This album continues the Titãs' new line of work, which started with the Acústico: acoustic renditions for old hits and unpublished songs, exploring brass and string quartets, and even a samba (in fact, a funk melody backed by a samba percussion). Acoustic ballads predominate, but a slight rock flavor is also present.
Eumir Deodato responds for two brass and strings arrangements ("Eu e Ela"and "Miséria"), and Jaques Morelembaum wrote the others. The album had three radio hits: "É Preciso Saber Viver" and the old hits of the band ("Sonífera Ilha" and "Insensível"). "É Preciso Saber Viver" was written by
Roberto Carlos/
Erasmo Carlos, and has been long associated with a cheesy repertory hated by the Titãs' audience. The song is indicative of the group's new direction, as its lyrics/title declare "It is necessary to know how to live." Abandoning the aggressiveness that established the band with rock tunes like "Polícia" and "Bichos Escrotos" (and, therefore, their previous audiences), they want to embark in a mainstream MPB adventure -- and have succeeded so far. ~ Alvaro Neder