Acessibilidade / Reportar erro

Music and politics in the emergence of Bossa Nova

This article focuses on the analysis of Brazilian guitarist Joao Gilberto's LP Chega de saudade, released in 1959. I will analyze, on one hand, formal issues such as rhythm, harmonic and melodic construction, Gilberto's voice, and every aesthetic innovation that LP brought about. On the other hand, and through a contextualization of those years' political discussions, the article will face a very important problem regarding Twentieth Century Popular Music: the link between aesthetics and politics. In order to think how popular music could be related to Politics, this work takes as a starting point the aesthetic renewal that Bossa Nova brought about, and the voices that arose against it, accusing it of being «reactionary», «music for the bourgeoisie», etc.

Aesthetics; Politics; Bossa Nova


Escola de Música da UFMG Escola de Música da UFMG. Av. Pres. Antônio Carlos, 6627 - Pampulha. Cep: 31270-010 - Belo Horizonte - MG - Brazil
E-mail: permusiufmg@gmail.com