Music Review: Anitta welcomes listeners into her 'Funk Generation' on new album
First, she took over Brazil

Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.First, Anitta took over Brazil. Now, the world. The trilingual Brazilian pop star has returned with a new album, the club-to-bedroom ready āFunk Generation.ā It is an infectious collection of dance songs celebrating a once maligned genre that also manages to experiment beyond its confines. But those searching for more mainstream pop music should look elsewhere.
Anitta is arguably Brazilās most recognizable global pop singer since Astrud Gilberto sang āThe Girl From Ipanemaā nearly 60 years ago. (Fitting, because one of her biggest international hits, 2021ās āGirl From Rio,ā interpolates the bossa nova classic. āHot girls, where Iām from, we donāt look like models,ā she sang. āTan lines, big curves, and the energy glows.ā)
When her 2022 album āVersions of Meā dropped, she was already a superstar known for meddling Brazilian sounds with a variance of genres: reggaetĆ³n, pop, yes, funk, but even pop-punk, lest anyone forget her boot-stomping āBoys Donāt Cry,ā as inspired by Panic! At the Disco.
But āFunk Generation,ā truly, is what Anitta has been working towards. There are no attempts at mimicking mainstream pop music trends, rather, her pop sensibilities arise only where they can amplify the funk she's centered her life around. And when she says āfunk,ā she means Brazilian funk, what is frequently referred to as funk carioca or baile funk and is heard in favelas around Rio ā a combination of Brazilian rhythms, African and electronic music, and rap.
Like hip-hop and reggaetĆ³n before it, funk in Brazil has been stigmatized for its lyrics about everyday realities: sex, violence, drugs. But music is storytelling, rhythms can bring about change, and Anittaās new album makes it clear.
āFunk Generationā is made for late nights on the dance floor, not mainstream radio: āLose Ya Breathā is all heavy sighs, cheery chants and nylon string guitars; āFunk Raveā is an almost euro-pop mix of her 2023 track of the same name.
āFria" ushers in Latin R&B-pop, the not-safe-for-work electro-funk single āDouble Teamā brings back collaborators Brray and Bad Gyal (Thought āBota NiƱaā was idyllic reggaetĆ³n-pop? The power of those voices intertwined knows no bounds.) āSavage Funkā delivers on the premise of the title ā with lyrics even more provocative than the bed-squeaks of āI'd Rather Have Sexā from āVersions of Me.ā ) At every turn, on every song, Anitta understands her role: To make people dance.
The variance of genre may come across disjointed to some listeners, but since when does any DJ stick to one style? Here, Anitta's doing a lot; she doesn't want to be the life of the party, she wants to be the party.
When āFunk Generationā was first announced, Anitta described it as āan album where I celebrate my roots. Itās where I express the power of Rioās funk in every track ā its unique, danceable, and sensual beats,ā she said in a statement. āItās a rhythm born in the favelas, where I grew up, and it exudes resistance and art in every community.ā
It does that, sure, but sheās not just a vessel. This is Anittaās funk, a combination of global sounds that reminds everyone Brazil knows how to have a party. Everyone else would be wise to listen.