A Short History of Three Types of Music Developed in Brazil

March 3rd, 2010 | About Satellite TV

With the season of Carnival commencing this week, it is probably a good time to discuss the different types of music that have come from Brazil and that have become an instrumental part of Brazilian culture. There are plenty of diverse types of music in Brazil because there have been many different cultures that have shaped the music industry in the country. If you are a fan of karaoke machine, there are lots of of those and the Magic Microphones that accompany the machines to be had because this type of music is very popular in the country. The three most popular kinds of rhythm music in Brazil are Afro-Brazilian Hip Hop, bossa nova, and samba. Each has their own tale of Brazilian culture to share.

The Afro-Brazilian Hip Hop genre is the most recent of the three covered in this article to become a part of Brazilian culture. This genre is a mix of rhythms from African culture and Native Brazilian Indian culture. Unlike in the United States, there is no specific segment of the population for which this kind of music is intended. In Brazil, all different types of people listen to Afro-Brazilian Hip Hop music. It has had a lot of influence over the past decade when it comes to music in other parts of the globe, since the rise of the internet, where people can share rhythms and beats across country lines.

The bossa nova genre was founded in the 1950s by Joao Gilberto and is considered by many across the globe to be the Latin version of jazz. It was developed and made popular by individuals in the more upper class communities on the coast of Brazil. This type of music was well-liked by the younger crowd, mainly the individuals who were in their early twenties. Bossa nova also had a very noticeable influence on American musicians such as Ella Fitzgerald and even Frank Sinatra. It is a branch of the samba genre according to professional musicians.

Finally, samba is known by most to be a dance, but it is also a type of Brazilian music. Unlike bossa nova, the samba genre developed in poor areas of the country, known as favelas. Also, unlike bossa nova, the Brazilian samba music was influenced by American musicians during and after the 1940s, the World War II era. This music is similar to bossa nova in the fact that it has its roots in the same city, which is Rio de Janeiro. It is a really quick type of music and is still extremely popular today, especially when it comes to the big Carnival celebration. This genre is known for its a fusion between European, mainly Portuguese, and African, mainly Western African rhythms.

Interestingly enough, these are just a few of the major types of music that have come from the culture of Brazil. Today, Brazilian music is gaining an increasing amount of notoriety because of digital mediums that allow music to be transferred all over the globe. Also, these three types of music are still influencing other types of music in many different parts of the world, because of these genres’ mix of Native Indian, European, and African influences. Chances are, at least five of the songs you listen to on the radio in one day can be traced back to Brazilian music.