Marília Dias Mendonça (Brazilian Portuguese: [maˈɾiljɐ mẽˈdõsɐ]; 22 July 1995 – 5 November 2021) was a Brazilian singer, songwriter and instrumentalist, posthumously recognized in Brazil as the Queen of Sofrência, a subgenre of sertanejo music, and has been recognized for her contribution to female empowerment by revolutionizing the universe of sertanejo music.

Marília Mendonça
Mendonça in 2018
Born
Marília Dias Mendonça

(1995-07-22)22 July 1995
Cristianópolis, Goiás, Brazil
Died5 November 2021(2021-11-05) (aged 26)
Piedade de Caratinga, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Cause of deathPlane crash
Resting placeGoiânia Memorial Park Cemetery, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Years active2011–2021
Known forQueen of the Sertanejo
PartnerYugnir Ângelo (2015-2017) Murilo Huff (2019-2021)
Children1
Musical career
GenresSertanejo
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
LabelsSom Livre

In 2015, she released her self-titled debut EP. She rose to prominence after releasing her first eponymous live album in 2016, which was certified triple platinum in Brazil for selling 240,000 copies. "Infiel", a song included in the album, became one of the most played songs in Brazil and received a triple diamond disc certificate, giving Mendonça national visibility.[1] Her second live album Realidade, was released in 2017 and received a Latin Grammy nomination in the Best Sertaneja Music Album.[2] In 2019, she released the live album Todos os Cantos, which featured shows recorded by the singer in all the state capitals.[3] The album was certified triple platinum by Pro-Música Brasil with 240,000 copies sold and received a Latin Grammy for Best Sertaneja Music Album.[4]

On 5 November 2021, Mendonça died at the age of 26 in an airplane crash in Piedade de Caratinga, Minas Gerais, where she was to perform a concert.[5]

Biography

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Early life

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Born in Cristianópolis and raised in Goiânia, Mendonça had her first contact with music through church and began composing when she was 12, having started to write songs for various singers such as "Minha Herança" (João Neto & Frederico), "Muito Gelo, Pouco Whisky" (Wesley Safadão), "Até Você Voltar", "Cuida Bem Dela", "Flor e o Beija-Flor" (Henrique & Juliano), "Ser Humano ou um Anjo" (Matheus & Kauan), "Calma" (Jorge & Mateus) and "É Com Ela Que Eu Estou" (Cristiano Araújo).[6]

2011–2016: Marília Mendonça

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Mendonça started her career as a singer in January 2014, with her first eponymous EP.[7] In June 2015, the song "Impasse" was released, Mendonça's first single which featured the duo Henrique & Juliano.[8] In March 2016, Mendonça released her first live album called Marília Mendonça: Ao Vivo featuring singles such as "Sentimento Louco" and "Infiel" with the participation of Henrique & Juliano.[9] Infiel became the fifth most played song on Brazilian radio that year, and Mendonça began to gain national recognition. In October, a live acoustic EP entitled Agora É Que São Elas was released with previous successful tracks and had its only single with the song "Eu Sei de Cor".[10][11]

2017–2018: Realidade and Agora É Que São Elas

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Mendonça in 2018

In January 2017, Mendonça released another eponymous EP with four new tracks.[12] In March, her second album was released entitled Realidade, which had singles such as "Amante Não Tem Lar" and "De Quem É A Culpa" again featuring the duo Henrique & Juliano.[13][14] In November, she released the single "Transplante" in partnership with duo Bruno & Marrone.[15][16] In July, Mendonça won the post of the most listened to Brazilian artist on YouTube, ranking 13th in the world ranking.[17]

In April 2018, she released the album entitled Agora É Que São Elas 2, in collaboration with the duo Maiara & Maraisa. The album features the songs "Ausência" and "Estranho", in addition to "A Culpa é Dele".[18]

2019–2021: Todos os Cantos and Patroas

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In February 2019, the first part of Mendonça's third live album, entitled Todos os Cantos, was released; singles in this album included the songs "Ciumeira", "Bem Pior Que Eu", "Todo Mundo Vai Sofrer" and "Supera".[19][20] In March, Spotify announced that Mendonça was number one in the TOP 10 of the most listened to women in Brazil of the streaming service.[21] In May, the second part of the album Todos os Cantos was released.[22] The third and final part of the live album was released in August.[23] In 2019, Todos os Cantos won the Latin Grammy Award for Best Sertaneja Music Album.[24]

In January 2020, Mendonça released the single "Graveto".[25] In February, she released another single "Tentativas".[26] In May, her third single of the year "Vira Homem" was released.[27] In September, she released the album titled Patroas, in partnership with the duo Maiara & Maraisa. The album features unreleased compositions by the singers and re-recordings of their greatest hits. Their songs included "Quero Você do Jeito Que Quiser", "10 de Setembro" and "Coração Bandido".[28] In 2021, it was nominated for a Latin Grammy Award for Best Sertaneja Music Album.[29] On 22 August 2021, singer Luísa Sonza released a remix of the song "Best Sozinha" featuring Mendonça.[30]

 
Mendonça's painting drawn on a wall.

