Since the mid 2000s, Sertanejo Universitário (College Country), has come to be dominant in Brazilian popular music, as the industry shifted focus away from other established traditional and contemporary genres. This has had not just a cultural, but a political and environmental impact, argues geographer Tiago Cardoso. Recently Sertanejo singer Gusttavo Lima became the centre […]
With a career that spanned nearly 70 years and 34 albums, Brazil’s beloved singer and activist passed away peacefully at the age of 91 by Brian Mier In 1953, a young woman appeared at an amateur singing competition in the auditorium of a Rio de Janeiro radio show. Her borrowed clothes, too big for her, […]
In the macho, back-country world of Sertanejo music, Mendonça demanded respect for women by Brian Mier On Friday, November 5, news broke that a small plane had crashed in Caratinga, Minas Gerais, but that all of the passengers, including popular singer/songwriter Marília Mendonça, were OK. There was a collective sign of relief – Mendonça, 26, […]
Beco de Batman, the São Paulo alley that is world famous for its graffiti art, has been painted completely black in mourning over the police murder of popular local artist and cultural icon NegoVila Madalena. By Caê Vasconcelos | Ponte Jornalismo. Last Sunday, the Vila Madalena neighborhood on São Paulo’s west side awoke in mourning. The famous […]
When you acheive human rights you should never let them be taken back from you in any way under any pretext,” said the 76 year old musician, “this has been happening around the World and it is happening in Brazil. It’s a neurosis.” During an interview on the Brazilian TV talk show Lady Night on […]
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João Gilberto, native of Bahia and pioneer of Bossa Nova, which put Brazilian popular music on record players in homes across the planet during the 1960s, has died aged 88 in his adopted Rio de Janeiro. His cultural importance to Brazil, and indeed the world, is immeasurable. We cannot think of a better tribute than […]
By Graham Douglas for Sounds and Colours. It was a hot day in the beautiful town of Amarante, the Portuguese base of Brazil’s MIMO festival. I’m chatting to Otto prior to his show at Parque Ribeirinho in the evening and a day after seeing him talk at a forum about the state of new Brazilian […]
Rock in Rio is a huge cultural event in Rio de Janeiro; for many people, it’s their one and only chance to see an artist or a band they love. The Rock in Rio stage has welcomed household names like Queen, Sting, Britney Spears, Guns ‘n’ Roses, Beyoncé and many, many more. For those who […]
First published in its original form online at Stylus Magazine in November 2005. The article has been out of print since Stylus closed up shop but is still a reference for other related articles on Wikipedia. It should be taken as a snapshot of the Baile Funk scene at that time as it was fast […]