Please Don't Stop the Music

Music in Brazil is incredible. I really feel as though people in Brazil could not survive without music. It is something that completely infuses daily life in the country. Live performances are everywhere. And each region seems to have its own distinct musical traditions and styles. Samba clubs are now synonymous with the with the eccentric Carnaval parades of Rio. While Carnaval in the Northeastern regions of Bahia are more known for axe, a distinct, upbeat form that is not as internationally known as samba from Rio (even though Bahians will argue that Samba originated in the afro-Brazilian communities in the Northeast.) My Brazilian brother is even the lead singer in an axe band. When I hit the ground, I'll definitely make sure to get a live recording of one of his shows. Many other Carnaval groups in Bahia are dedicated to heavily drum-laden rhythms, explicitly tied to the African roots in the region, and the traditional sounds that accompanied the early, African religious traditions that black Brazilian slaves practiced when they first arrived in Brazil and have kept alive to this day. Once I'm in Brazil and Carnaval has begun, I will explore the myriad sonic forms and rhythms that define Salvador. But today I wanted to share two of my favorite contemporary Brazilian artists. Seu Jorge is a singer from Rio de Janeiro who combines traditional samba and pop sounds. You may recognize him from the movie "The Life Aquatic." He, not suprisingly, was the random Brazilian dude playing the guitar. And he also has a lot of great songs on that soundtrack - many of which are Portuguese covers of classic David Bowie tracks. He's obviously a talented a versatile artist. O Rappa is another group heavily influenced by samba along with hip hop, rock and reggae. Both their sounds are amazing, and their lyrics and music videos touch on many of the interesting, and complex social issues that make Brazil the conflicted and colorful country that I have basically become obsessed with (as most of you know, this is my fourth time visiting the land of felicidade y amor.)

Please enjoy the videos and let me know what you think. And if you know of other Brazilian artists please comment and pass the information along. I'm always trying to expand my iTunes collection with quality!

And seriously, the O Rappa videos are two of the most powerful works of art I have ever seen in my life.

O Rappa - O Que Sobrou do Ceu


Seu Jorge - Carolina


O Rappa - Minha Alma