Our musical example is a song by Os Paralamas do Sucesso, a trio formed by Herbert Vianna (guitar and vocals), João Barone (drums), and Bi Riberio (bass). Their popularity in Brazil is due to their eclectic sounds that fuse Caribbean music, soul, and romantic pop, producing danceable music with cosmopolitan appeal. Their lyrics cover a wide array of topics from love and generational issues to politics and social criticism. In their song “Alagados,” (residents of swamps) for example, they cover social issues related to the flooded, impoverished neighborhoods of Rio de Janeiro, the favelas, while commenting on general problems of urban life and technology. 

Form: strophic: verse (A) with a refrain (B)

Time Signature: 2/4

Instrumentation: guitar, bass, drums, percussion