Lovely Western music

A roundup of great masterpieces and popular songs of Brazilian music

music writerKOH-1
Started working as a music writer as a side job while employed at a record shop, and for over 18 years I’ve contributed to music magazines, disc guide books, mooks, and web media. As a writer my main field is Western music, but as a listener for over 35 years, I always try to keep my curiosity alive with the motto “I like what I like.” I have experience playing in bands, where I was a bassist who handled songwriting and composition. Instruments I’ve played include bass, guitar, and piano. I began studying English in my mid-40s and continue to do so today.

If your knowledge of Brazilian music is limited to stylish, relaxing bossa nova you hear at cafés or the samba played during Carnival, this article is a must-read! Brazil is a vast, multiethnic country with a wide range of musical styles—so many, in fact, that when you include subgenres, the variety is astonishing.

In this piece, we’ve researched and compiled a selection focused on classic Brazilian standards and historically significant masterpieces.

Give these tracks a listen, and your image of Brazilian music might just change!

Great and Popular Classics of Brazilian Music (61–70)

Pescador de IlusõesO Rappa

O Rappa – Pescador de Ilusões [Acústico Oficina Francisco Brennand] (Vídeo Oficial)

Pescador de IlusõesO Rappa

It is a band that fuses reggae and rock.

They are famous for lyrics and activities that influence society and are known for their energetic performances.

A passionate band, they incorporate various genres of music to create original sounds.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Bebete VãoboraJorge Ben Jor

Jorge Ben Jor – 08 Bebete vãobora – Jorge Ben 1969

Bebete VãoboraJorge Ben Jor

A 1969 song by Jorge Ben.

It’s a track that blends the bright, light sounds of samba with the heavy, solid groove of R&B—what’s known as samba-funk—and it rode the wave of the jazz boom of the ’70s.

This distinct Jorge Ben style, which incorporates funk, soul, and rock, is beloved by many.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Manhã de CarnavalLuiz Bonfá

Manhã De Carnaval!

Manhã de CarnavalLuiz Bonfá

Among the works created by composer Luiz Bonfá and lyricist Antônio Maria, this is the most famous piece.

Its use in the Portuguese film Black Orpheus (1960) made it so well-known that it has been covered by numerous artists.

It’s a superb track featuring the crystal-clear vocals of Brazilian singer Elizete Cardoso.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Se Eu Não Te Amasse Tanto Assim / Eu Sei Que Vou Te AmarIvete Sangalo

Ivete Sangalo – Se Eu Não Te Amasse Tanto Assim / Eu Sei Que Vou Te Amar

Se Eu Não Te Amasse Tanto Assim / Eu Sei Que Vou Te AmarIvete Sangalo

Ivete Sangalo is the epitome of Bahia’s axé music and MPB! With her honed body and powerful voice, she gets all of Salvador dancing, and among her songs are many like this one—sweet and gentle pieces that sing of truly mature, adult love.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

CaxangáElis Regina e Milton Nascimento

Elis Regina e Milton Nascimento – Caxangá

CaxangáElis Regina e Milton Nascimento

A song by Brazil’s beloved singer Elis Regina, included on her 1977 album “Elis.” She had already begun performing as a singer at the age of 11, and her powerful voice—so extraordinary in the work of this gifted artist who passed away in 1982 at just 36—is remarkable.

This classic was composed by Milton Nascimento and Fernando Brant, who also perform on guitar and backing vocals.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem