The scoop on Grupo A

GET THEE TO GRUPO A ON SATURDAY NIGHT! Be there! It's where all the cool sambistas will be. :)

Here's Frederico Soares' take on Grupo A, transcribed from the Roda de Samba blog:
(translated by me, all errors my own)
Original Portuguese version at: http://extra.globo.com/blogs/rodadesamba/

and notice, o ye international sambistas, how Frederico uses "samba" ALWAYS to mean the song; and "enredo" ALWAYS to mean the theme of the parade, not the song. The article won't make any sense if you've got it backwards.

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Everybody, I've finished my annual trek through the warehouses of almost all the escolas of Grupo de Aceso A (I only missed Caprichosos de Pilares). And, from this, I've already got some perspectives about this Saturday's spectacle - one that will have few good sambas. I'll try in the next lines to make a predication based on what I saw, from what I know of the groups and the sambas that they'll be presenting. Here they are:

Estacio de Sa - Without a doubt, the favorite for the title. With an interesting theme about the ancient custom of people who can predict the future, the escola has become as grandiose as if it were in Grupo Especial. The floats are impressive. The samba is just average, but it should serve sufficiently for the parade. And the "floor" (chao, the dedication of the people) is of the highest level. Ingredients that without a doubt could take them to the championship.

Uniao da Ilha - The samba is classic, historical, and it's got the ability to make the whole Avenida cry. The work in the warehouse is of a higher level than I had expected, especially in view of Ilha having passed through a serious financial crisis. Sincerely, I think it difficult that they'll end up in first place. lBut the escola has everything in hand to make me "burn my tongue" (eat my words)
[note from KH: Ilha is using the classic song "E Hoje", a classic and one of the first five songs that every gringo sambista should learn by heart. Because it seems like every single bloco in the city plays it in every single parade!)

Academicos do Cubango - Outside of Ilha's samba, which is a reprise of a previous year's samba, the samba of Cubango is definitely the best of the group. The courageous enredo in homage of the dancer Mercedes Batista is another positive factor. The talent of the young, up-and-coming carnavalesco Wagner Goncalves also should be taken into account. The bateria too is going to "weigh" (pesar, be heavy, be formidable), now that it's led by Mestre Ricardinho, who was responsible in the previous two years for the best baterias in the group - Paraiso do Tuiuti and Arranco.

Lins Imperial - The samba isn't "one of those things there" (isn't all that great), but the charming method that the carnavalesco Eduardo Goncalves has found to develop the enredo, a homage to the 200th anniversary of hte arrival of the Royal Family, could make the difference. The fine set of costumes should also be taken into account.

Imperio da Tijuca - This is a typical case of an escola that knows its limits. Given its financial conditions, its work in the warehouse is very honest and creative. The samba is one of the best, very well suited for being sung by the crowd. In addition to this, they're "coming very well referenced" (coming off a high point) by their wonderful and surprising presentation in 2007.

Academicos de Santa Cruz - Here's another escola that's doing lovely work on its floats. I'm worried, however, by the samba-enredo, which isn't one of the best. The plan for developing the enredo, which tries to associate the arrival of the Royal Family with Porto de Itaguai, also is a little arguable.

Renascer de Jacarepagua - Yet another group that will show us Don Joao VI & Cia (the Royal Family). Although the enredo depicts an imaginary letter written by the King of Portugal, the theme's development is very much tied to historical records, which doesn't seem likely to result in anything very "carnavlesco" (festive). The samba is also middle-rate.

Academicos da Rocinha - In my opinion, they have a good samba. In addition they have the excellent work in the warehouse, led by the promising Fabio Ricardo, which makes us think that Rocinha is another very strong candidate for the title. The enredo, an homage to people of the northeast, has a direct connection to the Rocinha community, and is also easy to understand.

Imperio Serrano - I value this escola principally for their tradition. The samba, though I don't like it very much, is being sung well in the rehearsals. As for the costumes, they may well be the best of the entire parade. The floats, on paper, looking promising, but their decorations are still running behind schedule. They are also in the fight for the title.