A roundup of great masterpieces and popular songs of Brazilian music

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.

Várias QueixasGilsons

Gilsons – Várias Queixas (Clipe Oficial)

Gilsons is a new-generation trio composed of the son and grandsons of Gilberto Gil, a treasure of the Brazilian music scene.

Highly recommended as an introduction to MPB, their anthemic track released in 2019 as the title song of their debut EP fits the bill perfectly.

Originally a cover of a classic by Bahia legends Olodum, the song pairs a sense of helpless frustration toward a lover with the festive rhythms of samba-reggae—a striking contrast.

Riding the attention sparked by this track, they went on to achieve international success, including a Latin Grammy nomination in 2022 for their album Pra Gente Acordar.

Their breezy groove, blending tradition and modernity, makes it the perfect song to lift your spirits.

Oba, lá vem elaJorge Ben Jor

Jorge Ben Jor – Obá, la vem ela (Áudio Oficial)

Jorge Ben Jor is one of the innovators who left his mark on the history of Brazilian music.

Known for his distinctive style that fuses samba with funk and rock, he was ranked fifth in Rolling Stone Brasil’s 2008 list of the greatest artists in Brazilian music history.

This track, included on his classic album Força Bruta, is a romantic piece suffused with the feel of the night.

The song conveys a pure longing: a heart fulfilled simply by gazing at a woman passing by.

The easy, improvised groove born from sessions with Trio Mocotó gently wraps around those delicate emotions.

Released in September 1970, the song later gained attention when a cover version was used in the television drama Vitória.

It’s a timeless tune that feels like a quiet companion to a peaceful night.

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.

Baby95Liniker

Liniker – Baby95

While carrying on the tradition of MPB, Linn da Quebrada from São Paulo state embodies the brilliance of contemporary Brazilian music as it intersects with soul and R&B.

Singing of love and dignity from the perspective of a Black transgender woman, her expression captures listeners’ hearts and doesn’t let go.

The work introduced here is a track released in June 2021 ahead of the album Indigo Borboleta Anil, which marked the full-fledged start of her solo career; it went on to achieve the remarkable feat of winning Best Portuguese-Language Song at the 2022 Latin Grammy Awards.

Evoking the warmth of intimate love and self-acceptance through images of nature—shimmering sun and sea—the piece is truly a masterpiece where the lyricism of MPB meets contemporary grooves.

Its refined yet somehow nostalgic sound is perfect for a leisurely listen on a holiday afternoon.

ShimbalaiêMaria Gadú

Maria Gadú – “Shimbalaiê” – [clipe oficial]

Maria Gadú is a talent who continually refreshes the scene with a rich range of musical styles rooted in MPB.

She can be considered a leading figure in contemporary Brazilian music, impressing even masters like Caetano Veloso.

The piece featured here is the song that marks the origin of her career, which she is said to have composed at the age of ten.

The words riding on a melody that came to her by the seaside at dusk are invented, without semantic meaning.

Like a magical incantation that only a child could hum, it gently loosens the listener’s heart.

Her deep, resonant voice and the acoustic textures that trace a maracatu rhythm are irresistibly soothing.

Released as a single from her debut album “Maria Gadú,” it was featured in the TV drama “Viver a Vida” and even reached number one on the charts in Italy in the summer of 2011.

It’s a classic that perfectly suits those moments when you want to sink into a nostalgic mood.

Tudo O Que Você Podia SerMilton Nascimento

Tudo O Que Você Podia Ser

Milton Nascimento is one of the great singers who laid the foundations of Brazilian music.

Building on MPB, he fused diverse styles such as jazz and rock, and is celebrated in Brazil as a national artist.

Among his works, I especially recommend the opening track of the classic album Clube da Esquina, which he created with Lô Borges in March 1972.

The song seems to sing of the dreams and hopes that young people must have held under the military regime, as well as the possibilities that were lost.

You can fully savor the gradually layered, dreamlike sounds that grow from the quiet resonance of the guitar, along with Milton’s clear, translucent falsetto.

Why not listen when you want to touch the soul of Brazil?