Two Brothers Foundation / Instituto dois Irmãos

NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO Seeks i2i’s Help

NPR RADIO decided to explore the world of Baile Funk and ask our students and volunteers to answer a couple questions about what Baile Funk means to them.

www.npr.org/NPRs Interview Questions…

1. Do you think that Funk is an important type of music nowadays? Why  or why not? Why do you go to bailes?

2. What does it call your atention in the Funk music? Can you describe the sound?

3. Can you tell an experience that was positive in a baile funk? An unpleasant one?

4. How women are treated in the world of funk Carioca?

5. What sort of ideas does Funk express? What value has the Funk to the community of Rocinha?

Some of our answers…

Michele (Student, 23)

• Eu não gosto de bailes funk atualmente e nem de funk. Mas eu acho que o funk “para outras pessoas” e importante. No começo o funk era muito bom, mas ao longo do tempo foi ficando sujo e depravado. Mas ele faz parte da cultura carioca e isso o torna importante.
• Raramente o funk me chama a atenção para coisas boas, so negativos, por causa dos palavrões e sexo.
• Sim , eu não acho que o baile seja uma bom lugar, já estive em muitos quando era imatura. Já vi brigas e etc.
• Eu não tenho opinião formada de como tratar ninguém. Trato todos iguais, independente de cor, sexo e religião.
• O funk tem um valor imenso dentro da comunidade. Por que ele nasceu aqui, usado como liberdade de expressão, mas hoje ele perdeu o rumo e o respeito.

Igor (Student, 17)

• O funk e uma musica importante porque e a cultura da favela, existem vários tipos de funk. O da apologia ao crime, o do homem ou mulher apaixonado e também o funk que expressa o cotidiano.
• Para ver as garotas e dançar com elas.
• A maneira como ela e tocada no tom, rápido e devagar e o som vai se misturando com vários elementos.
• Positiva – quando tem o posse ensaiado. Negativa – quando acontece brigas.
• De uma forma vulgar ou gentil isso vai de acordo com o cantor e o tipo de funk.

Alain (Volunteer, 27)

• For favelados who at times are supressed and discarted as second class citizens, baile funk serves as a voice, a distinguishable sound that this struggling populous can call their own.
• This sound, originally derived from old school hip-hop such a 2 live crew has morphed into a hard beat with almost comedic overtunes.
• Like most music, baile funk brings people together. Whether it be in the physical sense such as Funk parties, or on a spiritual level where the people all share the same Love for this language of music.
• From the outside looking it seems that the women of Funk are only treated like sexual objects, there is some truth to that. But there is also a sense of Power among Funk-women, especially at baile funk parties, where they sexy to have control in the very sexual funk dance. Among young impressionable women, it can, in my opinion help advance their sexuality without them even being aware. This has obvious repercussions.

Natasha Muntoni (Volunteer, 25, Rocinha resident)

• I think that baile funk represents a new generation of people. I don’t believe it is important as it does nor teach or educate the listener, however I do believe it is enjoyable and good fun. I go to baile funk because it is an experience I can not find in my country. I find it expressive and a form of release however as a perminent resident. I don’t think my interest would remain… Perhaps this is to do with my age.
• I would describe baile funk as a group of móbile phones going off. Ring tones that would normally annoy me together with a heavy bass line. I particularly like the song that colaborates with the panther tune.
• I have not experienced any bad times during a baile funk. I always have fun and everyone I introduce it to loves it. One bad thing is sometimes its a little too loud! (speakers)
• Women are represented as solely sex objects in baile funk music however I have yet to witness or experience a girl being disrespected at a baile funk party.the women always have the right to accept a man’s advance or reject it.
• Funk has little to offer moralistically to the community. I think B. Funk should not be taken on board literally however with young children/ teens attending baile funk that’s impossible to change this. Perhaps an age could be put in place 17 years and above they can attend. I wouldn’t  want my teenage daughter to attend.