Brazilian presidential hopefuls turn to distinctive music styles to rally voters
In Brazil's presidential race, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Senator Flavio Bolsonaro have each released campaign songs that reflect their political bases.
As the Brazilian presidential contest heats up, incumbent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has adopted a nostalgic funk carioca remix that ties his personal story to the everyday citizen, using a chorus that repeats a common surname to stress his relatability. The original 1995 track’s creator, MC Bob Rum, noted the shift in acceptance of the genre. Meanwhile, Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, the main conservative challenger, issued an AI-generated sertanejo song titled “Come With Faith,” which repeatedly invokes hope and religious devotion to appeal to evangelical and agribusiness voters.
Campaign consultants Marcelo Vitorino and Gilberto Musto explain that the musical choices aim to energize existing bases rather than win new demographics. Academic Kjetil Klette Bohler observes that Brazil’s long tradition of street-vendor jingles continues to serve as a political signal, with left-leaning candidates favoring Afro-Brazilian rhythms and right-leaning ones embracing country styles. Additional campaign videos and songs are expected in the coming weeks.
Why it matters
The music each candidate uses reveals how Brazil's election is being framed for different voter groups.
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