Brazil’s artists lead a chorus of resistance to Jair Bolsonaro
Jair Bolsonaro’s presidency was still a week away when Edu Krieger penned his first critique – a ballad lamenting the rise of Brazil’s incoming leader and lampooning him over the corruption allegations that continue to haunt his family.“It’s important for us to counterattack with our art,” said the 45-year-old singer-songwriter who has since become a specialist in musical parodies of the populist provocateur.
But as Bolsonaro completes his first year in power, Krieger is far from the only Brazilian artist finding their voice and continuing a rich tradition in one of the world’s most musical nations. From raperos to roqueiros, a growing chorus of musicians are denouncing the extremist politician and his assault on their trade.
Another artist joining the resistance is Manu da Cuíca, a 34-year-old composer who wrote the 2020 carnival anthem for one of Rio’s leading samba schools, Mangueira.
The song’s standout lyric – which warns of the perils of “gun-toting messiahs” – is a clear swipe at the pro-gun president, whose middle name is Messias.
Chico César, a 55-year-old troubadour with seven albums to his name, is another setting his scores on Bolsonaro.
César, from the northern state of Maranhão, said he received insults and threats for a song skewering Bolsonaro’s “fascist” followers. The president’s assault on Brazilian culture was the reason for the artists’ backlash, he said.
Marina Iris, a 35-year-old singer from Rio, makes no explicit reference to the president on her new album. But it is infused with angst and upset over growing police violence and discrimination in Bolsonaro’s Brazil.
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Two honorable mentions by the mod:
Pitty (rock musician)
She’s a declared feminist who has joined the #EleNao (”Not Him”) campaign, iconically tweeted “I won’t go back to the kitchen, neither the black will go back to the slave house, nor the gay will go back into the closet. Crying is free [a common expression in Brazil to dismiss someone’s baseless negative reactions to something], and so are we”, and more than once has criticized Bolsonaro’s defense of the country’s past dictatorship.
As for her music, she released a new album this year, named Matriz (”Matrix”). About said album, with explicit inspiration in George Orwell’s work, she has said:
“We live in a time when things that have always been unacceptable and seemed eradicated have surfaced. Because of all that has happened in recent years and growing extremism, we see those who think it is normal to celebrate a nefarious period in our history such as our dictatorship. These shadows have come out of the closet, and many kinds of prejudice and violence have been normalized. You cannot normalize the absurd.”
One of the songs in the new album is called “Noite Inteira” (”All Through The Night”). Here are some of its lyrics:
The trumpet sounded [...] It's war without headquarters, a clash through reason
[...]
If there is any heart left in the flag When it [heart] pulsates, it [flag] bleeds red [referencing to a common chant in Brazil that says “Our flag will never be red” - red meaning left-wing]
[...]
I don't ask you to agree, don't stop me from speaking I understand you disagree, don't expect me to shut up Respect existence, or expect resistance
Violator (thrash metal band)
[”Go on, Bolsonaro, become a myth once and for all!”]
[“FUCK JAIR MESSIAS BOLSONARO”]
Some lyrics to their song ‘False Messiah’ (’Messiah’ is Bolsonaro’s middle name):
Civilization is putrefying And it feels like the end of times New idols ascending These idols must fall
[...]
Shall history bury your fame and time forget what you create
[...]
There's no humanity in your savagery So I must declare you my eternal enemy
And the poster for their 2019 tour:
Emicida (rapper)
He’s an Afro-Brazilian rapper who also joined the #EleNao campaign, besides launching, with other rappers, the #RapPelaDemocracia (” Rap For Democracy”) manifest. About Bolsonaro, he said “I will never vote for someone who pretends not to see the consequences of slavery and who says he’d rather have a dead son to a gay son. [...many, many Bolsonaro quotes...] Sewage is what runs through the veins of people like him [...] Whoever listens and truly understands rap music doesn’t vote for him.”
Some lyrics of his song Eminencia Parda (”Brown Eminence”), from his 2019 album AmarElo (a play with Portuguese words, amar [to love] + elo [bons] = amarelo [yellow])
There is no pain that will last Not even your hatred will shake us The mission is to recover Cooperate and empower It's been many years in breeching [meaning something like “barely holding on”] But black doesn't cry, bro, get up (get up) Don't beg or pledge to white flags Don't waste your throat with dumbasses, it's no use Focus and attention on our ascension Fuck the oppression
If anyone can add more (preferably people who already manifested in their art instead of just interviews and social media posts), feel free!
