Supla
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Supla

São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil | Established. Jan 01, 2010 | SELF

São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil | SELF
Established on Jan, 2010
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This band has not uploaded any videos

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"Às portas de completar 30 anos de carreira, Supla não é um personagem – e tem uma vida real de quem ainda precisa correr atrás"

“Cara, eu juro que não é armação”, repete Supla, enquanto me conduz para a porta do prédio onde mora, na região central de São Paulo. Supla se refere ao fato de, justamente durante nossa visita, receber a ligação de uma fã, que esperava ali para mostrar a tatuagem que acabara de fazer em homenagem a ele. Armação ou não, lá estava uma mocinha tentando não parecer trêmula diante do 1,90 m de altura do ídolo. Um pedaço de plástico-filme no braço protegia o logotipo de Menina Mulher, álbum de 2004 do músico, agora para sempre na pele dela. Cara fã, você vai gostar de saber que Supla te chamou de “gatinha” quando, mais tarde, relatou a história para todo mundo.

Enquanto subimos de volta ao apartamento, Supla conta empolgado sobre duas outras meninas que tatuaram “Viva Liberty”, nome de uma das canções de maior sucesso do Brothers of Brazil, dupla que ele mantém ao lado do irmão, João Suplicy. A música de letra inspiracional, uma espécie de “Born this Way”, canta que cada um tem a liberdade de ser o que bem entender. “Alguns querem ser Lady Gaga, e por mim tudo bem”, diz a tradução. - Rolling Stone


"Exclusivo: Brothers of Brazil conclama a união da América Latina em clipe de “Never Let You Go”"

A guitarra de João Suplicy e a voz de Supla são as armas do Brothers of Brazil contra a polícia e contra a submissão dos países subdesenvolvidos no videoclipe de “Never Let You Go”, divulgado com exclusividade pelo site da revista Rolling Stone Brasil nesta quarta-feira, 22. - Rolling Stone


"'Brothers of Brazil' Review"

The New Beatles

You all know what bossa nova is, right? But have you heard of bossa nova-rock-punk-samba? Well, that is something like the kind of music being played right now in Southern California by the Brothers of Brazil. And next month, besides debuting their self-titled album, they’ll also be performing in NYC. So, check ‘em out! Bossa nova is known for its swaying syncopated beat and its longing-for-love lyrical style. The last third of the Brothers of Brazil’s new album fits that bill fairly well. (Listen, for example, to the cool grooving of “Sweet Irena.”)
But the middle third is more tongue-in-cheek, semi-political commentary on topics as various as the French, the paparazzi, fashion, and authenticity – topics more in sync with agendas of the punk scene. It sorta reminded me of my favorite proto-punk artist, Jonathan Richman, if any of you know him.

The Brothers of Brazil do a nice job marketing themselves to an international audience that might otherwise have difficulty getting familiar with this somewhat eclectic Latin American band.

In the final song of the album, they work their names, Joäo and Supla, into the song itself along with verse descriptions of their home country and a chorus consisting of their band’s name on repeat. In the opening number, they capture their musical mission to “play the samba how you want.” And in between, they do just that, brilliantly.

Perhaps the reason they’re able to so seamlessly weave together such an assortment of musical genres is because they are actually brothers.

Supla, looking like a jester with his spiked hair and defiantly hard-edged outfits, played in several punk bands before forming this one. He plays the drums. And Joäo, sporting an early-Elvis haircut, is the straight-laced, clean-cut and suited younger brother who plays a mean classical guitar. Both sing. And they do it with class.

While playing in a small Brazilian bar in London, they earned their band name from former manager of The Clash, Bernard Rhodes. And for two years in Brazil, they produced a variety show on TV, which earned them wider renown.

And now they’re ready to hit the world stage.

Rock out and dance to the Brothers of Brazil's latest album due out July 26 via SideOneDummy Records. - The Celebrity Cafe


"Review Brothers of Brazil"

Supla and João Suplicy have been touring in Europe and the U.S. as Brothers of Brazil since 2007 when they merged their previously independent music careers. Between 2008 and 2010, the duo also hosted a popular Brazilian television program. Still, it wasn’t until 2011 that Brothers of Brazil came out with their first album, which they named after themselves. In order to appreciate Punkanova, Supla’s and João’s name for their blend of punk rock and samba and bossa nova, it helps to have a little background on their family and unique rise to fame.

