I owe my authentic Brazilian Portuguese accent in part to listening to and playing Brazilian music.
From the soulful serenades of Sertanejo to the infectious beats of Forró, and the lyrical depth of MPB to the high-energy pulse of Brazilian Pop, each genre tells a story of a people, a region and a way of life.
In this post, I’ll explore the most beloved musical styles across Brazil and the artists who brought them to life—names like Anitta, Caetano Veloso, and more.
Whether you're new to the scene or a long-time fan, there's always something fresh to discover in the soundscape of Brazil.
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Table of Contents
Brazil’s Music DNA
Music has always been one of the liveliest elements of Brazil’s DNA.
From the first melodies by native indigenous people in the 1500s up to the most popular hits in the 21st century, Brazilian music has travelled through generations, expanding and holding up remarkably well.
Years go by and Brazilian people still embrace past songs and open up to new ones.
Did you know that the most famous Brazilian opera, “O Guarani”, composed in the late 19th century, can still be heard every single day, hundreds of years later, as the soundtrack to a very traditional daily radio programme in Brazil?
In the same era, the first Carnival march named “Ó Abre Alas” was composed by the musician Chiquinha Gonzaga.
In honour of her pioneering song, a federal law established her birthday as the Day of Brazilian Popular Music: October 17th. This march is still alive in every Brazilian Carnival.
Along with this lively musical history, Brazilian music has been evolving and new styles have been created.
According to International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) Global Music Report, Latin America is a huge emergent market, where Brazil keeps growing above the world average.
It’s fascinating that Brazilians love listening to their own artists more than any other international musician. According to 2023 Brazilian Phonographic Market report, 93,5% of the average Brazilian’s playlist on streaming platforms are full of made-in-Brazil songs.
Maybe this is the reason why Brazilian music is so alive: because Brazilians keep this historical and emotional connection with their own music.
Styles Of Music In Brazil
Brazil is a huge country, so it's heterogeneous and diverse in many aspects, including culture and music. Some musical styles are successful all over the country while others are hits only in some regions or for specific purposes.
For example, each soccer team has its own anthem, and they are considered hits among their millions of fans. Imagine that, in a population of around 215 million people, every Brazilian supports a team. They sing different types of chants out loud during live matches at stadiums.
IFPI reported that Brazil has more than ten different varieties of music styles, which is also above the world average. They are, at the same time, a reflection of society and a contribution to the culture of the country. Here are some styles Brazilians enjoy:
- Sertanejo
- Pop
- MPB
- Forró
- Cristã
- Pagode
- Eletrônica
- Samba
- Funk
- Piseiro ou pisadinha
Some of them are hard to translate into English, so let’s get to know a bit more about these types of music, explaining, exemplifying and comparing to others you already know well.
Sertanejo: The 21st Century Hit
Just to have an idea, sertanejo and country music in the USA are alike. The style was born a century ago, and as time went by, other subtypes were born. So the original version is now called sertanejo raiz (raiz means “root”).
Nowadays there is the popular sertanejo universitário, which is the most listened to kind of music in Brazil currently. According to IFPI, the top 10 ranking on streaming platforms is made up of sertanejo songs.
This style is called universitário (university student) because its musicians started out playing at university campuses.
Sertanejo started to become more popular with the duos Chitãozinho and Xororó, Leandro and Leonardo, João Paulo and Daniel, for example.
Then solo artists like Michel Teló and Gusttavo Lima started having great success. They have millions of followers on social media.
Women are now having success in duos and solo as well. The main recent artists are the deceased Marilia Mendonça, Mayara and Maraisa, Simone and Simaria. All of them have millions of followers as well.
They all sing a more recent subtype of sertanejo called sofrência (the condition of suffering), which are songs written for people on the rebound or dealing with heartbreak. The average Brazilian truly loves singing them at karaoke.
Sertanejo universitário and sofrência aren’t only musical phenomena, they have become a kind of industry that employs lots of people in live concerts, Brazilian music festivals and licensed products.
Brazilian Pop Music: Popular Since Forever
Pop music is full of songs that have become very popular because they can reach a wide eclectic audience for a long time.
In Brazil there is also pop rock, a lighter version of rock and roll. Lots of bands perform this style of music, just to name some: Skank, Jota Quest, Paralamas do Sucesso, Kid Abelha and Titãs.
Barão Vermelho, Legião Urbana and Charlie Brown Junior have been immortalised because of their lyrics and their lead singers: Cazuza, Renato Russo and Chorão.
They are all remarkable in Brazil’s pop rock scene, along with solo singers Raul Seixas, Lulu Santos, Rita Lee and Cassia Eller.
MPB: Poetry Into Music
Before the boom of MPB (Música Popular Brasileira), there was the phenomenon of Jovem Guarda (a TV show and musical style). Roberto Carlos is the main representative of this style.
Up to now he has been in the spotlight singing the same romantic lyrics, especially for women, and every year he is on a special TV show at Christmas time.
There is also Bossa Nova, a mix of jazz and samba, one of the most appreciated Brazilian styles internationally.
Big names of this musical movement were Tom Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes, who composed the award-winning hit “Girl from Ipanema” (Garota de Ipanema), immortalised by famous singers like Amy Winehouse, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and Nat King Cole.
“Girl from Ipanema” is probably the second-most covered pop song in history, after “Yesterday” by The Beatles.
Elis Regina was a very important singer in this period, and she is still considered one of the greatest Brazilian voices of all times.
MPB developed after that, with a movement called Tropicalismo, led by artists Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil, along with Gal Costa, Maria Bethânia and the band Os Mutantes, led by the deceased Rita Lee.
Afterwards, other singers had success like Toquinho, Djavan, Milton Nascimento, Jorge Ben Jor, Tim Maia, Lenine, Marisa Monte, Oswaldo Montenegro, and so on.