In October 2021, Mendonça released a studio album titled Patroas 35%, another collaboration between Mendonça and the duo Maiara & Maraisa. The album features the songs "Todo Mundo Menos Você", "Esqueça-Me Se For Capaz" and "Motel Afrodite".[31]

2022–Present: Decretos Reais and Posthumous releases

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After Mendonça's death, songs that she had recorded with other artists were released, such as "Amigos con Derechos" with Mexican singer Dulce María, "50 por Cento" with singer Naiara Azevedo, "Amava Nada" with singer Lucas Lucco, "Calculista" with duo Dom Vittor & Gustavo and "Mal Feito" with duo Hugo & Guilherme.[32]

On 21 July 2022, Mendonça's first posthumous EP titled Decretos Reais, Vol. 1 was released.[33] Mendonça's second posthumous EP, Decretos Reais, Vol. 2, was released on 9 December 2022.[34] Since then, Mendonça's team released a third EP titled Decretos Reais, Vol. 3 on 16 March 2023.The album won the Latin Grammy Award for Best Sertaneja Music Album in 2023

Personal life

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In March 2015, Mendonça dated businessman Yugnir Ângelo, with whom she became engaged in December 2016. She ended the relationship in August 2017, stating she was too young for such a commitment.[35] After maintaining casual relationships, in May 2019 she revealed she had been in a serious relationship for five months with fellow singer and songwriter Murilo Huff. The couple got engaged and moved in together.[36][37] In June the same year, she confirmed that she was pregnant, giving birth to her son Léo, born eight months premature, on 16 December 2019, in Goiânia.[38]

During the break of her Side B live show, on 8 August 2020, Mendonça mentioned a gay nightclub in Goiânia called Diesel, where one of her band's musicians had kissed "the most beautiful woman in his life", according to her. In addition, other members of the band chuckled and made unspoken comments, implying that the boy would have hooked up with a transsexual woman. The singer's comments had a negative impact on social networks and raised the hashtag #MaríliaTransfóbica on Twitter. On 10 August, Mendonça spoke on Twitter and admitted the mistake, where she apologized for the jokes and acknowledged that her mistake was unjustifiable.[39][40]

Death

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On 5 November 2021, Mendonça embarked on an air taxi with four other people on board towards Caratinga, Minas Gerais, Brazil, where she was expected to perform in a local concert. The plane crashed, killing Mendonça, her uncle (who was also her manager), her producer, and two crew members. All five deaths were officially confirmed shortly after on a live coverage by TV Globo.[5][41][42] Her death attracted immense attention of national and international media, and several artists mourned the tragedy and paid their respects on social media, such as Anitta, Luísa Sonza, Dulce María, Gal Costa, Roberta Miranda, Gilberto Gil, Ivete Sangalo, Pabllo Vittar, among others and from Manuel Abud, CEO of the Latin Recording Academy.[43][44]

After her death, Mendonça became the most listened-to artist in global streaming with 28.6 million streams; 74 of her songs appeared in Spotify's TOP200 in Brazil.[45]

Funeral

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With the exception of the pilot and co-pilot, the victims' bodies left the funeral home in Caratinga, at dawn on 6 November.[46] In the morning, the bodies of Mendonça and Silveira arrived in Goiânia. An open casket service for them took place at Goiânia Arena in Goiânia later that day. Their private funeral was held at 9:00 am, restricted to family members; it later opened to the public at 1:00 pm, and fans were allowed to pay their respects. It is estimated that more than 100,000 people passed through the arena.[47] The funeral procession began at 5:30 pm, with the bodies being buried at Cemitério Parque Memorial in Goiânia.[48]

Legacy

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Mendonça is recognized as the leader of the musical subgenre feminejosertanejo music that emphasizes women – and her contribution to female empowerment. The singer revolutionized the sertanejo scene between the 2010s and 2020s. She was often called the queen of sofrência, for her soulful, angst-filled ballads.[49][50]

Recognition

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Mendonça continues to be remembered in numerous tributes and memorials. At the 64th Annual Grammy Awards, she appeared in the Memoriam segment, in which tributes are paid to people related to the music industry who died during the course of the year, appearing in this section of the award a photo of the artist side by side with Taylor Hawkins and Stephen Sondheim.[51][52]

