MUSIC

A succulent slice of Brazil: Música Brasileira

It’s impossible to imagine that a country the size of a continent like Brazil could think, act and produce culture in just one manner. To the contrary: concepts like pluralism (more than one), inequality (not equal) and syncretism (mixture) all define the soul, the reality, the race and the music produced by Brazilians.

And for this reason let’s clarify that the designation Brazilian Music covers innumerous rhythms and musical tendencies that go from the primitive exploration of certain sounds and chords to the rare production of melodic sequences that are so difficult to be performed. Summarizing: in this melting pot of musical possibilities, there is music for all tastes.

If you prefer distinctly latin musical rhythms like salsa, you will certainly like the music and dances characteristic of the northern region of the country, like the merengue influenced lambada and the Calypso phenomenon from Pará. To stimulate your body and your imagination even more, you can’t pass up the chance to know the music of northeastern Brazil where music and movement seem to go hand in hand. The rhythms most characteristic of this region are the forró (rhythm in which you dance close to your partner), the frevo seen particularly in the Recife Carnaval where the dancers move in a frenetic manner with colourful umbrellas; and the axé (pronounced ah – shay) synonymous with Bahia and a feeling of freedom to dance uninhibited whatever way you like. In all of this, one thing is certain: only those who really want to stand still do so.

But if, nevertheless, you are the type of person that doesn’t like to move and groove too much, that is, if you prefer to listen to good music in a sophisticated ambience free from confusion, here’s the tip: MPB (Brazilian Popular Music). Explanation: Brazilian society is divided into classes. And, generally, the people from the middle and high classes have a musical taste more elaborate and urban. To facilitate the access of this public to the works of artists that have the aforementioned profile, the recording studios and others directly or indirectly connected to the recording market created this non-specific designation that has even become the name of a radio station in Rio de Janeiro: MPB FM. If you want, you can access the site of the broadcaster and know a bit more about the subject: www.mpbbrasil.com.

Continuing with the more easygoing music, in the centre-west of the country (together with the São Paulo and Minas Gerais countryside) you will encounter the grand production line of sertanejo (country music) artists. They are known as the caipiras of Brazilian music. The variety is unbelievable: from Pena Branca and Xavantinho (with a style that has an earthier sound) to Zezé de Camargo & Luciano and Xitãozinho & Xororó (with a more universal sound) the music is popular as it is particularly successful in livening up the rural fairs of the region and rodeos around the country.

Sertanejo artist Zezé de Camargo with…….his daughter. Can you believe it?
The state of São Paulo hasn’t until now formed its own distinct musical style, however, in the greater São Paulo metropolitan area, the largest city in Brazil, you can be not only in contact with almost any of the musical rhythms of Brazil but also with musical styles from around the world. There isn’t, in the whole country, such a universal, cosmopolitan city like São Paulo.
Minas Gerais state, besides showing a strong MPB presence, has given us the choro and the chorinho, musical rhythms in which the samba and the wind instrument music fuse perfectly in complimentary fashion to each other.

But the real success both in Brazil and the world, with the music that it produces is Rio de Janeiro, a cultural kaleidoscope. Birthplace of the samba and pagode, rhythms with African origins immediately associated with the negros of the Rio hills and the curvaceous mulatta girls, Rio also made reverberate on the dancefloors the beat of Carioca Funk, an electrifying rhythm that arose in the 80s as the music of the vagabundo (lazy guy) and little by little it began to claim its place in Brazilian society. If you’re the type that likes to shake your hips and booty without restraint, the baile funk danceclub is the place for you. The flirting is unrestrained and the environment is almost pornographic. Taboos don’t seem to exist in this type of club.

But the Rio that gives us baile funk is also a haven for bossa nova, the music preferred by foreigners and high society cariocas alike. With João Gilberto, Tom Jobim and Vinícius de Moraes as its principal protagonists, bossa nova (a rhythm that seems to have been developed to give pleasure to the ears of astheticians around the world) can never pass unnoticed to the tourist who ventures to Rio de Janeiro.

Even if your trip is directly related to the activities that revolve around the Carnaval, give yourself the chance to appreciate some other rhythms. There’s sure to be a musical beat in Brazil to suit you.