Falamansa : A Brazilian Forró Band

Falamansa, a forró band hailing from Brazil, was formed in 1998 in São Paulo. Recognizing the growing popularity of forró in the city's nightlife, a movement arose to cater to the demand of nightclubs and the younger audience, who instantly connected with the dance and infectious rhythm of this musical style.

The band members—Josivaldo, Dezinho, Tato, Alemão, and Valdir—performed songs by renowned artists like Luiz Gonzaga and Jackson do Pandeiro, blending the so-called "forró universitário" or "forró pé-de-serra" with the authentic essence of Northeastern music. By 2001, the group had sold over 1 million copies of their albums in Brazil.

The Early Days & Rise to fame

The history of Falamansa traces back to 1998, on the final day of registration for the 3rd Mackenzie Music Festival. Tato, now the band's lead vocalist and songwriter, worked as a forró DJ and had already composed some of his own songs. He decided to submit one of them ("Asas") to the festival. However, he didn't have a band at the time. Four days later, Falamansa, a band that hadn't existed before, was selected among the 160 groups that had enrolled in the festival. Tato reached out to Alemão, a DJ friend skilled in playing the zabumba (a type of drum). Alemão then contacted Dezinho, his neighbor who played the triangle.

Together with them, a flautist and a bass player joined as the band's initial lineup. They practiced for two evenings, and their song "Asas" secured second place in the competition. Soon after, the experienced musicians Josivaldo Leite and Waldir do Acordeão joined the band. Josivaldo had previously performed with notable accordion players such as Oswaldinho do Acordeão and Jorge de Altinho. With their arrival, the band's formation was complete, and it has remained unchanged ever since. An independent CD recorded in January 2000 caught the attention of the Brazilian record label Deckdisc, who released their album "Deixa Entrar," distributed by Abril Music. The band began performing every Tuesday at the Remelexo venue in Pinheiros, São Paulo.

In 2001, they released "Essa é pra você." The group followed up with their third album, "Simples Mortais," in 2003. The album's standout track, "100 Anos," even received a music video. Their fourth album, "Um dia perfeito," was released in 2004, featuring new songs like "Tempo de paz" and re-recordings of classics such as "Sete Meninas" by Dominguinhos, which was already part of the band's repertoire.

In 2005, Falamansa's CD and DVD for MTV were released. Recorded on February 19 at Via Funchal in São Paulo, the live performance included guest appearances by renowned artists like Dominguinhos in "Sete Meninas" and "Forró do Bole Bole," Zeider from Planta & Raiz in "Gostas de Amor," and the Meninos do Morumbi in "Homem de Aço." The compilation not only included the band's greatest hits but also featured three previously unreleased tracks, including "Decola" and "Amor e Cia." The DVD included a photo gallery, behind-the-scenes footage, interviews, and a documentary on the forró universitário genre. Among their most notable successes were "Xote dos milagres," "Xote da alegria," and "Rindo atoa."

In 2014, Falamansa's album "Amigo Velho" was honored with the Latin Grammy for Best Brazilian Roots Album.

Members

• Tato - vocals and guitar
• Alemão - zabumba
• Dezinho - triangle and percussion
• Valdir - accordion

Albums

• Deixa Entrar (Deckdisc - 2000)
• Essa é pra Vocês (Deckdisc - 2001)
• Simples Mortais (Deckdisc - 2003)
• Um dia Perfeito (Deckdisc - 2004)
• MTV ao Vivo (Deckdisc - 2005)
• Segue a Vida (Independent - 2007)
• Essencial (Sony/BMG - 2008)
• 10 anos "Rindo à Toa" - Por um mundo melhor!!! (Independent - 2010)
• As Sanfonas do Rei (Deckdisc - 2012)
• Amigo Velho (Deckdisc) - 2014)
• Lá da Alma (Independent) - (2016)

‍