Brazuca Sounds

View Top 200 Chart

Back to Rankings Page

Music
**Brazuca Sounds**

A podcast about Brazilian music of all styles, decades, and genres hosted by Leandro Vignoli. Follow updates on Instagram: @brazucasounds. Access our playlist Soundtrack Brazuca Sounds with all songs ever played on the show:

Get bonus content on Patreon

Latest Episodes:

BONUS EP. (Lô Borges - Clube da Esquina No2) Nov 05, 2025

Show notes

Salve! This is a bonus episode for ⁠subscribers⁠!

Every episode is a different song. This is the song today:

Clube da Esquina No2 by Lô Borges (Borges/Nascimento)

In 1969, Milton Nascimento and teenager Lô Borges wrote the song "Clube da Esquina" for the album "Milton"(1970). Two years later, they released a sequel, written for their 1972 eponymous album, which tops many lists of the best Brazilian records of all time. "Clube da Esquina No2" was entirely instrumental, with lyrics added seven years later, which became the most poignant song against the military regime.

This second version was recorded by Lô Borges in 1979 on his album Via Láctea. In this episode, we tell the history of it all, from music to lyrics, and everybody involved in producing one of the best Brazilian songs ever recorded. The episode is a tribute to the brilliant Lô, who was 19 when he wrote the song, and passed away in November at the age of 73.

Check the translation for the lyrics of Clube da Esquina No2 with Translationsmith.

Brazuca Sounds #86: A Trip to Brazil in 100 Songs (Part 3) Oct 30, 2025

Show notes

In episode #86, we will feature 25 more songs that mention Brazilian places in their lyrics, this time centered in the Amazon region, the Midwest, and the South. We traveled to Amazonas with João Donato, Fafá de Belém, and more. Then we moved to the Midwest with Ney Matogrosso and discussed the origins of sertanejo country music in Brazil, especially in the "Brazilian Texas" of Goiás

We finished this episode in the South region, the land of Elis Regina, bossa master Luiz Henrique, and where Caetano Veloso wrote a very special song. Check the ⁠Translationsmith ⁠for translations!

A Trip to Brazil in 100 Songs: PART 1 and PART 2

Listen to our playlist 'A Trip to Brazil'

Follow our playlist Brazuca Sounds Soundtrack

BONUS EP. (Paulinho da Viola - Meu Mundo é Hoje) Oct 24, 2025

Show notes

Salve! This is a trailer for our bonus episode exclusive for ⁠paid subscribers⁠!

Every episode is a different song. This is the song today:

"Meu Mundo é Hoje" by Paulinho da Viola;

written by Wilson Batista

Paulinho da Viola once said that Wilson Batista is the best samba songwriter who ever lived, so this episode is as much about Wilson as it is about Paulinho. He was born in 1913, from the first generation of samba songwriters, but never recorded an album, even though he wrote more than 500 songs. Wilson (pictured) did not play instruments, and he became known as the matchbox songwriter, for writing songs playing with a matchbox as percussion instead.

Wilsons' claim to fame in Brazil was his beef with Noel Rosa in the 1920s, which gave us brilliant sambas about their turbulent relationship. However, as anyone would tell, including Paulinho da Viola, Wilson Batista was more than that, is "O Meu Mundo Hoje" is the epitome song to prove it.

Check the lyrics translation at Translationsmith.

BONUS EP. (Elis Regina - O Bêbado e a Equilibrista) Oct 15, 2025

Show notes

Salve! This is a trailer for our bonus episode exclusive for ⁠paid subscribers⁠!

Every episode is a different song. This is the song today:

"O Bêbado e a Equilibrista" by Elis Regina; written by João Bosco and Aldir Blanc

This is probably the most politically charged song in Brazil, released in the late 1970s as the military dictatorship began to crumble. The song was originally written as a tribute to Charlie Chaplin, who had just died. Still, with its lyrics full of symbolic attacks on the government, it became an informal anthem pledging for a law responsible for bringing back to the country the political activists exiled by the regime.

The song is a symbol of this resistance, enhanced by the brilliant performance of Elis Regina. Due to its high volume of metaphors, we recommend listening to the episode and checking the lyrics translation, provided by our friend Steven Smith at his website Translationsmith.

Brazuca Sounds #85 - The Free Music of Hermeto Pascoal Oct 05, 2025

Show notes

This is a preview of our latest monthly episode.
It was initially released in full and is now available exclusively for our paid subscribers on Patreon!

In episode #85, we explored the life and work of composer, multi-instrumentalist, and musical innovator Hermeto Pascoal, who passed away in September 2025. The word “genius” is often overused, but in Hermeto’s case it feels entirely justified. As he once said, “There is music in everything; you just have to find it.”

We attempted the impossible task of summarizing his vast and boundary-defying discography, highlighting essential albums such as Zambumbê-bum-á, his groundbreaking work with Quarteto Novo, and sharing excerpts from the remarkable documentary Hermeto Campeão.