Cristã: God Worship
This is the gospel style: songs written to worship God. Although it began many years ago, it only became very popular outside churches in the 2000s with solo singers like Aline Barros, Ana Paula Valadão, and many others.
Samba: Afro-Brazilian Music
Samba has been in Brazilians' DNA since the first Africans came to the country. It’s considered as part of of the heritage of Brazil, synonymous with its biggest party, Carnival, that attracts millions of tourists from all over the country every year.
There are lots of different types of samba: samba raiz, pagode, samba de roda, samba-enredo, música baiana.
The last one comes from Bahia, a northeastern Brazilian state that has lots of artists: Ivete Sangalo, Claudia Leitte, Daniela Mercury, Moraes Moreira, Carlinhos Brown, Leo Santana and many others.
Pagode is another very popular style. Lots of singers and composers represent this style of music: Alcione, Paulinho da Viola, Martinho da Vila, Beth Carvalho, Zeca Pagodinho, Dudu Nobre, and so on.
Forró: Northeastern Brazilian Music
Forró is both a music and dance style from the northeast of Brazil. It's especially popular in June, the month of Festa Junina, a traditional folklore festival that happens all over the country.
There are several varieties of forró: xote, baião, xaxado, forró universitário. To know this style better, you can listen to artists like Dominguinhos, Luiz Gonzaga, Alceu Valença, Elba Ramalho and Falamansa.
Funk: Rio De Janeiro’s Beat
The most exciting Brazilian style of music, funk was born in Rio de Janeiro’s shantytowns and then took over the whole country.
It mixes repetitive electronic beats and is performed by DJs and MCs, the Master of the Ceremony, a lead singer in the funk dancing clubs. MC Kevin O Chris, Anitta and Ludmilla represent this style. They have millions of followers on social media.
Listening To Brazilian Music
Brazilian music can be heard on the main streaming platforms like Spotify, Youtube, Deezer, Apple and Amazon Music.
Below you can find a list of some songs that have had huge success in Brazil, separated by style. The best way of knowing each one is listening to samples of them. Enjoy!
| Sertanejo | |
| É o Amor | Zezé di Camargo e Luciano |
| Evidências | Chitãozinho e Xororó |
| Pense em mim | Leandro e Leonardo |
| Panela Velha | Sergio Reis |
| Dormi na Praça | Bruno e Marrone |
| Sertanejo Universitário | |
| Leão | Marilia Mendonça |
| Nosso Quadro | Ana Castela |
| Erro Gostoso | Simone Mendes |
| Ai se eu te pego | Michel Teló |
| Balada (Tchê Tchê Rere) | Gusttavo Lima |
| Bossa Nova | |
| Garota de Ipanema | Tom Jobim / Vinícius de Moraes |
| Águas de Março | Tom Jobim / Elis Regina |
| Chega de saudade | João Gilberto |
| Mas que nada | Sergio Mendes |
| Pela Luz Dos Olhos Teus | Miúcha e Tom Jobim |
| MPB | |
| Aquarela do Brasil | Ary Barroso / Gal Costa |
| Carinhoso | Braguinha / Pixinguinha |
| Eu Sei Que Vou Te Amar | Tom Jobim / Vinícius de Moraes |
| Aquarela | Toquinho |
| Maria, Maria | Milton Nascimento |
| Pop and pop rock | |
| Só os loucos sabem | Charlie Brown Junior |
| Que país é esse? | Legião Urbana |
| Vou deixar | Skank |
| Último Romântico | Lulu Santos |
| Ovelha Negra | Rita Lee |
| Forró | |
| Asa Branca | Humberto Teixeira / Gonzagão |
| Xote da Alegria | Falamansa |
| Eu só quero um xodó | Dominguinhos |
| Forró do Xenhenhém | Elba Ramalho |
Brazilian Music FAQ
What is Brazilian music called?
Brazilian music includes a wide variety of genres, with popular styles like samba, bossa nova, forró, and MPB (Música Popular Brasileira). Each genre reflects the country’s rich cultural and regional diversity.
What is the most typical music in Brazil?
Samba is considered the most iconic and traditional Brazilian music style. It's closely associated with Brazilian Carnival and national identity, featuring rhythmic percussion and lively melodies.
What is bossa nova in Brazil?
Bossa nova is a smooth, jazz-influenced Brazilian music style that emerged in the 1950s. It blends samba rhythms with soft melodies and is internationally known through artists like João Gilberto and Antonio Carlos Jobim.
What is the most viewed Brazilian song?
As of now, the most viewed Brazilian song on YouTube is “Ai Se Eu Te Pego” by Michel Teló. It became a global hit for its catchy tune and viral dance.
Wrapping Up The Best Of Brazilian Music
So there you have it – a look at Brazilian music styles.
Of course, there are even more artists I could have included. Consider this post a starting poing for diving into the rich traditions of brazilian music
If you want to discover even more about Brazilian culture, check out my post on books about Brazil.
And if you love reading and want to learn Brazilian Portuguese, you're in the right place. My course, Portuguese Uncovered, teaches you the language through stories, not rules. Click here for a 7-day FREE trial.
Olly Richards
Creator of the StoryLearning® Method
Olly Richards is a renowned polyglot and language learning expert with over 15 years of experience teaching millions through his innovative StoryLearning® method. He is the creator of StoryLearning, one of the world's largest language learning blogs with 500,000+ monthly readers.
Olly has authored 30+ language learning books and courses, including the bestselling "Short Stories" series published by Teach Yourself.
When not developing new teaching methods, Richards practices what he preaches—he speaks 8 languages fluently and continues learning new ones through his own methodology.
