Suzana d'Amour

Romantically Elegant: Suzana D'Amour

The music on Suzana d'Amour's newest album Proof of Love is suffused with romantic elegance that not only makes for fun, engaging listening, but prevents love from sounding cliché. Her emotions on the disc feel authentic and not in any way contrivedthat classic pitfall too many pop musicians succumb to. Her intense, passionate voice sings about sexuality from the perspective of a woman filled with longing, but her inventive phrasing and the playful echo of the piano make her sound powerful and in control. Interestingly, her songs without English lyrics (five are in English, four are in French, and one is in Portugese) are every bit as emotionally compelling as those which are sung in the only language this reviewer understands. Da Camara's sexy, cabaret spirit is enough to communicate the intensity of her passion without actually understanding the literal meaning of her words; sometimes music is a more expressive language than any of the spoken ones, right? In any case, the evocative, carefully written rhymes are written on the inside of the CD cover. It is interesting to read a line while the song is playing, guess how the line will be sung only to be surprised by Da Camara's phrasing. It is clear she feels an intimate connection with each song.

The musicians on Proof of Love are united in their purpose to amplify Suzana's passions. There are no ground breaking innovations or technical solos to dazzle, as it's not at all the point on this type of album. The album's great strength is Suzana's ability to communicate her passions, and the musicians succeed in paralleling her feelings. In fact, throughout the album their instruments literally parallel the melody and phrasing of her voice, reinforcing how the two are a part of the same thing. It's as if the musicians are under the power of Suzana's rapture.

But Proof of Love avoids becoming a tired, two-dimensional love album because several things are done to give character to each song. For one thing, there are no less than twenty different instruments featured on the album, ranging in sound from horns, to banjo, to a kids choir. In no way is all this instrumentation dense or overbearingjust the opposite The album maintains a very clear, open feeling because most of the instruments are secondary and appear on at most a couple songs. Next, and as mentioned above, the different languages in which she sings give the album's sound variety and spice. Finally, the tempo is effectively shifted on ballads like Il ny a qu'un homme', a slow, sensual romantic tune. The songs are borne of the same feeling, but because of the different tactics used you never feel like it's redundant. Listening to Proof of Love is like being in the presence of a beautiful, elegant, and seductive woman. It is a powerful expression of female sexuality because it is upfront in its theme while being tastefully withholdingthe core idea behind cabaret. And of course, it's extremely easy on the ears!

Find more information about Suzana's live shows and buy her CD at http://www.suzanadamour.com - Woman.ca

Romantically Elegant: Suzana D'Amour

The music on Suzana d'Amour's newest album Proof of Love is suffused with romantic elegance that not only makes for fun, engaging listening, but prevents love from sounding cliché. Her emotions on the disc feel authentic and not in any way contrivedthat classic pitfall too many pop musicians succumb to. Her intense, passionate voice sings about sexuality from the perspective of a woman filled with longing, but her inventive phrasing and the playful echo of the piano make her sound powerful and in control. Interestingly, her songs without English lyrics (five are in English, four are in French, and one is in Portugese) are every bit as emotionally compelling as those which are sung in the only language this reviewer understands. Da Camara's sexy, cabaret spirit is enough to communicate the intensity of her passion without actually understanding the literal meaning of her words; sometimes music is a more expressive language than any of the spoken ones, right? In any case, the evocative, carefully written rhymes are written on the inside of the CD cover. It is interesting to read a line while the song is playing, guess how the line will be sung only to be surprised by Da Camara's phrasing. It is clear she feels an intimate connection with each song.

The musicians on Proof of Love are united in their purpose to amplify Suzana's passions. There are no ground breaking innovations or technical solos to dazzle, as it's not at all the point on this type of album. The album's great strength is Suzana's ability to communicate her passions, and the musicians succeed in paralleling her feelings. In fact, throughout the album their instruments literally parallel the melody and phrasing of her voice, reinforcing how the two are a part of the same thing. It's as if the musicians are under the power of Suzana's rapture.

