Brega is a subgenre of Brazilian popular music. However, its musical aesthetic has been somewhat difficult to define because there is no proper "brega" musical rhythm. As a result, the term is widely used to refer to popular romantic music with dramatic exaggeration, usually dealing with topics such as declarations of love, infidelity, and delusions about love. The term is also used in a pejorative way to refer something that is cheesy, tacky, and unfashionable.

History

Historically, the greatest singers of the genre are from northeastern and northern Brazil; three of its biggest icons historically were Waldick Soriano, Reginaldo Rossi and Falcão, the latter following a part of a tradition of humorous brega. Paulo Sérgio stood out for his dramatic and romantic music. The origin of the name "brega" is unclear, though it may have come from northeastern Brazilian brothels. The genre's musical origin may partially stem from Vicente Celestino's 1930s operetta songs. Other precursors of brega music include Orlando Dias, Carlos Alberto, Alcides Gerardi and Cauby Peixoto. During the early 1970s, brega became a more identifiable genre. In the 1980s, there was an increase in country, pop, and bolero influences. By the 1990s, musical acts were self-identifying as brega artists. Reginaldo Rossi, in particular, became known as the "King of Brega."