10 Empowering Songs From Brazilian Pop Sensation Anitta That You Need in Your Life
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For anyone who hasn't heard of Larissa de Macedo Machado yet — or, as she is known professionally, Anitta — it's time to get out from under your rock. Brazil's biggest pop star and social media personality has been climbing the music charts in Brazil for years, but now the 25-year-old is finally getting the international recognition she deserves, too. She released her fourth studio album, Kisses, in the beginning of April, and it amazingly features Portuguese, Spanish, and English songs with corresponding music videos for each. Talk about a triple threat!
The Brazilian stunner has been working on branching out her audience from her home country for a while now. After promoting her third studio album, Bang, Anitta began planning an international career and released a series of collaborations, including singles with artists such as Maluma, Iggy Azalea, and Major Lazer during 2016 and 2017. Her song with Iggy Azalea, "Switch," marked the first time Anitta released a song in English, and in 2017, her single "Paradinha," which is sung in Spanish, gained her an audience in Mexico and Portugal.
Her latest album boasts collaborations with even more notable artists, including "Banana" with Becky G, "Onda Diferente" with Snoop Dogg, and "Get to Know Me" with Alesso. From pop, to reggaeton, to R&B, to EDM, Anitta can do it all, and she does it all while looking seriously sexy, too. Check out the gallery for the songs you need to know if you want to consider yourself a true Anitta fan.
"Medicina"
Released in the Summer of 2018, "Medicina" — which is Spanish for "Medicine" — is all about how wealth is not nearly as important as the unifying and healing power of music. As well as being a certified bop, this jam also provided an awesome music video, which was shot in Colombia, Hong Kong, India, the US, South Africa, and Brazil, and features children from each country dancing to the song.
"Meiga e Abusada"
"Meiga e Abusada" — which is Portuguese for "Sweet and Sassy" — is one of her first hits from back in 2012, and it's seriously empowering. The music video was inspired by "I Hate This Part" by The Pussycat Dolls and shows Anitta strutting her stuff and looking super sexy in Las Vegas.
"Show das Poderosas"
"Show das Poderosas" — or "Powerful Girls Performance" — was released in 2013 as the third single from her self-titled debut album. The funky pop hit channels major Beyoncé vibes as she sings (and, in the music video, shows off) the persuasive power of femininity.
"Blá Blá Blá"
Not to be confused with Ke$ha's 2010 hit of the same name, this single from 2014 was written by Anitta herself and is all about how no man is ever going to tell her what to do, a sentiment we can definitely get behind.
"Bang"
"Bang" is from Anitta's third studio album of the same name, serving as the second single from the album and offering the feel of both pop and trap music. She wrote the song with Umberto Tavares and Jefferson Junior (both of whom she has worked with before), which makes sense, as the song is all about different types of partnerships, whether that be a romantic relationship, a friendship, or a collaboration.
"Sim Ou Não"
"Sim Ou Não" — or "Yes and No" — is a pop and reggaeton hit featuring popular Colombian singer Maluma in his first collaboration with Anitta. It's all about a fleeting love between two people from different places who might never see each other again, but who might as well enjoy each other for the night, and let's just say the video is muy caliente.
"Veneno"
The sexy single "Venemo" — which is Portuguese for "Poison" — was released in the Fall of 2018, and this line really sums the song up nicely: "Que pienses más en mí/ De lo que pienso en ti." Translation: "I hope you think about me more than I think about you." If you're freaked out by snakes, then this music video is probably not for you.
"Paradinha"
2017's "Paradinha" — or "Little Break" — is a dancehall-pop song with a tropical vibe, and it's one of Anitta's first Spanish hits, which she recorded in an effort to gain a bigger audience in the US. Inspired by Shakira, "Paradinha" is a reference to the suggestive hip-shaking Brazilian dance move "Quadrado," and it's all about women who know their power and know just how to take control of a situation.
"Na Batida"
"Na Batida" — which is Portuguese for "On the Beat" — was released in 2014 from her second studio album, offering a funky electropop sound. Like many of her other songs, this one is all about being a powerful woman who won't let others force her to back down or question herself.
"Deixa Ele Sofrer"
Released as the first single from her third studio album in 2015, the R&B and pop-influenced "Deixa Ele Sofrer" — or "Let Him Suffer" — was also written by Anitta in a collaboration with Umberto Tavares and Jefferson Junior. This one is all about mourning the end of a relationship, and no, it's not because she misses the guy — it's because the poor guy is going to be missing out on her. Can we get a "yas queen"?