A roundup of great masterpieces and popular songs of Brazilian music
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!
- [2026] Brazil’s National Music! A Collection of Iconic and Popular Samba Songs
- [2026] A Guide to Bossa Nova: From Classic Standards to the Latest Hits!
- Recommended Brazilian artists: Popular international singers and singer-songwriters
- Popular bossa nova songs: a roundup of recommended classic BGM
- Recommended Latin Music | Introducing Stylish Masterpieces
- [2026 Edition] Upbeat Western Music! Latest Hits and Popular Songs
- [2026] A roundup of recommended bands from Brazil
- [2026] Western music you've heard at least once — from trending new tracks to timeless classics
- Classic and popular recommendations in ethnic music
- [2026] Popular MPB Songs: From Classics to Recent Hits!
- Ranking of Western Music Artists Popular Among People in Their 50s [2026]
- 1980s: Legendary Western Rock Bands’ Classic and Hit Songs
- Astrud Gilberto Popular Song Rankings [2026]
Great Brazilian Music: A Collection of Masterpieces and Popular Songs (41–50)
DesafinadoJoao Gilberto
A bossa nova song composed by Antônio Carlos Jobim with lyrics by Newton Mendonça.
Several English versions also exist.
It is one of the most famous Brazilian songs, a worldwide hit and a classic that has inspired many cover versions.
It was inducted into the Latin Grammy Hall of Fame in 2001.
Great Masterpieces and Popular Songs of Brazilian Music (51–60)
Amor I Love YouMarisa Monte
Marisa Monte has a uniquely calm, understated presence.
This is a song that anyone who’s ever loved someone will instantly relate to, and it’s one that will be cherished across generations.
The male spoken interlude is wonderfully cool and adds real character.
Nada será como antesMilton Nascimento
A song by MPB musician Milton Nascimento from Rio de Janeiro, included on his 1972 album.
Having lost his parents in childhood and moved to a small town, he was reportedly playing the accordion and singing by the age of four.
A beautiful, gentle piece from the remarkably talented Milton.
Samba de Uma Nota SóAntonio Carlos Jobim
This is a piece by Antônio Carlos Jobim, who is also famous for giving birth to bossa nova.
Its English title is One Note Samba, and as the name suggests, it simply repeats the same note to convey a samba rhythm.
Still, as you’d expect from Jobim, it’s crafted extremely well.
As an American standard, it has been sung and loved by many singers.
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.
Samba de OrlyChico Buarque
A classic samba composed by Toquinho & Vinícius.
It was included on the 1971 album Construção.
The song is said to criticize Brazil’s military regime at the time, and its lyrics are based on words entrusted by a Brazilian friend who visited Chico Buarque—then in exile in Europe—at Orly Airport in France, which is referenced in the title.
Flor de LisDjavan
For a while on the internet, the backstory of this song—namely that Djavan’s wife died together with their daughter during childbirth and that the song was composed in mourning—became a major topic.
Djavan himself later declared that this was complete nonsense; in fact, it’s a song that sings about the end of a love with a sense of brightness.