O telefone tocou novamente

O Telefone Tocou Novamente ("The Telephone Rang Again") is a Brazilian song written and recorded by Jorge Ben, later known as Jorge Ben Jor. Released in 1970 on the album Força Bruta, the original recording features Trio Mocotó, whose percussion and rhythmic interplay became an essential part of the album's distinctive sound.

Django Reinhardt did not record O Telefone Tocou Novamente. The song was released seventeen years after his death and has no historical connection with Django or the traditional Manouche Jazz repertoire. It belongs to a completely different musical world: the extraordinarily rhythmic Brazilian music developed by Jorge Ben around samba, with elements of soul, funk, and the style that would become closely associated with samba-rock.

Musical character:
O Telefone Tocou Novamente is driven less by complex harmonic movement than by groove. Jorge Ben's guitar works together with the percussion of Trio Mocotó to create a relaxed but constantly moving rhythmic foundation. The memorable vocal melody sits naturally above this groove, giving the song the seemingly effortless character that is so typical of Jorge Ben's music.

Connection to Manouche Jazz:
There really isn't one. O Telefone Tocou Novamente is not a Manouche Jazz standard, Django never played it, and there is no historical reason to place it in the Gypsy Jazz tradition. But that does not mean it cannot work beautifully on acoustic instruments. Jazz has always involved taking music from different traditions and finding new ways to play it, and a strong melody and irresistible groove are more than enough reason to include a song in a musician's repertoire.

Interesting facts:

• O Telefone Tocou Novamente appeared on Jorge Ben's 1970 album Força Bruta.
• The original recording features Trio Mocotó, the Brazilian group whose distinctive percussion helped shape the rhythmic character of Jorge Ben's music during this period.
• The song was written entirely by Jorge Ben, who also performs guitar and lead vocals on the recording.
• The title translates as "The Telephone Rang Again", and the song revolves around the disappointment of answering the telephone and discovering that the caller is not the woman the narrator loves.
• Força Bruta mixes samba with influences from soul and funk, and its collaboration with Trio Mocotó became an important example of the sound later associated with Brazilian samba-rock.
• The original recording remains one of Jorge Ben's most popular tracks decades after its release, showing how effectively its simple melody and distinctive groove have endured.

O Telefone Tocou Novamente may have almost nothing to do with Django Reinhardt or traditional Manouche Jazz — and that is perfectly fine. Some songs simply deserve to be played because they are great songs. Jorge Ben's combination of melody, guitar, voice, and irresistible Brazilian rhythm makes this one particularly enjoyable to reinterpret, whether it is played in its original samba-based style or given a completely new acoustic arrangement.