The Cultures Influence On Baile Funk

Funk Carioca, or in English Rio funk, also know as favela funk, and the world knows this genre as Baile Funk is dance style music that originated from Rio de Janeiro. Balie Funk is copied from Miami Bass and freestyle from Miami, Florida, in the United States.

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In Rio, Baile Funk referred to the actual parties and discothèques. Funk carioca became popular amongst low classes, especially in Brazil. It became popular in the 80’s in Rio de Raneiro ghettos called favelas. Yet, it did become a mainstream product in Brazil in the mid-90’s. Funk songs discussed poverty, human dignity, racial pride of black people, sex (breaking its moral values), violence and social injustice. (Baile Funk Goes Global. And Criminal. And Stays Local, Understanding the favelas)This became very confrontational with critics because of the negativity Baile Funk represented. It was believed by social analysts that Baile Funk was the reason why poor and black people in Rio had severe social issues in their communities. Unfortunately, Funk was limited to playing in Brazilian pop markets and the ghettos because of what it represented.

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The communites that Baile Funk reside in have extreme poverty rates and are viewed as a negative aspect of funk culture.Sex and the incitement of promiscuity is also a major factor of this negativity amongst these communities and the direct connection it has with Baile funk. In the favelas the conditions are poor and the education of contraceptive methods, public sanitary, and sex education is little to none. Also, what is hardly practiced is family planning due to the lack of education which, results in unwanted pregnancies, population growth, over sized communities. (Baile Funk Goes Global. And Criminal. And Stays Local, Understanding favelas) Yet, this motivates Baile Funk artists to have something to sing or play about.

Turning now to the critics in Brazil, Funk Carioca lyrics are violent and sexually explicit. The degradation of women is the focus in funk music and also even girls being called “cachorras” (dogs). The songs even revolve around casual and degrading sex practices and talk about young girls as sex objects. What is interesting is that most of the songs are song by women. Striking news also was that, “Baile funk artist Mr. Cara’s lyrics were so explicit that the Brazilian police have coined the term funk proibido and have outlawed this particular genre.

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The criminality rate is also viewed as another negative aspect of the favelas and a consequence for funk carioca. Another style of this music is called "proibidão" meaning the forbidden, which has very violent lyrics and majority of the time composed by drug-dealing gangs. It also usually includes admiring the murders of rival gangs/cops, claiming power over the favelas, robbery, drug use, and the life of the drug dealers. Police/authority figures view this as enlisting people to organized crime and violence. Also, they believe that even playing some of these songs is considered a crime. Yet, what people do not understand that Baile Funk is the rebels child music and the more people dislike and talk about it the more underground violence and drug dealing will occur without documentation.

There is another criminal aspect of Baile Funk. This effects the multinational entertainment corporations. Illegal sampling of music, is the cause of this conflict. Just like rap, Baile funk remixes original works of music and overlays the MC’s lyrics. Yet, there are no copy right clearances so no one can do anything about it.

Yet, even in Brazil Baile Funk is viewed as the underground language. Baile Funk in Brazil is like Hip-Hop for the states. (MC ZULU, Official site blog) It appeals to the favelas as well and is also granted fast access to the national radio stations. The difference is though that radio celebrities regularly attend the parties in the favelas. Yet, the similarity is that Baile Funk is ignored by the more traditional music creation.

Now lets talk about another issue with this music. The language. What is interesting about it is that the listeners of funk cant even understand the lyrics.(Is Portuguese the new language to learn for the clubbers?, Rio Baile Funk)The lyrics contain fun lyrics and jokes that the listeners cant even connect with just the artist. Also, Baile funk has progressed on the dance floor of the western world, and Portuguese is becoming one of the dominant languages of this genre of music and electronic music. What also is striking, is that Portuguese speakers/listeners of Baile funk don’t even understand the lyrics of some of the composed music of Baile funk music. Danny McFadden stated that it was interesting to see how people listened to music they did not understand.

Then funk began to expand even further. Until 2000, Europeans reported their combination of music and social issues. Europe spread the word about Baile funk expanding its genre in different worlds.

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The Baile Funk experience in the Favelas is a very rude environment and yet probably to most of us unexplanatory. Here is a picture showing you why critics and authority want to interfere with Baile Funk events. (It is out of control behavior by all parties involved)

MultiMedia

Zuzuka Poderosa, “Ai Voce Gosta” is a prime example of what I have talked about.

Baile Funk in Brazil. This video represents some of the culture conflicts.

Bibliography:
"Baile Funk Goes Global. And Criminal. And Stays Local. « Understanding the Favelas." Understanding the Favelas. Web. 21 Apr. 2011. <http://lilyantebi.wordpress.com/baile-funk/baile-funk-goes-gobal-and-criminal-and-stays-local/>.

"Baile Funk | MC ZULU : Official Site BLOG (Perception2020)." MC ZULU : Official Site. Web. 21 Apr. 2011. <http://mczulu.com/blog/?tag=baile-funk>.

"Is Portuguese THE New Language to Learn for the Clubbers?" Rio Baile Funk. Web. 21 Apr. 2011. <http://riobailefunk.blogspot.com/2007/11/is-portuguese-new-language-to-learn-for.html>.

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