To immortalize the history of Mendonça, the Mercado da 74 de Goiânia began to carry her name since 21 October 2022, becoming the Mercado Popular Cultural Center of Rua 74 Marília Mendonça. In Caratinga, the city where Mendonça was going to perform at the time of her accident, the singer has been honored annually on the date she died,[53][54] and is in the process of changing the name of the João da Costa Mafra Exhibition Park to Marília Mendonça and João da Costa Mafra Exhibition Park.[55] Singer Emely Rodrigues also paid homage to Mendonça during the celebrations of São João, in Salvador, Bahia.[56] The sertanejo duo Henrique & Juliano also honored Mendonça on the occasion of their DVD recording in the United States, moving the Times Square audience.[57]

Discography

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Awards and nominations

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References

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  1. ^ "Veja a história por trás da música 'Infiel' de Marília Mendonça" (in Brazilian Portuguese). 23 October 2016.
  2. ^ "Marília Mendonça celebra vitória no Grammy Latino: "Acho que estou sonhando"" (in Brazilian Portuguese). 27 August 2022.
  3. ^ "Marilia Mendonça vai aonde o povo está com 'Todos os cantos'" (in Brazilian Portuguese). 14 September 2019.
  4. ^ "Marília Mendonça ganha Grammy Latino de 2019 e não acredita" (in Brazilian Portuguese). 14 November 2019.
  5. ^ a b "Marília Mendonça morre em queda de avião em Minas Gerais". G1. 5 November 2021. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  6. ^ Herdy, Luis Felipe. "Sua Música – TOP 10: Composições de Marília Mendonça". www.suamusica.com.br. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  7. ^ Marília Mendonça (Ao Vivo) – EP por Marília Mendonça (in Brazilian Portuguese), 9 January 2014, retrieved 17 July 2019
  8. ^ Impasse (feat. Henrique & Juliano) – Single por Marília Mendonça (in Brazilian Portuguese), 8 June 2015, retrieved 17 July 2019
  9. ^ Marília Mendonça – Ao Vivo por Marília Mendonça (in Brazilian Portuguese), 4 March 2016, retrieved 17 July 2019
  10. ^ Agora É Que São Elas Ao Vivo (Acústico) – EP por Marília Mendonça (in Brazilian Portuguese), 2 September 2016, retrieved 17 July 2019
  11. ^ "Marília Mendonça lança o clipe de 'Eu Sei De Cor'". Metropolitana FM (in Brazilian Portuguese). 26 August 2016. Archived from the original on 7 April 2022. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  12. ^ Redação, Da (16 January 2017). "Sucesso sertanejo, Marília Mendonça lança EP com quatro músicas". Jornal CORREIO | Notícias e opiniões que a Bahia quer saber (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  13. ^ "Marília Mendonça lança álbum "Realidade" completo nas plataformas digitais". Metropolitana FM (in Brazilian Portuguese). 7 March 2017. Archived from the original on 7 April 2022. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  14. ^ EGO, Marília Neves Do; Paulo, em São. "Marília Mendonça lança DVD e fala de fama: 'Muita coisa ainda me assusta'". Ego (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  15. ^ "Marília Mendonça lança 'Transplante', sua nova sofrência, no Fantástico". Shows e Musicais (in Brazilian Portuguese). 12 November 2017. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  16. ^ "Marília Mendonça lança CD 'Realidade'". Paranaíba FM (in Brazilian Portuguese). 6 March 2017. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  17. ^ "Marília Mendonça é a cantora mais ouvida no YouTube do Brasil com 56,8 milhões de views em apenas uma semana!". POPline (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2 April 2019. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  18. ^ "Maiara & Maraisa e Marília Mendonça lançam "Agora É Que São Elas 2"". Rádio S.U. (in Brazilian Portuguese). 11 March 2018. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  19. ^ "Marília Mendonça lança o primeiro volume do álbum derivado do projeto itinerante 'Todos os cantos'". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). 22 February 2019. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  20. ^ ""Todos Os Cantos": Marília Mendonça lança álbum ao vivo com músicas gravadas em várias partes do Brasil". POPline (in Brazilian Portuguese). 22 February 2019. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  21. ^ "Marilia Mendonça, Anitta e Ariana Grande são as mulheres mais ouvidas no Spotify no Brasil". F5 (in Brazilian Portuguese). 8 March 2019. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  22. ^ "Marília Mendonca lança 2 volume do ep te vejo em todos os cantos". www.fmdiario.com.br. Archived from the original on 15 November 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  23. ^ "Marília Mendonça lança terceira parte do projeto Todos os Cantos; ouça". entretenimento.uol.com.br (in Brazilian Portuguese). 15 August 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  24. ^ Cabo, Leila (14 November 2019). "Latin Grammys 2019 Winners: Complete List". Billboard. MRC. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  25. ^ "De licença-maternidade, Marília Mendonça lança música 'Graveto'". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). 