vocal competence of David Assayag. “It’s perfect!”, she highlighted.

Considered the greatest voice of the Parintins festival, David Assayag, Garantido’s toada raiser at the time, remembers the performance of the toada in the arena.

“It was a unique moment! The bumbodromo stopped to listen to me,” she recalled. “Calm and serene, I began the first verses. It was an atmosphere of ecstasy, emotion took over the entire environment and I knew that Emerson’s tune was the cue for me to explore all my vocal power,” she recalled. “When it comes to ‘where am I going?’ I opened an extension cord and held it for 31 seconds… the bumbodrome collapsed”, recalls David Assayag. “This tune helped forge my image as a jack of all trades,” he admitted with humor.

Timeless work

Son of composer Emerson Maia, Emerson Faria Maia comments on the timelessness of his father’s work. “Nothing is more contemporary than ‘Lamento de Raça’. Composed in 1996, this tune gave a face to the Parintins Folklore Festival”, he highlighted.

Today, 26 years later, the smoke is present in the forest and the Amazonian people return to give their war cry and raise their lament in favor of our green life. May the re-release of ‘Lamento de Raça’ express at the next festival how much we Amazonians regret what is happening to our Amazon”, she maintained.

For João Paulo Faria, Amo do Boi Garantido, nephew of the composer Emerson Maia and friend of David Assayag, listening to and following the re-release of the song “Lamento de Raça” is like drinking at the fountain of red and white poetry from Baixa de São José and getting to know the roots of Garantido’s protagonism when the theme is the Amazon.

“’Lamento de Raça’ has great historical importance at the Parintins Festival, as it is the biggest song of Boi Garantido, avant-garde in its approach to environmental issues at the Festival, in defense of nature. It is the greatest work of the most legendary composer of the red and white ox: Emerson Maia,” he stated.

History and legacy

Considered the longest-lived composer of the Parintins Folkloric Festival, Emerson Maia passed away in 2020 at the age of 66. During the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, he composed classics for his favorite boy: Garantido. His are the unforgettable “Sentei Junto ao Pé da Roseira”, “Vem Tomar Banho de Cheiro”, “Flor de Tucumã”, “Pura Harmonia” and many others, as well as, of course, “Lamento de Raça”.

The initiative by the record label Atraction showcases the poetry and musicality of Emerson Maia, as well as honoring one of his greatest performers, singer David Assayag.

*With information from consultancy

read more

David Assayag’s Live Show will feature Patrick Araújo and Márcia Novo

David Assayag says goodbye to his post as toada raiser: “I never approved of division”

David Assayag suffers discrimination on social media due to his visual impairment