PLANET UNDER
A titan of Brazilian culture has fallen, considered by many in their homeland to embody the soul of the country. Indeed, many on a worldwide scale were also in mourning. Their death was worth 9 points in the DDP.
No, we’re not at the point of having to write an obit for Pelé just yet, albeit samba queen Elza Soares did have a direct tie to one of his former teammates – her marriage to Garrincha made her a loathed figure for some years, with many at the time feeling that the relationship tanked his football career. It wasn’t the first hardship in her life (she grew up in poverty, was forced into an abusive marriage pre-Garrincha aged 12, and frequently dealt with racism), but none would impede her path to musical stardom.
Her distinctive husky voice would illuminate some 30+ albums over her 60-year career. Her first record reminded some listeners of Louis Armstrong, despite her having no knowledge of US culture at the time. She met the great man a couple of years later. Other fans included everyone from Her Maj to Beyoncé, and recordings made in her old age continued to garner critical repute. Her passionate activism was another hallmark of her life – her last album, Planet Hunger, was named in reference to her impoverished upbringing. With fellow raspy-voiced icon and survivor Tina Turner, the BBC named her “Best Singer of the Millennium” in 1999, which does seems a bit unfair an honour to any sterling voices that predated the phonograph. She seemed a fiery innovator until the end, which has come at the age of 91.
“Elza Soares” had ten letters, which is why you’re reading her obit here, as she was a unique for theme team Perfect 10.
Elza Soares
23 June 1930 – 20 January 2022, aged 91
💀💀💀💀💀 + 👻 = 9 POINTS