The Music of Brazil

Jul 28, 2021

When discussing the culture of Brazil, you can’t leave music out of the conversation. Music is a critical cornerstone of Brazilian culture, with genres like samba and bossa nova having become synonymous with Brazialian life.

One of the most interesting and remarkable fascets of Brazilian music is the incredible breadth of genres that are unique to the country. What’s more, many Brazilian artists have taken elements from other, more worldly genres – rap and pop, for example – and have evolved them into something distinctly Brazilian.

Let’s take a dive into the wild variety of genres that make up Brazialian music!

Samba

Samba may have gotten its start in Africa, but today it is the symbolic genre of Brazil. But it was a long road to reach that status. Around one hundred years ago, samba was the music of former slaves and was popular in African regions of the country. This lead to samba being criminalized throughout Brazil for many years.

Luckily, the negative attitudes directed towards samba began to soften over time in cities like São Paulo, Recife, Salvador, and Rio de Janeiro, as their citizens continued to develop new samba music.

Some of the most famous Brazilian samba artists include Cartola, Zaca Pagodinho, and Marinho de Vila.

Axé

If you’ve ever had the pleasure of enjoying the Carnival in Salvador, you’re likely familiar with axé music. This genre is one of the most defining styles of music in the Brazilian state of Bahia, and has deep roots in African, Caribbean, and Brazialian music. In fact, axé draws inspiration from reggae, calypso, maracha, and many more. Thanks in no small part to this genre’s strong African origins, it is strongly associated with the Candomblé religion.

The most notable axé artists include Ivete Sangalo, Chiclete com Banana, and Claudia Leite.

Choro

Choro is a little different from some of the other genres on this list because of its complete lack of lyrics! Choro is an instrumental genre with an upbeat and happy sound, despite the name, which literally translates to “cry.” Developing in Rio de Janeiro in the 19th century, choro was influenced by many African, European, and Latin rhythms to create something truly unique..

Famous choro musicians includes Joaquim Callado and Pixinguinha.

Carioca Funk

Getting its start in Rio de Janeiro, Carioca funk evolved from the baile (or dance) funk parties found throughout the city’s favelas with lyrics that evoke strong imagery of sex, drugs, and machismo. This is especially true for some styles of Carioca funk styles like proibidão (very prohibited), in which songs are associated with criminal gangs. That said, most Carioca funk is popular and considered a mainstream genre that is played in the streets and on the radio.

Carioca funk is very popular, with many famous artists, such as MC Cidinho & MC Doca, MC Keninho, and MC G15.

Sertanejo

Originalting in the Brazilian countryside, sertanejo is a predominant part of the cultures of São Paulo, Mata Grosso, and Minas Gerais, and Brazil as a whole. One interesting part of the sertanejo genre is that although there are many famous solo singers, like Paula Fernandes and Michel Teto, many artists perform in duos, especially as brother and sister, or pairs of men.

Some of the most noteworthy sertanejo artists include Luan Santana, and Zese Di Camardo and Luciano.

Bossa Nova

Possibly the single most important and influential musical genre to come out of Brazil is bossa nova! Exerting most of its influence throughout the 1950s and 1960s, bossa nova combined acoustic bass with classic guitar, drums, and piano to create something entirely new. In fact, the term bossa nova even translates to “new trend!” Today, bossa nova continues as one of the most well-known Brazilian genre.

Some famous bossa nova performers include Vinicius de Morães, Tom Jobim, and João Gilberto.

Tropicália

Starting out near the end of the ‘60s, and growing out of bossa nova, tropicália arose at a time when Brazil was experiencing political upheaval under a strict military dictatorship. The government, at the time, often felt threatened by tropicália’s sometimes rebellious lyrics. In fact, to of the most influential voices in tropicália – Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil – were exiled for their music. Thankfully, their exile lasted only a few years and they were able to return and continue making their music.

MPB (Música Popular Brasileira)

MPB – Brazilian Pop Music – is a unique mix of instrumental music with lyrics. Some of the most famous artists in this style include Tim Maia, Chico Buarque, and Jorge Ben.

Forró

Most popular in the Northeast of Brazil, forró music is strongly associated with the Festa Junina parties that happen across Brazil in June. In the early years of forró, the lyrics were mostly focused on the hardships people faced, such as migration and drought. Ut once the genre reached national popularity, the focus switched to the subject of women and love.

Some of the most famous forró musicians include Luiz Gonzaga, Wesley Safadão, and Solange Almeida.

Rap

As a genre that came to Brazil from the outside, Brazilian rap first appeared in the 19802 when the hip hop movement came to the favelas of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. Since the very beginning, Brazilian rap lyrics have often represented social inequality, crime, gangster and police brutality, and the struggles of daily life in the poor districts.

Some of the most important Brazilian rappers include Racionais MC, Criolo, and Emicida.

Are you looking to start your own musical journey? Maybe your child has shown an interest in learning to play an instrument or to sing? The Music Studio has programs for all ages, all skill levels, and a huge variety of instruments. Check out all our programs and sign up today!