Seu Jorge Cru (20th Anniversary) LP

Seu Jorge, the internationally successful Brazilian singer and actor, needs no introduction. In 2024, his second solo album, Cru, celebrates its 20th anniversary. This album, which has become a "classic," established him as the new "King" of Brazilian music. Released shortly after the cult Brazilian film City of God, in which he played the role of bus driver "Mané Galinha," Cru was immediately hailed by the international press and acclaimed by audiences the world over.

The fruit of a meeting between Seu Jorge and French producer Jérôme Pigeon (Favela Chic), this album was imagined at one of the legendary Parisian parties of the time. At the heart of this creative and festive exaltation, Seu Jorge met Matthieu Chedid, who was to take part in the recording of the album ("Tive Razão"). He invited Seu Jorge to support him at Bercy; they met again on stage at the Encantado festival, and Seu Jorge in turn invited Matthieu to perform an unforgettable concert on Ipanema Beach in Rio, in front of several million spectators.

Legend has it that it was after hearing "Don't," the Elvis Presley cover featured on Cru, that Wes Anderson offered Seu Jorge a role in his film Life Aquatic alongside Bill Murray, Willem Dafoe, Cate Blanchett, and Anjelica Huston, in which he performs several David Bowie songs in Portuguese. The English pop icon paid tribute to Seu Jorge's versions of his songs, saying that he had elevated them to a "new level of beauty."

Since Cru, Seu Jorge has enjoyed a string of international and Brazilian tours, successful albums (all produced by Mario Caldato, Jr. [Beastie Boys]), and prestigious featuring appearances (U2, Coldplay, Chico Buarque, etc.). He has established himself as a worthy successor to Jorge Ben and Caetano Veloso, not only in the hearts of Brazilians but on all five continents.

In addition to his immense artistic qualities, Seu Jorge, once a kid from Rio's favelas ("Eu Sou Favela"), is also a man committed to the black cause, in particular through his involvement in the struggle against racism and xenophobia in a country where disguised slavery has unfortunately not yet disappeared.

One can't mention Cru without mentioning Pretinho da Serrinha, the marvelous musician featured on every song on the album, whose talent is now being snapped up by all the Brazilian stars. Not to mention the extraordinary cover art by Vik Muniz, a world-famous visual artist who was also at the start of his career at the time, and Renaud Letang (Feist, Manu Chao, Alain Souchon, Chilly Gonzales), whose exceptionally fine mixing helped turn this timeless album into a refined showcase which, 20 years later, has lost none of its splendor. Let's salute Cru's resurrection in physical form on its anniversary thanks to Diggers Factory and Babelville Prod, an album made up of equal parts surprising covers (Gainsbourg, Elvis Presley, Bezerra Da Silva) and original compositions by Seu Jorge and young Brazilian songwriters of the time.