If you are at all familiar with Brazilian politics, you already know the Suplicy family. Supla’s and João’s parents are former Senator and co-founder of Brazil’s Labor Party, Eduardo Suplicy, and former Mayor of São Paulo and Minister of Tourism, Marta Suplicy. Choosing to pursue careers in music and entertainment, Supla and João, are apples that have fallen far from the tree.

João, despite his middle age, has the face of a young James Dean, and he performed bossa nova and Elvis Presley covers during his solo career. But his classic looks and good behavior garnered far less media than his brother’s punk persona. In fact, Supla has such a rebellious personality and appearance (his spiked, bleach blonde hair is reminiscent of Billy Idol) that you would never expect him to come from a family of successful businessmen and politicians, even social liberals (Marta Suplicy began her career as an anchorwoman giving sex tips on a women’s TV show).

Disregard for social norms and a do-what-you-want attitude are central themes in Brothers of Brazil, although Supla has been known for not paying mind to public opinion since long before he joined forces with João. In 2000, Sulpa’s music video, “Green Hair,” was featured on MTV Brasil’s “Piores Clipes do Mundo” (World’s Worst Music Videos), and the show’s host described the work as “a masterpiece of trash.” I certainly wanted to watch the video after reading that fact. Any publicity is good publicity, I guess. The following year, a second place finish on the first season of the celebrity reality TV show “Casa dos Artistas” further boosted Supla’s celebrity status. In 2008, after the formation of Brothers of Brazil, João joined Supla on screen as co-host of “Brothers,” a variety show for teens.

While “Brothers” stopped airing in 2010, I get the impression that in Brazil the Brothers are seen more as TV personalities than as a music group. Supla and João have toured mostly in Europe and the U.S., and 80% of their lyrics are in English. They even spell Brazil the English way, with a Z, a subtle slap in the face to their native Brasil.

Musically, Brothers of Brazil has great potential to appeal to both Brazilian and international audiences. The blend of samba and bossanova with punk rock is quite unique, as these genres are usually mixed with hip hop or electronic music. There’s something cool about bringing together Billy Idol and Elvis Presley to play bossa nova. Still, the Brothers risk alienating Brazilians with their English lyrics and risk disappointing English-speaking Brazilian music lovers with their silly rhymes.

“Vanity Funk” is a song off Brothers of Brazil.

Repetitive, often nonsensical lyrics make it difficult to appreciate João’s guitar work and Supla’s innovative integration of a full drum kit into the bossa nova beats. “Punch You” is a musical manifestation of Supla’s and João’s sibling rivalry. Its overdone rhymes remind me of poetry I wrote in the 4th grade: “You drive me crazy/You make me lazy/Sometimes I want to punch you.” Such recounting of personal experiences is the basis of most of the Brothers’ songs, the exception being “Take the Money and Run Away to Rio,” which addresses a topic of social currency: the 2008 collapse of Wall Street. Still Sulpa and João revert back to their tendency of to write simple themed songs in the last track on their album, “Brothers of Brazil,” which could be the opener to a children’s TV show:

We are the Brothers of the Brazil/I’m from São Paulo/And I live in Rio/Hello, hello. How you doing?/My name is Supla and I’m not fooling/I’m his brother/My name is João/Bossa nova’s rock guitar/We are the Brothers of Brazil/It’s a big country with different races, different accents, different faces…

The instrumental refrains and melody are far more sophisticated than the lyrics. If you can mange to ignore the words, the music will transport you to Rio’s Copacabana beach.

So don’t think too hard about the music, just have fun. The truth is that I wouldn’t miss a chance to see the Brothers of Brazil live. Notwithstanding their unsophisticated lyrics, Supla and João are a musically talented pair. Their juxtaposed, extreme personalities and their non-stop joking are important reminders to relax, let loose, and go crazy once in a while. As the Brothers remind us in “Samba Around the Clock”: “Just play the samba the way you want, man!” - Sounds and Colours


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