Brazilian songs and poems with sociopolitical innuendo

Created by Don Juan on 25 Jul 2021 | Last edited by Don Juan on 09 Jul 2023
Brazilian songs and poems with sociopolitical innuendo

Here you'll find songs and poems by Brazilian artists/poets who wanted to promote some kind of sociopolitical statement.

See also: All Things Brazilian 🇧🇷🎶📖

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In this collection you'll find a few songs in which artists passed, implicitly, messages against the military regime from the 1960's-1980's.

Personal note: Here you'll find some of the finest pieces of Brazilian music, even though I'm not a fan of Chico Buarque, for instance.

Aqui você encontrará as músicas feitas como resistência à ditadura militar que comandou o Brasil entre 1964 e 1985. Convém lembrar que, por motivos de censura, as críticas eram feitas de maneira sutil, metafórica, como feito em 'Cálice', com a brilhante construção 'Afasta de mim esse cálice' (que pode ser interpretado como 'cale-se').

18 items

In 2015, a huge movement led by students occupied public schools. It started in the state of São Paulo but crossed borders and reached other states. All because the state government at the time was reorganizing its educational system which, as a result, would lead into the closure of almost 100 schools.

This song was written and released around the 2014 Soccer World Cup, which was hosted by Brazil. It's a manifesto by Edu Krieger showing the reasons why he wouldn't ever cheer for his country. At the time, Brazil was in the middle of a crisis, for people (correctly) think we had bigger issues to care for instead of spending money we didn't have for such an event.

Translations:  English

The poor ways the Brazilian government reacted to the COVID-19 pandemics was the target of this song. Jair Bolsonaro has had several impeachment protocols submitted, but all have been rejected even though his wrongdoings are known. The President, himself, was the target of lawful prosecution even before being the chief of state - due to problematic comments regarding homosexuality, race and education.

This song is a protest against the creation of hydroelectric plants and dams in Northern and Northeastern Brazil, which would lead into several cities vanishing.

Translations:  English, French

This song was influenced by the view the songwriters had from a suburban train in Rio de Janeiro. These parts of the city are very poor in comparison with more central regions, and have to deal with misery, poor health system and all that comes with that.

Translations:  English

This song was written in the wake of the death of the 5 year old black boy Miguel Otávio, who fell from a building to his death. The event was extremely controversial because Miguel was accompanying his mother, who worked as a maid for a rich and influential white family - who did nothing. It's a political statement about how black people are treated in Brazil, denouncing racial issues and prejudice.

8. Marisa Monte - Segue o Seco Portuguese 

Song makes subtle references to life in the Brazilian backlands, which suffer with longlasting droughts and lack of rain. The music video also shows how people who live in those regions ask God for help.

Translations:  English, French

9. Luiz Gonzaga - Asa Branca Portuguese 

Another song that makes reference to droughts in Northeastern Brazil and its effects on society, like people losing their cattle, which they perceive as a punishment by God.

Translations:  English #1

10. Maria Bethânia - Carcará Portuguese 

Song also denounces the poor quality of life in Northeastern Brazil, a region plagued by hunger, poverty and lack of basic needs. Carcará is actually a bird which feasts on the weak. Maria Bethânia's entonation of the song makes it even more intense.

Translations:  English

Another song about droughts in Northeastern Brazil.

Translations:  English

The coronavirus pandemics in 2020/2021 brought even worse issues for Brazil, like the increase of hunger levels for poor families. This song was released to raise awareness on that and to encourage people into helping.

Song was recorded as part of a campaign against the proliferation of AIDS in the 1980's.

This song touches a sore point: the hypocrisy of Brazilian society of the 1980's, when we had just become a democratic (on paper) country after the military dictatorship. It talks about a person who wants to swim against the current while people are hypocritical (making money at the misfortune of others) and cynical (people want to remain with a conservative point of view while the country moves towards the future).

Song talks about a person who's been target of bullying, hate and criticism, rising above all of that in the end. It's a reference to Pabllo's own experience, first as a gay man who comes from a poor family and background and later as a drag queen. It's a subtle reference to homophobia in Brazil and has been interpreted as such by several gay listeners.

Song talks about how things have changed from the last generation to the current one: with disrespect to the environment and love.

Translations:  English

In the last few years around Brazil, everyone who thinks against the president and his ombudsmen are called 'communists' (regardless of the person really being a leftist or a communist). Oh, you want children to be taught ethical values in school so they will respect each other? You want gay people to be able to get married? You're against death penalty, etc.? So, you're a communist. *Insert eye roll here*. All because, in the 1930's, we had another coup d'etat on the hands of Getúlio Vargas because he made Brazilian people think we had the risk of becoming a communist country. It's the biggest Brazilian theory of conspiration, in which people unfortunately still trust. Gabriel pokes fun of that.

