Brazilian Bad Boy Seu Jorge Takes Los Angeles

Portuguese singer becomes political in latest hit album

Fans of Brazilian samba will likely perk up at the sound of Seu Jorge’s name. However, most people just know him from his Portugeuse David Bowie covers in Wes Anderson’s “The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou,” if at all.

Regardless, Jorge is a musical force to be reckoned with, and his new album makes this as clear as his acoustic guitar. 

On Jan. 17, Seu Jorge released his first collaborative LP, “Night Dreamer Direct-To-Disc Sessions.” The album went from an idea between collaborators to recorded album in just four days. Not to mention, he recorded the album’s seven tracks in one take at the Night Dreamer studio in Haarlem, Amsterdam.

Jorge is credited with sparking the Brazilian samba renaissance of the 21st century, widening his audience across the world and even acquiring roles in several acclaimed movies. 

Born in the slums of Rio de Janeiro, Jorge did not have an easy life, nor an easy path to music. In fact, Jorge’s 16-year-old brother was killed by Rio police in 1991. 

At his funeral, Jorge met Gabriel Moura, the nephew of a brilliant Brazilian saxophonist. Moura agreed to put Jorge in touch with other aspiring musicians who wanted to form a band.

After the funeral, Jorge spent subsequent years teaching himself how to play the guitar and playing in bars around Rio. In 1993, Jorge became an actor and musician with a theater group sponsored by Rio University. During his three years with this group, Jorge honed his signature laid-back musical style and stage presence that continues to draw in audiences today.

Jorge is known for his charismatic stage presence and his smooth baritone vocals, as well as his charming and easygoing acoustic guitar.

While most of his listeners are streaming from Brazil, Jorge has become increasingly popular in the U.S. 

Even if you do not speak Portuguese, Jorge’s sound is still erotic, soothing and inspiring—all at the same time. In an interview with The New York Times, Jorge stated that he wants his audience to feel his music, not just understand it, which makes sense, as Jorge’s music is full of soul and body.

Given the death of his brother, Jorge has not been silent in his discontent with Brazil and its unsteady politics. In 2013, when a Twitter fan questioned why he left his homeland, Jorge tweeted in response, “BRAZIL didn’t help me with anything, you big fool!” 

After this tweet, many of his fans concluded that Jorge was arrogant and ungrateful for the country that built him.

Furthermore, Jorge claims that conservative President Jair Bolsonaro has created a culture that shuns samba in favor of Americanized rock music.

Although Jorge claims that “Night Dreamer” does not have any political inclinations, the album is a moody commentary on the past glories of Brazil, a country that is now riddled with corruption and poverty. In fact, he and his family moved to Los Angeles in 2013, and since having removed himself from his toxic origins, Jorge has been able to reflect clearly on his past experiences in Brazil.

While Jorge may not outwardly condemn his fellow Brazilians, the fact that he is singing about the beauty and blessing of his new life in Los Angeles is civil discourse in its own right. 

Jorge has brought a revived version of Brazilian samba to the United States, and he inspires us all to listen to music that takes us out of our comfort zones. His album “Night Dreamer” also serves as a reminder that one’s dissatisfaction with the status quo does not necessarily need to be aggressive and obvious. 

Instead—as Jorge’s latest example of in-the-moment music accomplishes with each triumphant strum—it can be a musical representation of one’s newfound peace in a new setting.