Brazilian Music Map

Hello guys, I am back!

And to start the “Introduction to Brazilian Culture” (hahaha) I thought we could talk about our music! I am sure that you have already listened to some brazilian music, even if you don’t know it yet.

I particularly think that the most popular style for people who do not live in Brazil is Samba. Everywhere I go, when I say I am Brazilian, people ask me if I know how to samba. But Brazil has an infinity of different musical genres and a lot of great artists that you must be aware of <3

To begin, it is important to know that Brazil is a pretty big country (no news hehe) and each region has a predominant musical rhythm. I will talk here just about the most popular ones and divide them by region that they are most common.

Southeast - samba, pagode, funk, mpb & bossa nova

Samba, pagode, funk, mpb & bossa nova are typical from the southeast of Brazil, which includes Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo cities. Those rhythms were raised in Rio, but nowadays they are spread to the rest of the country and they are really popular.

The funk, for example, is originally from Rio de Janeiro favelas, but later it gained versions that came from São Paulo and had different subjects and sometimes different beats.

1. Samba

Alcione - Não deixe o samba morrer

Clara Nunes - O Mar Serenou

Seu Jorge, Caetano Veloso - Desde Que O Samba É Samba

2.Samba Enredo
Monobloco - Explode coração

1. Pagode

Thiaguinho - Buquê de Flores

1. Funk
   MC MM feat DJ RD - Só Quer Vrau
   

Nego do Borel - Me Solta

MC WM - Fuleragem

1. MPB (Música Popular Brasileira)

João Gilberto - Aquarela do Brasil

1. Bossa

Elis Regina – Águas de Março

Tom Jobim: Garota de Ipanema (with Vinicius de Moraes)

Northeast - Axé, Forró, Baião, Xote

In the Northeast part of Brazil, where Bahia and a lot of beautiful beaches are located, the most popular style is the Axé music. They also listen a lot to forró, baião and xote which are all very similar.

1. Axé

País Tropical - Ivete Sangalo

1. Forró

No escurinho - Bicho de Pé

1. Baião

Coração Bobo - Alceu Valença

1. Xote

Sala de reboco - Dominguinhos

Nosso Xote - Bicho de pé

Midwest - Sertanejo & Sertanejo Universitário

This is where my city Brasília, the capital, is located. It is the middle of Brazil. The Sertanejo’s songs can be compared with country music, but the two rhythms have some differences:

Besides of origin - Sertanejo is from the rural area, and Sertanejo Universitário is from the city - the instruments used are also different. The Sertanejo began with the use of the viola, later the guitar. The Sertanejo Universitário uses guitar, bass, drums. The differentiation of the instruments is also responsible for changing the whole rhythm and the places where the style is more common.

1. Sertanejo

Evidências
This is the second brazilian national anthem. If you ever go to a karaoke in Brasil, someone will sing this song for sure:

1. Sertanejo Universitário

Michel Teló - Ai Se Eu Te Pego
I bet that you have listened to this one:

Wesley Safadão e Anitta - Romance Com Safadeza

Nowadays we also have a wave of women singing these rhythms, which used to be unusual, and people call this the new “Feminejo” (“femi” comes from “female” and “nejo” from “sertanejo”)
Here is an example:

Simone & Simaria - Regime Fechado

North - brega, lambada

The north of Brazil is very rich culturally speaking, but unfortunately it does not receive as much incentive as Rio and São Paulo. That is why, this first band that I am showing next is so important for Pará’s culture. They were the main group responsible for showing the rest of Brazil North’s music. Its success has stimulate investments from businessmen and record companies.

1. Brega
   Calypso - Cavalo Manco
   

2. Lambada

Kaoma - Chorando Se Foi

Well, those are the main rhythms that represent Brazil. I have tried to select few songs for each style so it would be less tiring for you.

So, I really want to know: which style do you prefer?

In the next post, I can speak more and show other songs of the style that you like the most. And I will try to make a playlist on Spotify with the newest songs for you to listen when you want!

Thank you a lot for reading me and, please, give me feedbacks!
xoxo