By now, the protests in Brazil of the last week have been extensively discussed in the international and social media. This is a very special time, and the first time that substantive public protests take place in 21 years. (The last time was in 1992, to demand the impeachment of then-president Fernando Collor – who was indeed impeached but is now an elected senator…) While signaling massive discontent with the government, and in particular with the excessive investments in preparation for the World Cup and the Olympic Games in Rio at the expenses of the population’s basic needs (see here for an informative analysis), the level of repression and police brutality has been lower than in the sibling-protests in Turkey at the moment. But just yesterday, an estimate of a million people were on the streets, protesting in different cities; in some of them, Rio in particular, there were incidents and clashes with the police prompted by a small minority resorting to vandalism (see here).
Naturally, BMoF will join the protests today and feature two of the songs serving as 'soundtrack' for the protests, both by the same band, Titãs. (The very first 'adult' concert that I went to was one of their concerts, in 1987 I think -- great memories!) These are ‘Polícia’ (1986), which gives a clear idea of how much Brazilians are used to ‘trusting’ the police (not!) (check also the Sepultura cover of the song); and ‘Comida’ (1987) -- two ‘oldies’ from the time of my childhood, but still entirely topical. ‘Comida’ (check also this cover of the song by Marisa Monte, from her first album in 1989) is particularly appropriate in the current situation in Brazil: now that there has been a significant improvement with the worst of the poverty and misery through social programs such as Bolsa Familia, and most people finally have the bare minimum supply of food, it is time to say:
A
gente não quer só comida/ We don’t just want food
A gente quer comida/ We want food
Diversão e arte/ Fun and Art
A gente não quer só comida/ We don’t just want food
A gente quer saída/ We want a way out
Para qualquer parte.../ To somewhere, anywhere
…
A
gente não quer só comer/ We don’t just want to eat
A gente quer comer/ We want to eat
E quer fazer amor/ And we want to make love
A gente não quer só comer/ We don’t just want to eat
A gente quer prazer/ We want pleasure
Prá aliviar a dor.../ To soothe the pain...
A
gente não quer/ We don’t want
Só dinheiro/ Only money
A gente quer dinheiro/ We want money
E felicidade/ And happiness
A gente não quer/ We don’t want
Só dinheiro/ Only money
A gente quer inteiro/ We want all of it
E não pela metade.../ Not in half...
Recent Comments