Pode Entrar: Multishow Registro makes its intentions transparent from its title, which translates as "You may come in." The album was recorded at
Ivete Sangalo's house in her native town of Salvador Bahia, a home the immensely popular axé diva opened up for her friends to come in and sing with her. And so they did, from
Marcelo Camelo to
Lulu Santos, from
Aviões do Forró to
Saulo Fernandes, and even
Ivete's sister Monica de San Galo. It is understood that such a warm invitation is extended to
Ivete's adoring audience, as in the accompanying DVD they are treated to the singer's domestic surroundings and hometown, as well as to behind-the-scenes footage from the recordings. Most importantly, such congenial atmosphere allows
Ivete to come up with something slightly different than her usual concoction of dance hits and dance filler, for a change. Even if not always successful, there seems to be a conscious effort to make an album that sounds more personal and less professional, less like a purely commercial endeavor designed for the summer -- a fault often found in
Sangalo's records. To be sure, there still is plenty to shake your feet to in
Pode Entrar, including the inspired opening "Balakbak," "Eu Tô Vendo," and "Cadê Dalila." Still, to a large extent, this is a more relaxed kind of album for
Sangalo, one that truly finds its groove in the reggaes, slow sambas, and ballads that take up half of the record, and give her a chance to show how much she has grown up as a singer. Indisputably,
Pode Entrar's centerpieces are the consecutive duets with its two most illustrious guests,
Carlinhos Brown and
Maria Bethânia in "Quanto ao Tempo" and "Muito Obrigado Axé," respectively. Both songs were penned by the multi-talented
Brown, although he only sings in the first one, a torching soul ballad. He then leaves the stage set for the truly legendary
Bethânia who, as a matter of course, waltzes in and turns into gold anything she lends her voice to, in this case a lovely Afro-pop number.
Sangalo is of course delighted (growing up in Bahia she idolized
Bethânia), and she blends beautifully with both. Not a flawless record, as a few of the 17 numbers are redundant and could have easily been omitted,
Pode Entrar is nevertheless a very fine effort and a welcome change of pace for
Ivete Sangalo. ~ Mariano Prunes