It was 8:32 and I was driving back home last night when the radio started playing a song in Portuguese. Since it hardly ever happens (with two exceptions – Mas que Nada and Boa Sorte/Good Luck) it took me a little while to realize it was really Portuguese, and with the Brazilian accent. You might think I’m exaggerating, but it’s just that when you’re not expecting it, it might take fractions of a second for you to get it. Besides, it was a song I didn’t know.
I have to admit I didn’t really like the song, but I was so curious, I googled it as soon as I got home. In fact, I had to check the radio website first for the name of the song or who sang it. There it was: Ai Se Eu Te Pego by Michel Teló. Then I started wondering, “We have so many better ones in Brazil… Why on earth would they play this specific song? What makes it so special that it could enter a market where Brazilian songs don’t seem to have much space?” Some more research and there was, what I believe, the explanation is: Soccer stars! I guess it all started with Neymar (Santos), but it got bigger and stars like Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Lewis Holtby (FC Schalke) and even almost the whole Borussia Mönchengladbach team have danced this song while celebrating their goals.
I still don’t like the song, but how come I can’t stop singing it? Damn it!