Written by: David Williams
In 1997 the tv show Seinfeld had an episode called the “Summer of George.” Fast-forward twenty-five years to 2022, and t’s the “Spring of Anitta.” She has sprung herself straight into the U.S. market at full throttle by making a successful album, having electric performances at Coachella, presenting at award shows, being on the cover of magazines, and even showing off her personality on tv. Her tireless work ethic is something to admire.
“I love you. I’m freaking out,” Anitta says to her longtime friend Diplo who came out as a surprise guest during her Coachella set. The pressure was that of a World Cup match. Backstage, she sticks out her hands to show how she’s trembling from nervousness. It’s moments before the biggest performance of her career, the first time a Brazilian has ever graced the main stage of Coachella. What happens next turns out to be one of the best shows during both weekends at the festival.
Photo by: Kevin Winter
Photo Courtesy of Anitta.
The set started with one of her most known songs “Onda diferente” with Snoop Dogg, who should be a global ambassador at this point. He looked like a cool uncle at a family barbecue going around dancing, the unc who may or may not be on his third drink at the party. After the success of that song, she goes on to give a performance that warrants headlining status.
Anitta brought Brazilian culture to the mainstream. She hired Joe Rhode who designed the Animal Kingdom ride at Disney World to come up with how to get the favela to the stage. Her backup dancers were incredible with their moves while being laced in vibrant neon clothes.
“The Brazilian people we know how to party. We know how to enjoy the moment and make everyone feel welcome and be a part of it” she tells Zane Lowe. A Carnival party was brought to the sweltering desert heat of Indio, California.
In March was the release of her fifth studio album Versions of Me. Anitta sings in Portuguese, Spanish, and English on the record. She can speak fluently in three different languages. Talk about a huge flex on people being able to achieve this skill. Versions of Me has over 100 million streams in the U.S. alone.
zThe record mixes many styles all rolled into one piece of music. Some songs are pop, reggaeton, Brazilian funk, and afrobeat.
Photo Courtesy of Anitta.
The song “Envolver” made Anitta the first Brazilian artist in the streaming age to earn a number 1 on the Billboard global exclusive excluding the U.S. and number 1 on Spotify’s global chart. The music video has been watched over 200 million times on YouTube. The track became a viral sensation on TikTok with people trying to imitate the choreography. There are people young and old trying to make their best impression of the pop star. To the inflexible: be careful and stretch beforehand.
“Girl from Rio” and “Boys Don’t Cry” also were chart-rising songs in the U.S. The former is an introductory song about Anitta to the U.S. market with a well-crafted sample of “The Girl from Ipanema.” It’s a pop track that screams summertime and drinking out of a giant coconut while sitting on the beach.
The latter “Boys Don’t Cry” is an emo-punk pop song. The vibe on the record is being on a dancefloor in an 80s Berlin, Germany nightclub. You can feel the leather outfits and spiked hair through the music production. The music video is a big-budget affair with even a Winona Ryder Beetlejuice reference.
Both songs are completely different yet still accomplish the same goal of making the listener have fun. These tracks show her range as an artist to be able to craft quality music on different ends of the spectrum. She put the U.S. market on notice that a new pop star is arriving and this girl got some range.
Anitta recently has become a U.S. resident, making Miami her new home. The proximity of her new city has allowed her to work on all three languages of music simultaneously. With the musical talent of South Florida around her, the possibilities of collaborations are endless. She can hop on a track with DJ Khaled and Pitbull then next she can collaborate with the legend Shakira or rising star Karol G.
Photo by: Nathan Congleton/NBC
Maybe you have seen her on television this year if you haven’t listened to Anitta’s music yet. She has been all over the place promoting not only her album but making sure the American public knows her as a person. You might have seen her on the couch of the Jimmy Fallon Show rooting for the Bengals to win the Super Bowl, having a gossip session with Andy Cohen, or possibly have seen her looking stunningly beautiful at the MET Gala or the Billboard awards. She has the personality and charisma that can translate across any market. Her crossover to other cultures is more lethal than Allen Iverson’s.
Anitta whose real name is Larissa de Macedo Machado got her stage name from a character on tv series in Brazil. The show in English translates to The Presence of Anita. She was inspired to be like the main protagonist of the same name where she likes to wake up and choose what woman she wants to be today. The embodiment of this character is on full display all through her music, one day she can feel like being a glamorous pop princess the next she can have the streets of Rio bumping with her latest Brazilian funk smash hit.
Photo courtesy by It Media/Warner Records
Anitta grew up in a very poor part of Rio de Janeiro right in the middle of the favelas where not many people are fortunate enough to make it out of their living situations. The pop star status she is at today compared to her neighborhood from the past shows what sheer determination and willpower she possesses. The way her face lights up whenever she gets to talk about her family is something to admire. Renan who is her brother is a partner in business as well as co-managing her career in Brazil.
She studied and graduated in business at school and has used that knowledge to further her career. From marketing, songwriting, music videos, endorsement deals, and dance rehearsals she does it all making her one of the hardest working artists in the world. She even has an entrepreneur course in Brazil to help other people follow in her footsteps.
A moment does not pass by where Anitta doesn’t represent her country. She also wants to make Brazil a better place by protecting the Amazon rainforest and getting people out to vote in the next presidential election this year. Philanthropy is something that means a lot to her.
Photo Courtesy of Anitta.
It is hard to imagine with everything she has accomplished in the U.S. already that this has been nothing short of being a successful transition. Her talent, charm, and work ethic have been exhibited for everyone to see. This year, the Queen of Brazil has reached pop star status, in a new territory.