Só Pra Contrariar (translates to Just (only) to be contrary) is a Brazilian musical group formed in 1989. Their 1997 album ''Só Pra Contrariar'' is one of the best selling albums in Brazil, selling more than three million copies. The band is known for its

frontman The lead vocalist in popular music is typically the member of a group or band whose voice is the most prominent melody in a performance where multiple voices may be heard. The lead singer sets their voice against the accompaniment parts of the ...

Alexandre Pires Alexandre Pires do Nascimento (born January 8, 1976) is a Brazilian singer-songwriter. Pires was previously the singer of group Só Pra Contrariar which he joined in the late 1980s. Career Pires began his career playing a new and more appellati ...

, who has launched a successful solo career after the band's break-up.

Band history

Só Pra Contrariar was formed in

Uberlândia Uberlândia () is a municipality in the state of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. It is the second largest municipality in the state of Minas Gerais after the state capital Belo Horizonte. Its population in 2020 was 699,097, making it the fou ...

, Minas Gerais, in 1989 by singer

, who was 13 at the time. Pires convinced his brother, cousin, and some friends to form the band for fun. They took the name from a

samba Samba (), also known as samba urbano carioca (''urban Carioca samba'') or simply samba carioca (''Carioca samba''), is a Brazilian music genre that originated in the Afro-Brazilian communities of Rio de Janeiro in the early 20th century. Havin ...

by the Carioca group

Fundo de Quintal Grupo Fundo de Quintal or simply Fundo de Quintal (''Backyard Group'', roughly) is a Brazilian Samba band formed in Rio de Janeiro at the end of the 1970s. History The founding members of Fundo de Quintal, Almir Guineto (banjo/cavaco), Bira Presi ...

. They started playing in bars around their hometown. In 1993 they recorded a

demo tape A demo (shortened from "demonstration") is a song or group of songs typically recorded for limited circulation or for reference use, rather than for general public release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas in a fixed for ...

and sent it to

BMG BMG may refer to: Organizations * Music publishing companies: ** Bertelsmann Music Group, a 1987–2008 division of Bertelsmann that was purchased by Sony on October 1, 2008 *** Sony BMG, a 2004–2008 joint venture of Bertelsmann and Sony that wa ...

. The label signed them and that same year, they released their self-titled debut album. This album sold more than 500,000 copies and they started touring heavily. They kept releasing several albums through the 90s, but their fifth album (released in 1997) helped the group win the triple diamond record for selling 3 million copies. In 1998, the group recorded their first album in Spanish which sold 700,000 copies. This album garnered them more awards around the world. In 1999, they released their second Spanish album titled '' Juegos de Amor''. The album included a hit song titled "

Santo Santo "Santo Santo" ( en, "Saint Saint") is the first single song by Só Pra Contrariar from the album '' Juegos de Amor'', recorded as a duet with international pop star Gloria Estefan. The tune has its origins in Raffaella Carra's greatest hit "Tan ...

" that featured

Cuban Cuban may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Cuba, a country in the Caribbean * Cubans, people from Cuba, or of Cuban descent ** Cuban exile, a person who left Cuba for political reasons, or a descendant thereof * Cuban citizen, a perso ...

singer

Gloria Estefan Gloria Estefan (; born Gloria María Milagrosa Fajardo García; born 1 September 1957) is a Cuban-American singer, actress, and businesswoman. Estefan is a seven-time Grammy Award winner, a Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, and has been ...

Band members

* Alexandre Pires –

lead vocals The lead vocalist in popular music is typically the member of a group or band whose voice is the most prominent melody in a performance where multiple voices may be heard. The lead singer sets their voice against the accompaniment parts of t ...

* Fernando Pires – drums * Juliano – percussion * Rogério – Cello * Serginho – keyboards * Hamilton – saxophone * Luiz Fernando – pandeiro * Alexandre Popó – surdo * Luis Antônio –

Viola The viola ( , also , ) is a string instrument that is bow (music), bowed, plucked, or played with varying techniques. Slightly larger than a violin, it has a lower and deeper sound. Since the 18th century, it has been the middle or alto voice of ...

, Guitar

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:So Pra Contrariar Brazilian musical groups Musical groups established in 1989 Musical groups disestablished in 1999 Pagode musical groups 1989 establishments in Brazil 1999 disestablishments in Brazil Spanish-language singers of Brazil

Band history

Band members

See also

References