The singer of the musical style dubbed “tecnobrega”, Gaby Amarantos, was the big winner of the Video Music Brasil (VMB) 2012, the MTV awards that took place at the Espaço das Américas in the Barra Funda area of São Paulo this past Thursday night. With an attention grabbing, original outfit that drew attention wherever she went, the ‘Xirley’ singer made an electrifying appearance.
The singer from the north Brazilian state of Pará, whose hit song “Ex-Mai Love”, from the soundtrack of Globo TV novela, Cheias de Charme, won three trophies in the four categories that she was nominated in: Artist of the Year, Best Female Artist and Best Cover.
In her acceptance speech in accepting the award for Best Cover of 2012 at the 18th annual Video Music Brazil, held by MTV, Gaby claimed a victory for her region as well as Brazil’s own national Pop Music. “It’s the first victory of the Amazon,” she said. “Brazil has pop music,” exclaimed the singer, who was dubbed the “Beyoncé of Pará” when she made her debut on the music scene and soon after blew up due to the exposure of her song being the opening tune on the hit Globo TV soap opera. She has also been invited to be a part of the cast of a new TV series, the name of which she still hasn’t revealed. Gaby’s speech was an obvious reference to the sometimes dominant presence of international pop artists on Brazil’s radio stations and music shows.
Behind the scenes, the tone of her speech was no different. Gaby said he had no great desire to reach the overseas music market now because Brazil’s national pop “is booming.” “The country is opening space for pop done here,” said the singer, who was wearing what appeared to be an orixá kind of helmet made of feathers on top and green lights on the side. “I am a person of the Amazon (region), and the Amazon is also very high tech.”
On the topic of a boyfriend, the singer, who has always been very comfortable with her body joked: “I’m not looking, never needed to, because I’m too hot. And modest.” On the Cheias de Charme soap opera, she said she was rooting for the villain, Chayene played by actress Claudia Abreu.
Amarantos won another award for best female artist of the year. When she went on stage to receive the award, she heard screams of the nickname “Beyoncé of the Northeast.” As we posted back in April, Gaby is one of several Brazilian women that the Brazilian media continuously tries to compare to American superstar Beyonce. It was the cue for a new discourse. “Beyoncé nothing, my name is Gaby Amarantos, dammit … I represent a new standard. I’m not skinny, I don’t wear (a size) 38”, which would be a size 8 in US dress sizes.
In May of this year, Amarantos released her first album, Treme.
Besides being worshiped on the cult circuit and the popular circuit, Amarantos has also made a name for herself on the international art scene. Check out one of Gaby’s biggest hits, “Xirley” here.
The 2012 VMB awards was also a good night for Brazilian Hip Hop artists. Also taking home awards during the night were:
B. Negão & Os Seletores De Frequência for Sintoniza Lá (Melhor Disco or Best Album)
Emicida’s “Dedo na Ferida” won for Melhor Música (Best Song)
Crioulo was awarded Melhor Artista Masculino (Best Male Artist)
and legendary Hip Hop group Racionais MCs took home the Clipe do Ano (Video of the Year) award for “Mil Faces De Um Homem Leal (Marighella)” a tribute to 1960s Brazilian revolutionary Carlos Marighella.
Source: MTV UOL Brasil
Amen. Screw trying to appeal to Americans; that's one industry where outsiders are set up to fail.