Feliz Niver Sampa!!!!!!

Not today my friends, but Yesterday 1/25 - january twenty fifth, vinte e cinco de janeiro in the year 1554 was founded one of the biggest cities in Latin America, and probably one of the busiest Latin American market capitals - São Paulo.

Yesterday was the 457th anniversary (aniversário, or commonly called "niver") of the city of São Paulo. From humble beginnings, São Paulo is now the largest city in all of South America (Mexico City is in North America), and the Largest in the Souther hemisphere (according to Wikipedia). With a population estimated to be above 11 million or Onze milões of inhabitants, the city, infamous for its many skyscrapers, could best be described as the New York of Latin America (check out some of the links I have at the end of the article to see the city's majestic skyline).

O Brasil is known as one of the most diverse countries in the world, and São Paulo, its biggest city (home to the largest Japanese community outside of Japan). One of the best indicators of this cultural variety is probably its cuisine. According to the website Projeto Fábrica, with over 13,000 restaurants representing over 45 different "culinarias" São Paulo does represent its many cultural backgrounds in a day to day basis. In fact, while many countries are currently facing problems with the accommodation and acceptance of new migrating groups, São Paulo, because of its long history of immigration seems to be doing quite well. (Para mais informações sobre immigração no Brasil olhe aquí )

Apart from being the largest city in Brasil, and one of Brazil's many cultural centers, São Paulo is also the Financial Center of the country. In fact, the Brazilian government is conjuring up a plan in an attempt of making it not only the Financial center of O Brasil but also of South America. In an attempt to reach this, the BM&FBOVESPA (Bolsa de Mercadurias e Futuros, e Bolsa de Valores de São Paulo) has been created by the merging of the Bovespa and the BM&F and the Economical Index IBOVESPA created. Furthermore, the Brazilian government has been in talk with the Chinese index in Shangai (Xangai in portuguese), so that action mobility does not stop and so in conjunction O Brasil and China might exchange in eachother's Exchanges freely and 24hrs. Furthermore, partnerships have been established with the Chilean Exchange (probably São Paulo's biggest opponent in the attempt of financial domination in the area) and talks with the Peruvian, Mexican and Colombian markets are also in process, according to Fernando Nogueira da Costa, professor of the Institute of Economy at the UNICAMP - Universidade de Campinas (second largest city in the state of São Paulo).

So at this 457th birthday of São Paulo, also known as Sampa (and who's inhabitants are called paulistanos contrary to the paulista, which means inhabitant of the state of São Paulo), São Paulo is celebrating. The official celebrations were the mass offered at the Catedral da Sé and the awarding of the Medal "25 de Janeiro," which this year was given to the ex-vice-president of the republic José Alencar. However many other celebrations took place, and like good Brasileiros Paulistano Singers had a show in the corner of two of the biggest streets São João and Iparinga.

To know more about São Paulo, visit São Paulo Minha Cidade.

The Brazilian Superheroes!

Many have heard about the Carnaval that happens in Brazil every year. And although the comments I have heard go from "a breeding ground for AIDS" to "the best party in the planet" one thing is for sure, this year it will be invaded by superheroes.

Each year many carnivals bring happiness to each Brazilian city. Some note worthy ones include the Carnaval in Salvador da Bahia (best carnival ever - from what i've heard); There's the carnival in Olinda, a small old town next to Recife, the capital of Pernambuco; there's the carnival in the Maracaná Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. However, if you are to ask any, un-biased Brasilian (very rare to find one) they will agree the carnival in Salvador is the best.

With 234 Blocos, that range in categories from the 20 Afoxé, to the 22 Samba and the 45 Blocos de Trio, the Carnival in Salvador has enough for everyone. This is basically the largest street party in the planet and it has as stage the entire 25 km² that the city of Salvador is. Yet all of these have something in common (apart from all the crazyness, dancing, and fun) - a song.