10 January 2020. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  26. ^ "Tentativas: Marília Mendonça lança o primeiro clipe da carreira". Metrópoles (in Brazilian Portuguese). 14 February 2020. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  27. ^ "Marília Mendonça lança clipe de 'Vira Homem' gravado em casa durante quarentena". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). May 2020. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  28. ^ "Marília Mendonça e Maiara e Maraisa lançam álbum 'Patroas' com música inédita". F5 (in Brazilian Portuguese). 4 September 2020. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  29. ^ Assef, Dyala (10 October 2021). "Grammy Latino indica "Patroas" e mostra a força feminina no sertanejo" (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 26 December 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  30. ^ "Luísa Sonza e Marília Mendonça arrasam no clipe IMPECÁVEL de "Melhor Sozinha", em versão inédita do hit". Hugo Gloss (in Brazilian Portuguese). 22 August 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  31. ^ "Marília Mendonça e Maiara & Maraisa lançam álbum Patroas 35%". Metrópoles (in Brazilian Portuguese). 15 October 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  32. ^ "Os feats póstumos de Marília Mendonça 6 meses após morte da cantora: Naiara Azevedo, Lucas Lucco, Dulce María e mais". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). 5 May 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  33. ^ "Marília Mendonça: equipe da cantora anuncia lançamento do projeto póstumo 'Decretos Reais'". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). 21 July 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  34. ^ "Marília Mendonça: Segundo EP do projeto 'Decretos Reais' será lançado nesta sexta-feira (9)". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). 8 December 2022.
  35. ^ "Marília Mendonça termina noivado: "Muito nova para um relacionamento tão sério"". Quem (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  36. ^ "Marilia Mendonça assume novo namoro com sertanejo". CARAS (in Portuguese). 28 May 2019. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  37. ^ "Namorado de Marília Mendonça, Murilo Huff é cantor e compositor goiano". F5 (in Brazilian Portuguese). 22 June 2019. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  38. ^ "Marília Mendonça dá à luz seu primeiro filho". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). 16 December 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  39. ^ "Marília Mendonça é acusada de transfobia após comentário em live". entretenimento.uol.com.br (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  40. ^ Nobrega, Bruna (10 August 2020). "Marília Mendonça é acusada de transfobia após episódio em live, e pede desculpas: "Não me justificarei"". Hugo Gloss (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  41. ^ "Marilia Mendonca: Popular Brazil singer dies in plane crash at 26". BBC News. 5 November 2021.
  42. ^ Patel, Vimal; Milhorance, Flávia (5 November 2021). "Marília Mendonça, Brazilian Pop Singer, Dies in Plane Crash at 26". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  43. ^ "Artistas prestam homenagens a Marília Mendonça". CNN Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  44. ^ Latin Grammy Awards [@LatinGrammys] (6 November 2021). "The Latin Recording Academy statement about Marília Mendonça" (Tweet). Retrieved 10 November 2021 – via Twitter.
  45. ^ "Marília Mendonça se torna artista mais ouvida no Spotify no mundo". Catraca Livre (in Brazilian Portuguese). 7 November 2021. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  46. ^ "Corpo de Marília Mendonça deixa Caratinga (MG) e segue para Goiânia | O TEMPO". otempo.com.br. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  47. ^ "Marília Mendonça: 100 mil pessoas são esperadas no velório da cantora". VEJA (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  48. ^ "Corpo de Marília Mendonça é liberado; velório será às 13h". R7.com (in Brazilian Portuguese). 6 November 2021. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  49. ^ "Marília Mendonça's Live Album Is A Beacon For Women In Brazil". National Public Radio. 2 April 2019. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  50. ^ "Marília Mendonça, Brazilian Pop Singer, Dies in Plane Crash at 26". The New York Times. 5 November 2021. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  51. ^ "Marília Mendonça é homenageada no Grammy 2022". 3 April 2022.
  52. ^ "Marília Mendonça é lembrada e homenageada no In Memoriam do Grammy 2022". 3 April 2022.
  53. ^ "Com missa e músicas, Marília Mendonça é homenageada por fãs em Caratinga". 5 November 2022.
  54. ^ "Fãs homenageiam Marília Mendonça em Caratinga, onde ela faria show; veja vídeos". 6 November 2022.
  55. ^ "Vereador quer incluir nome de Marilia Mendonca no parque de exposicoes". 24 November 2021.
  56. ^ "Cantora Emely Rodrigues faz homenagem à Marília Mendonça no São João de Salvador". 25 June 2022.
  57. ^ "Henrique e Juliano homenageiam Marília Mendonça em gravação de DVD nos Estados Unidos". 20 November 2021.
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