Translations:  English

The song shows contradictions among society as a whole. For instance: we live in a time of technology, science and information, but there are still some issues around. It expresses the desire of living without any fear.

Translations:  English

19. Zélia Duncan - Desconforto Portuguese 

Zélia Duncan refers to the political context of Brazil in 2001, in the hands of then-president Fernando Henrique Cardoso. The lyrics were written around 1999, when Brazilian rapper Marcelo D2 was arrested because of making defending the use of drugs, but she thought it would be the best moment to release the song because she disliked FHC.

Translations:  English

20. Marisa Monte - Gentileza Portuguese 

In this song Marisa mentions the fact that city people, in the hurry of their days, often forget acts of kindness and altruism. It's also a reference to Profeta Gentileza, who painted several city walls in Rio de Janeiro with words of wisdom, kindness (gentileza = kindness) and hope, which were all later covered in gray by the city hall - with much criticism.

Translations:  English #1, #2

21. Tribalistas - Diáspora Portuguese 

Song talks about the refugee crisis of the 2010's and 2020's.

Translations:  English #1

22. Tribalistas - Joga Arroz Portuguese 

Song was written in favor of the legalization of homosexual marriage in Brazil, in 2013.

Translations:  English, Italian

23. Chico César - Inumeráveis Portuguese 

This song (originally a poem by Bráulio Bessa), directly mentions 25 victims of the COVID-19 pandemics in Brazil, who should be remembered and not become only part of statistics. At the time of its released (May 2020), Brazil had less than 50 thousand deaths, a number which later skyrocketed to almost 600 hundred thousand deaths as of September 2021. It was released in the middle of a political crisis when several Ministers of Health quit their position due to disagreements with the president.

Song criticizes several issues common to society: air polluting, forced prostitution, pregnancy among teenage girls.

Translations:  English #1

Song talks about how hard it is for ex-prisoners to have a normal life once again, due to social stigma and prejudice.

Translations:  English #1

Song talks about racism, mentioning how hypocritical society is, as the majority of Brazilian people have black ancestry, so it makes no sense for them to be racist. It can also be interpreted as a pro-Black Power song.

Translations:  English #1

27. As Meninas - Xibom BomBom Portuguese 

It's quite interesting that such an uptempo song which every kid of the 2000's knew the lyrics by heart actually talks about social injustices.

Translations:  English

This song criticizes the passivity of Brazilian people regarding social issues, like cattle in the herd, doing what it's obliged to do, having no critical sense.

Translations:  English #1

29. Martinho da Vila - Lusofonia Portuguese 

Not a per se sociopolitical song, but in it Martinho da Vila says that he wishes someday people will fight for ideals not using weapons, but words and song.

Translations:  English

Song talks about violence against women, being told from the point of view of a woman - who herself has been a victim.

Translations:  English, German

31. Nativos MCs - Sou Kuikuro (Parte 2) Portuguese, Indigenous Languages (Brazil) 

This song is a kind of self-affirmation manifest by this group, which is comprised of Native Brazilians (of the Kuikuro ethnicity). Indigenous people in Brazil have, ever since the 16th century, been target of prejudice. In recent years, this has changed (quite slowly), with some individuals rising to fame in several spheres, from Literature to Politics.

Translations:  English

32. Preta Gil - Ô Abre Alas Portuguese 

Chiquinha Gonzaga's song was paraphrased here, becoming a feminist song.

Translations:  English

Song criticizes how bureaucratic Brazilian society may be at times.

Translations:  English

Song talks about sea and water pollution and how it affects the lives of everyone.

Translations:  English

Song talks about the demarcation of indigenous lands, a debate that's far from the end.

Translations:  English

Pro-LGBTQIA+ anthem.

Song was released as part of a campaign towards street child, who face several vulnerabilities.

This poem, from the 17th century, dennounces corruption in Brazilian society and its sectors (including the Church).

Translations:  English

This song was written to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the International Declaration of Human Rights, a time where basic rights are still often denied for minorities in Brazil.

Song criticizes consumerism in society and how values have changed because of it.

Translations:  English, Italian

This samba talks about the importance of respecting the differences between people.

Song is about paternal abandonment.

43. Rita Lee - Tudo vira bosta Portuguese 

Ironic song that talks that, in spite of everything, in the end of the day, it all becomes shit - or something irrelevant.

Translations:  English, French

Song is about protecting children from different kinds of abuse, specially sexual one.

Translations:  English

Song talks about several dichotomies in current Brazilian society, with verses pointing the hypocrisy of people who judge others while having a sinful life.

Translations:  English

Song talks about the mismanagement of the environment and its effect on the health of a given city.

Translations:  English

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