But Proof of Love avoids becoming a tired, two-dimensional love album because several things are done to give character to each song. For one thing, there are no less than twenty different instruments featured on the album, ranging in sound from horns, to banjo, to a kids choir. In no way is all this instrumentation dense or overbearingjust the opposite The album maintains a very clear, open feeling because most of the instruments are secondary and appear on at most a couple songs. Next, and as mentioned above, the different languages in which she sings give the album's sound variety and spice. Finally, the tempo is effectively shifted on ballads like Il ny a qu'un homme', a slow, sensual romantic tune. The songs are borne of the same feeling, but because of the different tactics used you never feel like it's redundant. Listening to Proof of Love is like being in the presence of a beautiful, elegant, and seductive woman. It is a powerful expression of female sexuality because it is upfront in its theme while being tastefully withholdingthe core idea behind cabaret. And of course, it's extremely easy on the ears!

Find more information about Suzana's live shows and buy her CD at http://www.suzanadamour.com - Woman.ca

Terry Costa wants Portuguese Canadians not to be afraid to say they are Portuguese and to make it known to the world they are proud of their heritage through YouTube.

The Toronto art director is inviting members of his community to submit their “Proud to be Portuguese Canadian” videos to a contest as part of a campaign to revitalize an established immigrant community that he says is invisible in Canada’s multicultural mosaic.

“There has been this stigma for years and decades that we are poorly educated, this and that. This is like coming out of the closet in a Portuguese way,” said Costa, who was born in Canada but raised in Pico, Portugal, before returning to his birthplace at age 15 for school.

“We are not all construction workers and house cleaners,” he added. “It is not like there is anything wrong with that, but that is not what our heritage is about.”

Since the summer, Costa, who studied drama and theatre at the University of Toronto, has knocked on the doors of community groups to join his campaign, which has garnered support ranging from a Toronto carpenters’ union to the government of Portugal.

Canada is home to 420,000 Portuguese immigrants, many of whom arrived in the 1950s from the Azores, fleeing political conflict under a dictatorial regime. Almost 70 per cent live in Ontario, mainly in Greater Toronto.

Unlike their Italian and Greek counterparts who came in the same era, Costa said, the Portuguese kept a low profile and made slower progress in “branching out to the Canadian community.”

Although there are many well-known Canadian hockey players, athletes, singers and professionals of Portuguese descent, he said, somehow their heritage isn’t celebrated.

“I want to give pride to our youth, so they are not afraid to say they are Portuguese Canadians. This is a simple project we want to take onto the street and across Canada,” Costa said.

Suzana da Camara, a record artist in cabaret and pop jazz, has already put her video up.

Born and raised in Toronto, da Camara grew up spending each summer with her family in the Azores. Though she is not a traditional Portuguese fado singer, she includes a Portuguese song every time she puts out an album or performance.

“It is just part of my life. It has inspired me in so many ways,” said da Camara, who speaks fluent English, French and Portuguese.

“I am not actively involved in the community. I don’t sing fado, but I’m still proud to be Portuguese Canadian,” she added. “It is wonderful to be in Canada, where you can proclaim your pride in your heritage anywhere, anytime.”

Portuguese Canadians have until March to submit their 30-second videos to proudtobeportuguesecanadian@gmail.com for a chance to win a $500 prize.

All entries will be posed on www.portuguesecanadian.com and viewed at the community’s 2012 conference and cultural festival. - The Toronto Star

(PLEASE NOTE NAME CHANGE SINCE PUBLICATION)

Sultry glamour-puss Suzana d'Amour offers more than a touch of Vegas in her act, leavened by a refreshing refusal to take herself too seriously. Fluent in English, French and Portuguese, she brings a cosmopolitan flavour and a pleasant stage presence to performances that are far from standard. - Toronto Life Magazine

(PLEASE NOTE NAME CHANGE SINCE PUBLICATION)

Sultry glamour-puss Suzana d'Amour offers more than a touch of Vegas in her act, leavened by a refreshing refusal to take herself too seriously. Fluent in English, French and Portuguese, she brings a cosmopolitan flavour and a pleasant stage presence to performances that are far from standard. - Toronto Life Magazine