Follow the accompanying playlist on Spotify and our archive playlist, Brazuca Soundstrack.

BONUS EP. (Rita Lee - Ovelha Negra) Sep 30, 2025

Show notes

Salve! This bonus episode is now available for free! You can access the episode directly from here.

Please consider joining us on Patreon to get more bonus eps by signing up for our ⁠paid subscription!

Every episode is a different song.

This is the song today: "Ovelha Negra" by Rita Lee

A folk rock ballad about someone expelled from their home for being the "black sheep" of the family suddenly became an anthem for the youth. "Ovelha Negra" also catapulted Rita Lee to stardom in Brazil, no longer an ex-Mutantes with a niche-oriented rock n' roll career, to eventually become the Queen of Brazilian pop.

Nonetheless, many believe this song was not about the relationship with her father at all, but instead a direct response to her former bandmates. Closing the album "Fruto Proibido", Rita Lee was backed by her band Tutti Fruti, whose guitarist, Luis Sergio Carlini, came up with one of the most iconic rock solos in Brazilian music.

Check Translationsmith for a full translation of "Ovelha Negra" performed by Rita Lee, and hundreds of other Brazilian songs.

BONUS EP. (Zé Roberto - Lotus 72D) Sep 19, 2025

Show notes

Salve! This is a trailer for our bonus episode exclusive for ⁠paid subscribers⁠!

Every episode is a different song. This is the song today:

"Lotus 72D" by Zé Roberto

The Lotus 72D was the Formula 1 World Championship-winning car driven by Emerson Fittipaldi in 1972. Inspired by watching the 1973 Brazilian Grand Prix in his hometown of São Paulo, an up-and-coming singer-songwriter penned a song about the iconic car.

Released as a single by RCA Victor, the track failed to gain much attention at the time. However, a sped-up version of the original resurfaced online in the 2000s, sparking renewed interest. In this episode, we attempt to unravel the mystery behind Zé Roberto and his recording of "Lotus 72D."

Brazuca Sounds #84: 1975 - The Year Brazil Rediscovered Samba Sep 11, 2025

Show notes

In episode #84, we talked about several debut samba albums. After Martinho da Vila and Clara Nunes topped the Brazilian charts in 1974 and continued to do so a year later, all the major record labels rushed to find their next big thing. The year 1975 marked the release of Alcione's first album, 'A Voz do Samba', on Philips. We also talked about the debuts of Giovana, Emilio Santiago, Agepê, Leci Brandão, and Sonia Santos. We discussed the megahit "Moça", the song of the year performed by samba-rocker Wando, and even some obscure jams such as Milena, Aloisio Machado, and Avan Samba. The year 1975 marked the year when samba became officially mainstream, incorporating arrangements from MPB and replacing traditional percussion. Follow our playlist Brazuca Sounds Soundtrack on Spotify.

BONUS EP. (Di Melo - Kilariô / Se o Mundo Acabasse em Mel) Aug 27, 2025

Show notes

Salve! This is a preview for the bonus episode for ⁠paid subscribers⁠!

Every episode is a different song. Today are two songs!

"Kilariô" and "Se O Mundo Acabasse em Mel" by Di Melo

After spending a couple of years living in Japan, singer/songwriter Di Melo moved back to Brazil with three songs in hand, including Kilariô and Se O Mundo Acabasse em Mel. Di Melo's 1975 self-titled album, release by Odeon, became a seminal work in Brazilian funk and soul music, featuring contributions from renowned musicians like Hermeto Pascoal, who plays the clavinet in both songs.

"Kilariô", became a minor hit with its syncopated groove and infectious energy, but the sespite the success in, Di Melo faced issues with the music industry, leading to a period of obscurity. Also check our friends at Translationsmith for a full translation of this and other Brazilian songs.

Brazuca Sounds #83: Raul Seixas - Novo Aeon (1975) Aug 19, 2025

Show notes

In episode #83, we are celebrating the 80th birthday of Raul Seixas [1945-1989], and the release of his fourth album, "Novo Aeon", on November 1975. The most popular Brazilian rock artist, Raul's music is characterized by intense guitar riffs, soulful vocals and blend with several music genres, including forró, baião and afrosounds. Novo Aeon is an album signifacantly inspired by Alistair Crowley in its lyrics, with the exploration of themes such as individualism, sexual liberation and freedom.

We also explored Raul Seixas' music by talking about all four albums written in partnership with bestselling author Paulo Coelho. We talked about all of Raul's chameleon portraits: the hitmaker, the esoteric, the storyteller, the rockstar, the alcoholic, the copycat, the madman, the activist, the human.

Follow our playlist Brazuca Sounds Soundtrack on Spotify.

Check Translationsmith for the translation of Brazilian lyrics.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected