Music Monday - #FIFAGoHome Edition

You just have to browse these hashtags to get a sense of what’s happening in Brazil around the FIFA World Cup 2014 – #Brazil, #VemPraRua, #FifaGoHome, #AcordaBrasil. But let’s not get it twisted… Brazilians may dislike, even despise, FIFA and their government’s behavior, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t love football and that they won’t be keeping score.

Another passion in Brazil is music. Hence, the row over this year’s anthem – “We Are One” by Pitbull feat. Jennifer Lopez & Claudia Leitte vs. “La La La” by Shakira ft. Carlinhos Brown. Perhaps you’re not a fan of either. Whichever camp you sit in, here’s an alternate song list to consider for your game watching.

A final thought before our playlist begins: The Nation’s Dave Zirin comments, “In traveling to Brazil to write a book about Brazil and the 2014 World Cup, I learned one thing if nothing else: a favela is not a slum.” However favelas are identified, no one should be treated without respect for their human right to access adequate housing. Our satirical how-to video about forced evictions, “Evict Them in Five Easy Steps,” has been a major topic in the lead up to this year’s World Cup.

Photo from blog “World Cup Tears Brazil”

Rap da Rua ‪#‎NãoVaiTerCopa‬ agora com legendas em inglês
compartilhem! – Street Rap ‪#‎NoWorldCup‬ now with english subtitles ~ sent to us from our allies at Coletivo Nigéria 

Desculpe, Neymar by Edu Krieger – This song has been mentioned as an “unofficial theme song” by Brazilians. Krieger’s lyrics talk about the corruption and destruction that has taken place in order to pave the way for new stadiums.

País do Futebol Part. Emicida by MC Guime – Translates to “Football Country”, many have said that this collaboration between a Brazilian funk artist and rapper should be considered the unofficial theme song of the 2014 World Cup

Reclaim the Game (Funk FIFA) by Pop Will Eat Itself featuring BNegão – Noted in the articles about artists opposing the World Cup. The song tries to emphasis that the World Cup should be more about the football games themselves since that is really what everyone is watching.

Water No Get Enemy by Fela Kuti – Latin American artists are well represented in recent World Cup official songs… In a nod to Nigeria’s official selection for this year’s tournament, I thought to include a song by Fela Kuti. I also liked this fan video of the song, though the lyrics are broader than just the importance of clean water to life. And at 11 plus minutes long, you almost have to be a super fit soccer player to keep dancing through the whole song! ~ Matisse

Copa de Todo Mundo by Gaby Amarantos, Monobloco e David Correy – Features native artists and though produced by Coca-Cola the music video has an authentic feel to it.

Salvei Minha Filha by Mc Godô – Lyrics like “Society only knows how to criticize, but it’s easy to talk if you weren’t in my place” express the notion of that outsiders cannot understand the culture and way of life for Brazilians in favelas, but instead judge without knowing the whole story.

99 Luftballons by Nena – not about football, and perhaps not as groovy as a samba tune, but since Germany are one of the 32 teams represented and its one of the only German pop songs I can remember being played on US radio (in German), I think the tune deserves a spot. ~ Matisse

Homeless – for the hasted & hidden in Favelas all over Brasil http://youtu.be/KT6mlW8NlCU Paul Simon & Ladysmith Black Mambazo :o) ~ Tony

The next songs on the list are older Brazilian political songs from 60’s and 70’s.

Pra não dizer que não falei das flores by Geraldo Vandré – The song contains the most explicitly anti-military lyrics of its era, “There are armed soldiers / Beloved or not / Almost all lost / In weapons in hand / In the barracks teach them / An old lesson / To die for the fatherland / To live without reason”. The catchy tune found success in its simplicity to reflect the desires and wishes of the youth generation of its time.

Apesar de você by Chico Buarque – Considered an “anthem of resistance” and was heard sung on the streets, this song was quickly censored by the government for its criticism of a citizen’s rights and freedoms. There were consequences for the singer and songwriter.

Como Nossos Pais by Elis Regina – The title roughly translates to “As Our Parents” and refers to the oppression experienced by previous generations of youth in Brazil.

Alegria, Alegria by Caetano Veloso – Written back in the late 1960s, the lyrics reflect the abuses citizens could face everyday anywhere in the country, whether it be restrictions on freedom of expression, social inequality or the regime abusing their own power.

Minha Galera by Manu Chao – Released in 1998, it embodies many parts of the favela culture, including football watching (galera used to mean the cheapest place in the football stadium for “superfans”)

Meia-Lua Inteira by Caetano Veloso – written by Brazilian musician Carlinhos Brown, who is featured in Shakira’s song “La La La” made for this years’ World Cup.