Is country music stealing space from regional artists in traditional festivals?

The traditional accordion of northeastern Forró, for example, or the milonga and the rancher waltz in the south of the country, would be losing space in regional festivals, artists argue.

Instead of traditional dances, folk shows and presentations by local singers, big names in country music have been preferred in contracts made by city halls. The phenomenon is called “cultural invasion”.

In Porto Alegre, in Rio Grande do Sul, for example, country music even surpassed the strong Gaucho traditionalism. Parque Harmonia (Parque Maurício Sirotski Sobrinho, known for hosting the typical festivities that precede the celebrations of the Farroupilha Revolution (in September), has served as a stage for country shows.

Do you like country music or media influence?

For the Head of the Music Department at the Federal University of Paraíba (UFPB), Carlos Anísio, this invasion of country folk across the country is the result of the overexposure of these artists in the media.

“They buy huge spaces in the media, they are present in all media, with great economic power. Agribusiness is linked to the country side, or “breganejo”, investing heavily in this sector. So, young Brazilians know country music much more, as they play more on TV, on the internet, in streaming. It follows a marketing logic. That’s why this connection with the Brazilian people”, he explains.

Carlos Anísio also counters the argument, used by city halls, that cultural diversification is positive even in traditional festivals. “There is no reciprocity. Northeastern artists, for example, are unable to play at the Barretos pedestrian festival, for example.”

Forrozeiros

The discussion about “cultural invasion”, especially during the festivals of São João, is not new. In 2017, several artists from Pernambuco ran a campaign “Return my São-João”, led by Joquinha Gonzaga (nephew of Luiz Gonzaga), Chambinho do Acordeon, with support from Elba Ramalho. 

Elba also spoke about the lack of reciprocity in this “mixture of cultures”.

Elba Ramalho talks about what happened to singer Flávio José at São João de Campina Grande, where he only had one hour to sing. pic.twitter.com/zy7qS3qa4k

— Daniel Batista (@ImDanyel) June 7, 2023

Flávio José, renowned artist in northeastern forró, star of the outburst during the biggest São João do Planeta party, held in Campina Grande, opened the way for a new discussion about the juggernaut of the country market, taking up more and more space in traditional festivals regional.

See how “the biggest June party in PB” treats one of the greatest artists in our music. It's serious, very serious. Notice the expression of disappointment and annoyance on Flávio José's face. I repudiate and sympathize with the great artist Flávio José. pic.twitter.com/wBh3zzpmF3

— Nanego (@nanegolira) June 3, 2023

Professor Carlos Anísio says that the disfigurement of the great festivals of São João, in Campina Grande (in Paraíba) or Caruaru (in Pernambuco) is not only due to music – and the invasion of country people –, but also in the change of customs and typical foods .

“Instead of corn, tamale, hominy, cassava cake, which are regional foods and typical of the Northeastern June festivals, now we see hamburger, pizza... it's not just in music that this disconfiguration happens. The loss is brutal and it also affects the small artisan, the farmer, the one who picks up the accordion and takes advantage of this period of the year to earn some money by playing at typical festivals”, he explains.

For the scholar, by mischaracterizing a popular festival, rooted in tradition, part of the history of that people is lost.

“It is common for people from the Northeast who went to the capital to return to the interior, to relive the typical festivities. It is this return to the nest that is very important. Entire families hold their own parties, in an important movement for tradition, to reactivate their culture. This tradition will tell you who you are, where you came from and will reactivate your values,” she argues.

Carlos Anísio extends an invitation: if you want to get to know São João “pé de Serra”, look for the genuinely popular festivals in the northeastern interior. There, the marketing “breganejo” has not yet changed the landscape and local customs.

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