When Anitta released the music video for âSim ou NĂŁoâ in 2016, it felt like something shifted. This was not just another pop single from Brazilâs biggest star. It was the start of something bigger. With the help of Colombian singer Maluma, Anitta created a bilingual anthem that reached far beyond her home country. The song mixed Portuguese and Spanish, funk and reggaetĂłn, all wrapped in a visually striking nightclub fantasy.
For many fans, this was the first time they saw Anitta stepping outside Brazil with the clear intention of becoming a Latin music powerhouse. âSim ou NĂŁoâ was a calculated, smart, and undeniably catchy move.

By 2016, Anitta had already proven herself in Brazil. Songs like âShow das Poderosas,â âBang,â and âZenâ made her a household name. But she was never just interested in local fame. Anitta had international goals from the start. The question was how to get there.
Thatâs where Maluma came in.
At the time, Maluma was one of the most popular Latin artists on the rise. He had the charisma, the fan base, and the reggaetĂłn edge that could open doors in markets where Anitta was still a newcomer. By teaming up with him, she was forming a cultural bridge between Brazil and the rest of Latin America.
âSim ou NĂŁoâ was written by Anitta, Umberto Tavares, and Jefferson Junior, who had worked with her on other big hits. The song perfect for the club. It had just enough funk in the beat to feel Brazilian but leaned heavily into reggaetĂłn rhythms that Spanish-speaking audiences were already comfortable with.
Anitta also recorded a Spanish-language version called âSĂ o No,â which dropped later in 2016. This wasnât an afterthought. It was part of a strategy to expand her reach beyond Portuguese-speaking countries.
Directed by Jessy Terrero, a filmmaker known for working with big Latin stars like Enrique Iglesias and Jennifer Lopez, the video was shot in Mexico City. Choosing that location made sense. Mexico has one of the largest music markets in Latin America.
The styling was done by Brazilian label The Paradise, and it plays a big role in how she presents herself. Anitta isnât just trying to look sexy. Sheâs using fashion as a form of power. Her look is fierce and direct.
At first glance, âSim ou NĂŁoâ might seem like a standard club song. But if you look closer, thereâs more going on. The lyrics are about desire, but theyâre also about control. Anitta isnât begging or chasing. Sheâs setting the terms.
In Portuguese, she sings about deciding whether or not to take a chance on someone. She says, essentially, âI like you, but Iâm not here to play games. You decide. Yes or no.â Itâs flirtation with rules. Sheâs open, but sheâs not waiting around.
That sense of control matters. Anitta has always been vocal about how she wants to be seen. She uses her sexuality as a tool, but she never lets it define her. In this song, she puts that idea into practice. Sheâs sensual, but also smart. Playful, but also clear about boundaries. The message is that confidence is sexy, and saying no is just as powerful as saying yes.
The impact was immediate. In its first 24 hours, the video pulled in over 4 million views on YouTube. Within days, it had passed the 10 million mark. Today, itâs one of the most viewed videos on her channel, with well over 400 million views.
In Brazil, the song dominated the charts and hit number one on iTunes. But more importantly, it found an audience in countries where Anitta had never charted before. âSim ou NĂŁoâ became her first real entry into the Latin pop space outside of Brazil. The Spanish version helped with that, and so did Malumaâs star power, but it was Anittaâs presence that stuck with people.
The song won âBest Musicâ at the 2017 TrofĂ©u Internet, a fan-voted Brazilian award that showed just how beloved the track had become. Critics praised the production, the visuals, and especially the dynamic between the two singers.
From here, she went on to even bigger things. She worked with J Balvin on âDowntown,â launched her trilingual visual album âKisses,â and eventually partnered with Cardi B and Myke Towers on âMe Gusta.â Each of those steps built on what she did with âSim ou NĂŁo.â
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