Wrt: Brasil's traditional music going the way of the west.. I can't find it now but there was an interview with (I think) Joe Boyd where he was talking about the difference in African and South American traditional music. He was saying that in Africa they continually evolve and invent new sounds and get bored of old music quickly. In Latin America they seem to be more into keeping their traditional music alive. So all the stuff the dude from awesome tapes from Africa is pushing is basically forgotten and left to gather dust. While in Cuba, Colômbia, Brazil etc, many people are still partying to the classics. Sometimes really old ones. Obviously with exceptions, but it's a fairly accurate rule of thumb. They all embrace modern music too ofc.
When I was in Morocco last year I was delighted to see how their traditional music is kept alive and you can find rooms full of people of all ages singing along to songs that are sometimes hundreds of years old. The same can be said of Brasil. All ages are into samba and know the words and get true joy from singing and dancing along with it. I was just in a club last night wihh a samba band. Place was packed. People from 20 to 65yo there. All loving it, all singing along. I think this will continue as long as carnival exists.
There's something powerful about seeing a big group of people getting carried away, participating with their voices and bodies. Totally free of the over awareness curse so many people in this thread seem to be plagued by. This is something that gives me hope for humanity. Outside of the western bubble, there are huge populations of people who are free of this capitalist rooted mentality who are able to be transported just with the power of music.
Sure music only has so much power and if it was really going to change the world it would have done it by now. But I think its a shame to write off earnestness and sincerity and allow ourselves to resign to it all being over. Fact is, subversive music, whether it be Bob Marley, Jane's Addiction or Atari Teenage Riot, is important to have it there. It reminds us not to cave so easily. Not to give up without a fight. It frames the times.
Not sure if I rambled too far off the path with this post but the hangover is in full swing. As you were.