The Song that is awarded the price Premio Bahia Folia. This price basically awards the biggest summer hit in Bahia, and believe me, there is always a summer hit. In the past, songs (that you should have heard of) that include Rebolation by the group Parangolé (2010) (second place was Base do Beijo, my personal favorite of last year), Cadê Dalila by Ivete Sangalo (2009, written by Carlinhos Brown) and Mulher Brasileira by Psirico (2008).

This years winner (according to Revista Época by Globo) will be the song Liga da Justiça by the band LevaNóiz. Now you may notice you already know what this song is about since even without any knowledge of Portuguese it is easy to guess that the name means "Justice League."

The song pertains to an imagined episode where the Penguin weakens superman with Kriptonite while The Joker and Lex Luthor take Wonder Woman's Lasso! So the advice of the band becomes: Run Away ("Foge, Foge Mulher Maravilha, Foge Foge com Superman"). And is this the catch, since actually this is the guy who may dedicate this song to any of you beautiful ladies to elope with him. I must confess this song reminds me a little of Del Shannon's 1960's hit Runaway, except this one's in Portuguese and a little better since it includes both and not just the girl running away.

Now, you may ask yourself how is this important? Well, let me give you three main reasons. One, it brings a completely new band to stardom; Two, it sets Pagode (the musical style this song is) as the definite leading style of music in carnival; Three, it details the constant cultural interchange that the U.S. and Brasil have.

First, it brings LevaNóiz to the national stage. Even Ivete and Claudia Leite, will be adding the song to their repertoire! It shows, that one time groups happen everywhere - and it shows how music in Brazil really does come from the people for the people, like a samba song says, "o sambista não precisa ser membro da academia, ao ser natural em sua poesía o povo le faz immortal." (a sambista does not need to be member of the academia, if he is natural in his poetry, the people will make him immortal).

Second, sets Pagode as the leading musical style in Carnaval. Now, that does not mean that Pagode is the most heard type of music in Brasil, there's still Axé, Sertanejo, Forró, Samba, MPB, Samba-Rock, Bossa Nova, Frevo, Lambada, Funk Carioca... a little of everything; but, it does mean that Pagode will soon be a force to be reckoned with, even though some people consider Pagode (like the do with Baile Funk or Funk Carioca) to be a trashy rhythm.

Third, America has left its mark in Brazilian Society, but so has Brazil left a mark in American society; the biggest and easiest to find example would be capoeira, or just music. Now, this is another example of not only globalization and of how the mixing of cultures adds cultural richness to different societies. Which is, not only part of the reason why this blog exists but also part of the reason the U.S. exists, is it not all about the melting pot?

Now, below you will find a video of the song - Liga da Justiça. and of the past 10 years worth of summer hits! Also, you can just play the link to the Youtube playlist at the bottom and listen to them all together. Oh and one more thing, don´t be weirded out by the fact that the singer of LevaNóiz has braces, though in the states its uncommon for anyone above a certain age to have braces, in Brazil age doesn't matter.



Liga da Justiça (LevaNóiz) - 2011



Rebolation (Parangolé) - 2010



Cadê Dalila (Ivete Sangalo) - 2009



Mulher Brasileira - Toda Boa (Psirico) - 2008



Quebra Aê (Asa de Aguia) - 2007



Cafê com Pão (Vixe Mainha) - 2006



Coração (Rapazolla) - 2005



Maimbê Dandá (Daniela Mercury) - 2004



Voa Voa (Chiclete com Banana) - 2003



Festa (Ivete Sangalo) - 2002



Bomba (Braga Boys) - 2001





Playlist with all the the Videos

The Celebration of Senhor do Bonfim

This past week was celebrated in Bahia, the celebration of the Lord of Goodends. Starting from the Archidiosese of Salvador, the devouts walked towards the church of Senhor do Bonfim where they gathered to do the pertaining celebrations.

