Defending Democracy: 21st Century Brazilian Songs of Protest

Brazilian Popular Music has been politically engaged in many ways since the second half of the twentieth century, being key instruments of protest during the dictatorship, for instance. This project investigates how Brazilian songs of protest released since 2016 have aimed to move Brazilians towards unity against antidemocratic forces that have risen since the 2010s in the country, leading to the rise of neoconservative president Jair Bolsonaro, who has posed significant challenges to democracy and human rights in the country. The project contributes to studies on how popular music can serve as a vehicle of contestation of oppression.