Lately I’ve been getting back into samba in a very personal way more like something I live than something I just listen to. It’s what I’ve been tapping out on an old pan. There’s something about that rhythm, simple and raw, that fits perfectly into those moments.
I’ve been drawn to well-established names, artists who helped shape this language and still resonate today. Going back to them feels like reconnecting with the roots, understanding where certain grooves, harmonies, and moods come from.
Google them:
- Martinho da Vila - Aquarela Brasileira
- Clara Nunes - Canto das Três Raças
- Candeia - Testamento de Partideiro
- Adoniran Barbosa - Trem das Onze
- Nelson Cavaquinho - Juízo Final
- Paulinho da Viola - No Pagode do Vavá
- Simone - Tô Voltando
- Jovelina Pérola Negra - Sorriso Aberto
- Marquinho Sathan - Falsa Consideração
- Chico Buarque - Feijoada Completa
For me, samba holds a rare balance: it can feel light and unpretentious, yet carry a deep sense of life within it. It speaks of everyday things: struggle, joy, resilience... without needing to be loud about it. Sometimes it’s just a line, a phrase, or a cadence that lingers long after.
These songs aren’t about carnival or samba schools, they come from somewhere more intimate, more grounded in daily life. And of course, there are dozens of other names just as great as these. This is just a personal snapshot of what’s been echoing around here lately.
Carnival and the samba schools, especially those in Rio de Janeiro’s Special Group (formerly Group A), represent far more than a visual spectacle: they are the result of an enormous effort that takes months, sometimes an entire year, of dedication. The parades are indeed a huge popular celebration, but they are also a fierce competition, with strict rules, detailed judging, and a complex structure where everything involves planning, money, and influence. Every category is evaluated with precision, from the percussion section to the overall flow, and nothing there happens by chance.
Just like in soccer, there are passionate fan bases, and most people have a favorite school. In my case, for decades it has been Acadêmicos do Salgueiro, known for its “Furiosa” drum section, a nickname that comes from the intensity, precision, and power of its players, who make the ground shake along the avenue. The videos below show two special moments from 2016: a rehearsal and the big parade day, when all that energy truly comes to life.
The samba school parades of the Special Group in Rio de Janeiro are a highly organized and rigorous competition, held over three days, usually featuring around 4 schools performing each night; each school has a strictly timed run on the avenue and any delay or exceeding of this limit results in point deductions, making it essential for the entire performance, from the floats to the participants, to follow precise planning where every second counts. Starting with Carnival 2025, the samba schools in the Special Group in Rio de Janeiro will have a parade time of between 70 and 80 minutes at the Marquês de Sapucaí. The minimum time is 70 minutes and the maximum is 80 minutes.
It’s amazing how there is always one school more beautiful than the next, bringing together incredible talent across every area.
Let's jump to the 2026 parade (highlights/other samba schools):
Day 1 >>
Day 2 >>
Day 3 >>
