COMING ATTRACTIONS

As Carnival time approaches in Rio de Janeiro, the erstwhile official music--the carnival samba--is being challenged for dance party supremacy by pagode , a mixture of traditional Brazilian cross-rhythms, African percussion and working-class-blues lyrics. “ Pagode is a reaffirmation of Brazil’s black African culture,” said Sergio Cabral, a music critic and city councilman. “Those who discovered pagode wanted to escape foreign influences and return to a traditional Brazilian rhythm.” The name not only describes the music, it also refers to the all-night, sing-along festivities that go with it.