Sertanejo music

Sertanejo music (pronunced seʁtaˈneʒu in Brazilian portuguese, or seɹtaˈneʒɵ in Caipira dialect), is a term used to refer to a musical style of Brazil. For some, it is the folk music of São Paulo, which emerged during the Brazilian colonial period, and popularized in the 1920s, while others argue that it is a variation or urbanization of Caipira music, which is integrated into Caipira culture.

Sertanejo is the most popular genre in the country, particularly throughout Southern, Southeastern, and Center-western. Since the 1990s, is the most played music genre on Brazilian radio, constantly topping the Brazilian music charts. Additionally, from 2000 to 2003 and since 2009, sertaneja music albums have been granted a specific category at the Latin Grammy Awards. Many sertanejo artists are duos, at times formed by siblings, typically singing vocal harmonies, especially major thirds, and employing frequent vibrato. Men have traditionally dominated the scene, although some women such as Paula Fernandes, and Maria Cecília, and Simone & Simaria have achieved mainstream success in the 21st century. A subgenre, called "sertanejo universitário" (college sertanejo), has developed from the mid-2000s on, consisting of a more stripped-down, acoustic-oriented use of the guitars influenced by Western pop music. It has grown very popular among Brazilian youth nationwide and has dominated the sertanejo scene.