1960s

The first time I heard the smooth, undulating rhythms of Brazilian music, I was transported to a different world. It was as if, in that instant, my soul recognized a melody it had been yearning for all its life. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but there was something profoundly captivating about the sound—an ethereal quality that resonated deep within me. I rushed to my favorite record store the next morning, a small sanctuary that smelled of aged vinyl and coffee, and I bought the CD. For days, I was lost in the intricate layers of samba and bossa nova, unable to tear myself away from the hauntingly beautiful tunes that now occupied my every waking thought. It was as if I had discovered a secret universe, one where the language of music spoke directly to the soul, bypassing the mind entirely.

This initial exposure quickly spiraled into a full-blown obsession. I didn’t just listen to Brazilian music—I lived it. I went so far as to refuse learning Portuguese, fearing that understanding the lyrics might somehow diminish the mystical charm the music held over me. This musical journey took an unexpected turn several years later when I befriended a Brazilian woman who indulged my newfound passion by sending me endless albums. Through her, I began to understand that what I was feeling was “Saudade,” a unique concept in Brazilian culture that encapsulates a deep emotional state of nostalgic longing. Ironically, this journey brought me closer to my own roots, leading me to discover my Mestizo heritage and eventually marry into the culture. Today, our son’s first words were in Portuguese, and my car’s hard drive is a treasure trove of Brazilian classics. In this blog post, I invite you to join me on this journey into the soul of Brazilian music, to experience the captivating allure of Saudade and perhaps find a piece of your own soul along the way.