A roundup of great masterpieces and popular songs of Brazilian music

Fico Assim Sem VocêAdriana Calcanhotto

Adriana Calcanhotto – Fico Assim Sem Você (Video Clipe (Extras))

An intellectual figure representing the MPB scene, Adriana Calcanhotto created this irresistibly charming cover under her children’s music moniker.

The lyrics compare the loneliness of missing a loved one to a world where something essential has vanished from everyday life—simple yet profoundly moving.

Originally a track by a funk duo, it becomes an acoustic, warmly textured number through her lens.

Included on her 2004 album “Adriana Partimpim,” the song drew attention when its music video was nominated for a Brazilian music award in 2005.

Another cover version was also used on the children’s TV show “Carrossel.” It’s a song to play when you want to be wrapped in a gentle voice and a tender melody.

Ultima DançaAgnes Nunes

Agnes Nunes – Ultima Dança ( Prod. Neobeats )

Agnes Nunes, a native of Bahia who shot to fame with self-recorded singing-and-guitar videos from her windowsill, is one of the talents that epitomize contemporary Brazilian music.

Centered in MPB, she moves freely through R&B and blues.

Released in October 2021, this song weaves in the rhythms of forró, the music of her Northeastern roots, and carries a wistful air.

It portrays a farewell to a loved one—the “last dance.” Amid the ache, her sweet yet resolute voice expresses a romantic determination to carry every memory forward into the future.

Serving as a prelude to the acclaimed album Menina Mulher, this track is perfect for nights when you want to linger gently in nostalgia alongside cherished memories.

O Mundo é um MoinhoCartola

Cartola – O Mundo É Um Moinho (Áudio – VIVA)

Cartola, the legendary musician who greatly contributed to the development of samba.

This song he created at the age of 68 is filled with both affection and sternness, like a father speaking to his daughter.

Many listeners may feel deeply moved by its poetic worldview, which gently warns that life’s sweet dreams will eventually be ground down by the mill of the world.

The piece is included on the masterpiece album Cartola II, released in 1976, and you may have heard Beth Carvalho’s cover version, which was used in the TV drama Lado a Lado.

It’s the perfect song to listen to quietly on a contemplative night.

Toda menina BahianaGilberto Gil

Gilberto Gil Toda menina Bahiana

Gilberto Gil, who helped lead MPB and Tropicália and later served as Minister of Culture, is an iconic figure in Brazilian music.

The piece we’re featuring today is a cheerful number filled with his love for his hometown.

Written for his daughter Nara, it affectionately celebrates the carefree charm and spirit of a girl from Bahia.

Blending Bahia-born samba rhythms with the disco sound of the era, its danceable groove will make both your heart and body want to move.

The track appears on the classic album Realce, released in August 1979.

Brimming with a festive vibe and a live-show staple, it’s perfect for lifting your spirits or accompanying a drive.

Feito a MaréJota.Pê

Jota.pê e Gilsons • Feito a Maré { Visualizer Oficial }

The singer-songwriter drawing major attention in Brazil’s music scene right now is Jota Pê.

Grounded in MPB while blending in soul and pop, he’s a proven talent who won two major categories at the 2024 Latin Grammy Awards.

This track shines with a collaboration featuring the popular group Gilsons.

Using the ebb and flow of the tide as a metaphor, it portrays the delicate feelings of rejoicing at a reunion with a loved one while hesitating to draw close again.

The acoustic guitar tones and beautiful harmonies gently envelop that bittersweet emotion.

The song is included on the acclaimed album “Se o Meu Peito Fosse o Mundo.” It’s a must-listen for anyone who wants to sink into a mellow, sentimental mood or savor the lyrics’ world at a leisurely pace.

RomariaRenato Teixeira

Renato Teixeira – Romaria

The title “Romaria” refers to believers who take part in pilgrimages and religious festivities.

It’s a song that conveys a distinctly Brazilian quality, where religion—especially Catholicism—still deeply permeates everyday life.

You can sense the simple, rural folk reflecting on God.

SPCZeca Pagodinho

Zeca Pagodinho – SPC

Zeca Pagodinho is a singer-songwriter specializing in the music genres Samba and Pagode.

“SPC” is one of his signature songs.

He loved samba from childhood and was a talented kid who could improvise samba songs.