“Não permita Deus que eu morra sem que volte para lá” : as canções brasileiras na Segunda Guerra Mundial (1942-1945)

Abstract

This article aims to analyze the extent to which Brazil's involvement in World War II interfered internally in its musical production. To do so, an observation will be made of the impacts of civil mobilization on the engagement of composers and performers, who, in their own way, produced songs that praised Brazilian participation in the conflict. Subsequently, it will be verified how the radio, an important mass communication device that emerged in this period, collaborated for this musical production. It will also investigate how the Press and Propaganda Department reacted to Brazil's declaration of war on the Axis, and the impacts of this reaction on the change in the department's thematic agenda, which began to value themes related to war. Another important point will be the analysis of the concern of the Brazilian top government with the spirit of the population if the country entered the conflict. Finally, there will be a survey of the compositions themselves, approaching four works in specific: “Sabemos Lutar”, “Grito da Nação”, “Adolfito Mata Moros (A los toros)” and “Bomba Atomica”.