In times of darkness, music has often led the way. Shining light on the injustices. Breathing hope into the cracks. Denouncing violence and repression… authoritarianism. Sometimes openly. Sometimes with messages hidden between the lines. This was true of the music written in p rotest to the Brazilian dictatorship. [Music] March 31, 1964… the military regime rolls in with a US-backed coup. The dictatorship will last for 21 years. Hundreds are disappeared. Thousands imprisoned and tortured. But artists stand up. Their music inspires. [Music] Like this song by Chico Buarque and Gilberto Gil. It’s called “Calise,” which means Chalice. But it’s also a play on words. Cale-se means “shut up” in Portuguese. Exactly what Brazilian authorities are telling those in opposition to their regime. The words of the song are a sometimes subtle, sometimes not-so-subtle, critique of the dictatorship. “How difficult it is to wake up silently,” Chico Buarque sings. “If in the dead of night I get hurt. I want to let out an inhuman scream. Which is a way of being heard.” There are so many more songs like this…. Chico Buarque’s “A pesar de voce” — “Despite You” — is written as though it’s a fight between lovers. But really, it’s a vent about the dictatorship.  “Amanhã vai ser outro dia,” the song begins. Tomorrow will be another day. Chico Buarque is exiled for 18 months. For a time, all of his songs are censored by the dictatorship. It’s the military’s means of silencing opposition. Many musicians go into exile. Particularly those performing MPB, Popular Brazilian Music. Caetano Veloso. Gilberto Gil. Rita Lee. They are detained and jailed for weeks or months. Brazil’s rock icon Raul Seixas is imprisoned and tortured for two weeks. But still the music plays. Still it rings on. Still musicians write and perform… Geraldo Vandré, Gonzaguinha, Vítor Martins, João Bosco. Milton Nascimento. And so many more…  Their words are more important than ever. Some musicians create pseudonyms when censors are on to them. Chico Buarque releases material under the name Julinho de Adelaide. The band MPB4 becomes Coral Som Live. They are openly defiant. “You cut a verse, I write another,” they sing in the song Pesadelo, or “Nightmare,” by composer Paulo César Pinheiro. “You detain me alive, I escape death. Suddenly, look at me again. Disturbing the peace, demanding change.” Resistance is sometimes loud and aggressive. Sometimes, it is melodic and beautiful. But it is always necessary in times of darkness. Shining light on the injustices. Breathing hope into the cracks. Denouncing violence and repression. Singing songs of hope… On March 31, 1964, the Brazilian military carried out a U.S.-backed coup against the democratically elected government, installing a dictatorship that would last for 21 years. Hundreds of people were disappeared. Thousands imprisoned and tortured. But musicians stood up, singing songs that were a sometimes subtle — sometimes not-so-subtle — critique of the dictatorship.  The military regime responded by censoring songs, music and artists. Some, like Chico Buarque, went into exile. Others were detained, jailed and even tortured. But still the music played on. Still, artists found a way for their music to reach the people. Still, the music gave hope that “tomorrow would be another day.” This is episode 14 of Stories of Resistance — a podcast co-produced by The Real News and Global Exchange. Each week, we’ll bring you stories of resistance like this. Inspiration for dark times. This week, in remembrance of the anniversary of Brazil’s military coup on March 31, 1964, we are taking a deep dive in Brazil. All three episodes this week will look at stories of resistance in Brazil. From protest music, to general strikes against the dictatorship, to the Free Lula vigil in more recent times. Written and produced by Michael Fox. If you like what you hear, please subscribe, like, share, comment, or leave a review.  To mark this anniversary, Michael Fox created a Spotify playlist of songs written in resistance to Brazil’s military dictatorship. You can check it out on his Patreon: www.patreon.com/mfox. There, you can also follow Michael’s reporting, and support his work. ...read more read less