Alisson Gothz’ Gay Sao Paulo Slang Dictionary
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Gays and lesbians in Brazil have their own slang repertoire called “pajubá”. Well, actually “pajubá” is a real African dialect from olden times, but it got mixed up with Brazilian Portuguese and became the official second language of queers and gender-benders in this sunny land.
The success of gay slang is so big in Brazil that they have been adopted by straight audiences too – it’s not unusual to hear even small children saying expressions like “arrasa!’ or “aloka!”.
Here’s a quick guide to the most commons phrases and words you’ll hear in a club in Sao Paulo or Rio.
Arrasa!
That’s the most useful gay slang ever. Its literal translation is the verb “to raze”, but it used as to send someone positive vibes, like “kick some ass!”, and “go and get it!”, but also as a simple compliment, as in “awesome!”, “cool!”, “fierce!”. You gonna hear it everywhere and in all kinds of situations. Other meanings can also be “work it, girl!”, “right on!”, “sashay, shantay!” and so on.
“Fazer a egícia” – (“to give an Egyptian face”)
1) it’s like when you say hello to a queen on the dancefloor and she pretends to not see you just to keep her pose intact, so you say “Bitch just gave me an Egyptian face”, like the statue of Nefertiti, got it?
2) You’re talking to someone about something he did last night and he pretends he doesn’t have a clue about what you’re saying, even though everyone else does it, so he’s also “giving an Egyptian face”, an indifferent yet guilty look.
Boy Magia
Oh well, this is self-explanatory. A “magic boy” is that kind of man that makes jaws drop. He puts a spell on you and enchants you with his beauty. That’s why he’s magic.
Bate Cabelo – (“Whipping Hair”)
If you’ve watched a drag show in Brazil, you noticed that they almost always follow the same pattern: she comes to the stage in one outfit, lipsynch for a bit, then starts stripping, takes her head-piece off and last – but not least – starts whipping her hair like a crazy tornado. Seriously, they literally fight amongst themselves for the title of the best “hair whipper” of the clubs. It became a Brazilian trademark and this is called “bate cabelo” in proper Portuguese. Since 99% of these shows are performed under heavy tribal-house beats, this type of music also became known as “bate cabelo”.
See it to believe it:
Alisson Gothz’ Sao Paulo Reports: Turning Japanese
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Sao Paulo has the biggest Japanese community in the world living outside Japan. The first Japanese immigrants came here more than 100 years ago and, after living and working as farmers in the countryside, they chose the centrally located neighborhood called “Liberdade” (“freedom”, in Portuguese) as a home away from home.
The neighborhood has been for decades a very popular tourist spot, with streets all decorated with Japanese sculptures and gardens, but now it seems that it’s time Liberdade rejuvenates itself and maybe steal the spotlight from some more famous neighborhoods like Baixo Augusta or Barra Funda.
One of the first spots to be adopted by intrepid clubbers was the karaoke bar inside Choperia Liberdade. In the olden days, the place was a traditional pub for the Japanese community to enjoy a fun weekend, but then it got discovered by accident and soon became a place for a more ‘alternative’ crowd to hang out during the week. As it always happens, it was a great place to be before it got too popular.
The square in front of the main subway station attracts a very young crowd every Saturday and Sunday, big anime/manga fans who also dare to dress up in very fashionable outfits – it’s not rare to spot a “gothic lolita” or a “punk rocker in a bear costume” parading amongst them. At the main avenue, will find the most interesting gift shops ever – places where you can shop for all kinds of crazy things, from plastic Buddha statues to real ninja swords. And also, of course, amazing Asian food markets.
Once located at the famous Rua Augusta, the art gallery Mezzanino has now moved to Liberdade and may soon turn its quiet street into a new place for alternative arts. The gallery is specialized in photography and Modern Art, and features both established and new artists on its cast (me included!).
But the main new attraction is Cine Joia. The place was one of the first cinemas in town, and used to show Japanese movies for the local community. After being closed for years, the venue got in the hands of Facundo Guerra – the King Midas of Sao Paulo’s nightlife and owner of several clubs like Vegas and Lions - who got together with DJ Andre Juliani and music journalist Lucio Ribeiro to turn the place into the coolest concert house ever.
The new Cine Joia had its world debut last Thursday with a DJ set by James Murphy (former LCD Soundsystem) and will start its glorious journey with a concert by Ladytron this week.
The arrival of these new places will shake things around and maybe we’ll be seeing new clubs opening there in a few months. Liberdade is the best proof of how culturally diverse (and cool) Sao Paulo is. Or as the people who live there would say; “tanoshii!!”.
The State of Sao Paulo Night-life; Is Pop Killing the Club Scene?
Magal, Renato Cohen, Camilo Rocha, Benjamin Ferreira, Alisson Gothz, Eduardo Corelli
D-edge's Main dance floor
“While our generation took ten years to be able to distinguish house from techno, the next generation that is starting to go out at night has a completely pop background. And today’s pop music is just like mainstream electronic music”. Facundo Guerra (Vegas, Volt, Lions).
Speaking to leading Sao Paulo media figure Claudia Assef recently, nightlife entrepreneur Facundo Guerra, 37, sparked a firestorm of debate when he suggested underground club culture- and international DJs – were no longer viable in the city. Rival club promoter Renato Ratier, who months earlier doubled the size of his landmark club D-Edge, disagreed, though Facundo, a partner in seminal underground nightspot Vegas and new pop centred nightspot Lions was firm.
“Today, if you do not play pop on the dance floor people leave,” he insisted.
“At Lions recently I saw a scene that shocked me: Mau Mau, a DJ we all love, started spinning after Roque Castro, who had just played an extremely pop orientated set. Guess what happened? Mau Mau cleared the floor, something I had never seen in my life!”
Mau Mau (one of Brazil’s most popular and critically acclaimed DJs, overseas as well as at home) was understandably furious and denied Facundo’s claim categorically though given that I’ve just arrived in Sao Paulo for what will be my seventh mini-DJ tour, the tale provokes a touch of concern for me. Not least because both my first and last gigs from five take place at Facundo’s newest club: Lions . . .
Bar de Netao revellers (DJ Jeronimo & friend)