The Soteroplitanos (how Salvadorans - from the city not the country) pay homage to the patron saint - Nosso Senhor do Bonfim; at the same time, followers of Candomblé celebrate to Oxalá, the Candomblé god of gods. Though the celebration is supossed to be Catholic, the syncretism with which Brazil is filled shows that the celebration is in reality a mix of both Candomblé and Catholicism.

This celebration starts two days after the Day of Three Kings (of which you can watch 2010 pictures here ) the mothers and daughters of Oxalá pay homage to him with flowers and other offerings. At the same time they venerate Nosso Senhor do Bonfim through the washing of the steps of the Igreja do Bonfim, where the eight kilometer procession (about 5 miles) of tons of people dressed in white ends. This procession starts at the Basílica da Conceição da Praia and ends at the Igreja de Nosso Senhor do Bonfim, where the Lavagem (washing) happens.

Though the first video is a news account of the event, it is interesting to see, how the current governor of Bahia, Jacques Wagner, originally from Rio de Janeiro, changes his sotaque (accent) from the beginning of the interview until the end of it, where his R's change from the usual Rio sound to the dissappearing R of Bahia. Who's trying to get re-elected I wonder?

In the second video, you will find the main song sung during the procession... You can tag along with the lyrics! (thanks to my friend Ana for the links).


soon to come... a little of the story of Oxalá and more about syncretism in O Brasil!

Recent Developments about the Floods in Brazil

Deaths from Brazil’s flood approach 600 and continue to rise
BY SAMANTHA LIM – JANUARY 15, 2011
POSTED IN: UCLA's La Gente Newspaper


A massive flood swept Brazil’s Serrana region, about 100 miles north of Rio, last Wednesday leaving almost 600 dead, with the death-toll still growing, according to a Reuter’s report. Rescuers are still looking for missing persons while refrigerated trucks hold dozens of bodies yet to be identified. President Dilma Rousseff has declared three days of national mourning

Festival de Verão Salvador

For those that might be lucky enough to be in or going to Bahia this summer! (yes, lucky Brazilians are basking in the sun, not freezing with the new england blizzars as of late).

The great surprise (for me and I'm going to assume that for you as well) is Jason Mraz!
but its ok, the have the portuguese version of some of his songs, so even without english all will be singing along - great job Jason! Enjoy meu povo que é de lenhar!

Here's the comercial for the festival, and below a link to the schedule of the entire festival.





http://www.portalibahia.com.br/p/images/stories/festivaldeverao/completa.jpg

Ivete, loved and beloved

The first thing I wanted to post, was a great video of Ivete Sangalo. Now, if you dont know who she is, that's alright. Ivete is one of the greatest and most beloved Axé singer in all of Brasil (More about Axé soon to come). Ivete, is, then questioned in the video and forth comes shinning her great personality, to the point where she starts joking around with the girl questioning her during the 2009 carnaval in Salvador da Bahia (the best place in Brasil, from my little and totally biased experience).

The Great First Post - my quick encounter with Brazilian-ness and how it changed my life

I guess this first post will be a little something that will attempt, in few words, explain the why of my love for a country not my own; the whole reason for the existance of the blog; and what you can expect to find here.

#1 Why? The first World Cup I remember watching, was that of 1994. Yes Brasil Won. Romario, Bebeto, Dunga, Tafarel, Cafú... and 7 others :P the whole point of the story is - the fanaticism started there. Who knew, that, after 16 long years, the oportunity would arise for me to go to O Brasil. After enjoying more or less 2 months of Brasilian living, of great beach and sun (even though it was winter), I fell in love with so many things this country has.

#2 After realizing that I'm constantly looking for facts about Brazil, and asking about the portuguese language, I realized that there are other people like me, and people who may have the same, or other interesting questions. Thus Bloggy time!

#3 What you will find here are not only answers to questions about "giria," or literatura, but also a great deal of music, developements, movies and events that may deal with Brazilian commuinities outside of Brazil, and even talk and explanations about events within Brazil itself.