‘I’m Nonetheless Right here’s Soundtrack Options Brazil’s Personal ‘Not Like Us’-Type Diss Observe — Yeah, You Learn That Proper

Apart from being an Oscar-winning basic already, I’m Still Here can be a great window into Brazilian tradition—particularly music. Its soundtrack was handpicked by director Walter Salles with editor Affonso Gonçalves and writers Murilo Hauser and Heitor Lorega, and options one of many nation’s greatest diss tracks ever: Juca Chaves’ “Take Me Back to Piauí.” This may increasingly go over folks’s heads, nonetheless, as a result of it is such a contagiously enjoyable and upbeat track, it barely feels as Sixties Brazil’s personal “Not Like Us.” It is truly simply as sharp because the Kendrick Lamar track, however a lot funnier for its irreverent tone, and the story behind it is as fascinating because the one within the film.

‘Take Me Again to Piauí’ Performs Throughout One in every of ‘I’m Nonetheless Right here’s Happiest Scenes

The Sixties have been a great time for Brazilian music, regardless of the nation’s political context. On April 1st, 1964, a navy junta took over by a coup (though they swear it was on March thirty first, for apparent causes), and that ushered in an entire period of protest songs towards the brand new dictatorial regime. A few of these are current in I am Nonetheless Right here, like Erasmo Carlos‘ “É Preciso Dar Um Jeito, Meu Amigo,” however, in Brazil, even the happiest and most upbeat songs typically comprise powerful messages, like “Take Me Again to Piauí.”

This track performs throughout Veroca’s (Valentina Herszage) farewell social gathering, when the Paiva family is united at house dancing and having enjoyable earlier than she goes on a quick journey to England. It is unusual listening to it for the first time, as a result of, though the rhyme is nice, Piauí is not often folks’s first selection when selecting a vacation spot in Brazil. Within the Sixties, it was one of many poorest states within the nation, so why would anybody wish to be taken again there? Stunning as it’s, it would not make a lot sense. Until you are Juca Chaves.

This Music Is the End result of a Conflict Between Juca Chaves and Jorge Ben Jor

Chaves has at all times been amongst Brazil’s greatest composers, though not essentially as well-known or essential as his goal in “Take Me Again to Piauí,” Jorge Ben Jor, who’s one of Brazil’s greatest icons. Ben Jor is understood and revered worldwide, however, in 1969, he missed a beat. In December 1968, the navy regime issued Institutional Act 5 (AI-5), suspending most civil rights and all however legalizing authorities oppression. Many songs have been launched towards it, however Ben Jor, as a substitute, wrote “País Tropical,” singing about Brazil’s pure magnificence and Brazilians’ capability to be pleased with little.

“País Tropical” is one in every of Brazil’s unofficial anthems, however releasing it months after AI-5 was a bit clueless. In the meantime, Juca Chaves heard the track and launched a satirical model known as “Paris Tropical,” a few man who was exiled by the navy regime and misses Brazil however would not wish to admit it. He mentions many traces from “País Tropical” and even namedrops Wilson Simonal, who first launched the Ben Jor track in 1969. Chaves had a method of mocking folks in a likable method, which made it exhausting to be indignant at him, however Ben Jor was indignant all the identical.

Associated

15 Best Songs That Didn’t Win the Oscar

The lovers, the dreamers, and me.

So Ben Jor then wrote “Resposta” (which accurately interprets as “reply” or “rebuttal”) for Simonal to document and launch, during which he says issues like “I want Paris was tropical, that it had a lady named Teresa, with a lot of pleasure and Carnival,” and “I do know my place, I do know the place I put my nostril,” referencing Chaves’ well-known huge nostril. However Chaves did not care, as a result of he had already mocked his personal nostril in 1960’s “Nasal Sensual,” which supplies an incredible notion of the sort of humorous man he was. “Resposta” wasn’t so common, and the media criticized Ben Jor loads for it.

The ultimate chapter of this conflict was “Take Me Again to Piauí,” during which Chaves says that Simonal was proper and that he misses Brazil, mentioning many artists and praising Brazilian culture, and that, since he’s additionally very sensible, he’ll come again and transfer to Piauí. The entire track labored as a jab at Ben Jor, then, mocking him for his idyllic portrayal of Brazil in “País Tropical” whereas ignoring the cruel actuality in different corners of the nation. “Take Me Again to Piauí” turned an immediate hit, with Chaves doing live shows in Piauí and even being nicknamed the “king of cashew,” the state’s foremost fruit on the time. It additionally settled the feud as a result of folks cherished it, and Ben Jor by no means replied.

The Music Is Particularly Symbolic to the Paiva Household in ‘I’m Nonetheless Right here’

It is Rubens Paiva (Selton Mello) who performs the “Take Me Again to Piauí” single throughout Veroca’s social gathering in I am Nonetheless Right here, and it is a very symbolic second for the entire household within the film. Earlier than being taken by the navy regime, Rubens typically shows his personal good spirits and humor, reflecting the mocking tones of Chaves’ track. Even within the very scene during which he’s taken away, he has a smug smile on his face; he is plainly conscious of what’s going to occur to him, however this smile is each defiant and heat, in order to not transpire any damaging emotions, since his household must be courageous.

The track additionally contrasts with the darkish environment that takes maintain of the film after Veroca’s social gathering, that being the final really completely satisfied second of the entire Paiva household collectively. Eunice (Fernanda Torres) even mentions to Rubens that their firstborn is already touring by herself, to which he solutions that “Quickly, we’ll be the one ones left.” Regardless of every thing unhealthy that follows, “Take Me Again to Piauí” appears to completely seize the Paivas’ lightheartedness and joking nature, with the underlying message of defiance towards boastfulness and never leaving anybody behind.

I am Nonetheless Right here

Launch Date

November 20, 2024

Runtime

137 Minutes

Writers

Walter Salles, Marcelo Rubens Paiva, Murilo Hauser, Heitor Lorega

• 

  Fernanda Torres

  Eunice Paiva

• 

  Selton Mello

  Rubens Paiva