When discussing the defining moments in Brazilian pop music during the late 2010s, “Você Partiu Meu Coração” stands out as a landmark release that fused the effervescence of funk carioca with regional Brazilian pop sensibilities. Released in early 2017, this chart-topping collaboration between Nego do Borel, Anitta, and Wesley Safadão not only achieved massive commercial success but also reshaped the aesthetic and narrative scope of contemporary Brazilian music videos. The track, which translates to “You Broke My Heart,” balances humor and heartbreak, while its accompanying visual became a viral sensation across Latin America and beyond.
The song “Você Partiu Meu Coração” was officially released on January 10, 2017, and was the brainchild of Nego do Borel’s collaboration with two of Brazil’s biggest pop figures: Anitta and Wesley Safadão. Musically, the track blends funk carioca, a genre native to Rio’s favelas, with forró and sertanejo-pop elements, resulting in an accessible, upbeat, radio-friendly hit. The songwriting, credited to Umberto Tavares, Jefferson Junior, and Romeu R3, plays on the duality between vulnerability and bravado. The lyrics express the pain of betrayal but are delivered with ironic detachment, as the lead voice claims to be moving on without remorse—dividing his broken heart among new flings.
Directed by Mess Santos and Phill Mendonça, the music video was filmed in early February 2017 in Rio de Janeiro, perfectly timed with the city’s Carnival season. The visual is drenched tropical aesthetics featuring colorful costumes, samba-inspired decor, and vibrant street backdrops that celebrate Afro-Brazilian culture and Rio’s party spirit.
Anitta takes on a lead acting role, playing the femme fatale whose betrayal becomes the story’s central tension. Her portrayal is playful yet commanding, adding charisma and depth to a video that could have easily leaned too far into slapstick. Safadão’s scenes were shot separately and integrated into the story via a “video letter” device, reinforcing his status as the “other man.” The directors smartly structured the narrative as a modern homage to “Dona Flor e Seus Dois Maridos”, a Brazilian novel famously adapted into film, where the female protagonist juggles relationships with two men. This parallel added a layer of cultural sophistication and intertextuality to what was, on the surface, a pop single’s video.
Upon its official release on February 19, 2017, the music video achieved over 2.8 million views within the first 24 hours, breaking records at the time for the fastest-growing Brazilian music video not led by an international act. On YouTube, the numbers only continued to climb, and by mid-2017, the video had passed 100 million views, becoming one of the most-watched Portuguese-language clips of the year. On Spotify, the song garnered millions of streams in just weeks, while it simultaneously dominated radio airplay across Brazil.
The trio’s chemistry, the humor-laced storyline, and the catchy beat made the song an inescapable part of Brazilian pop culture, played everywhere from house parties to TV shows to Carnival parades.
“Você Partiu Meu Coração” quickly topped numerous national charts, including Billboard Brasil’s Hot Pop Songs, where it held the number one position for several weeks. It also reached top 10 spots on various local radio charts across São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Recife, and Salvador, proving its cross-regional appeal. Internationally, the song saw some success in Portuguese-speaking countries like Portugal, where it remained on the charts for 18 weeks, peaking at #21. The commercial success of the song was so massive that it helped lay the foundation for future international adaptations.
Perhaps most notably, Colombian superstar Maluma reinterpreted the song into Spanish under the title “Corazón”, keeping Nego do Borel on the track and opening up the rhythm to the broader Latin pop audience. That version went on to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned multi-platinum certifications in several countries.
Critics praised the music video for its high production value and its ability to merge mainstream appeal with deeply rooted Brazilian cultural references. Anitta, already one of the country’s most visible pop stars, received particular acclaim for her magnetic presence and comedic timing in the video. The song earned a nomination at the 2017 Prêmio Multishow de Música Brasileira in the “Música Chiclete” (Catchiest Song) category, solidifying its reputation as an earworm. Even though it didn’t win, the nomination alone cemented its place in Brazil’s musical zeitgeist for that year.
More importantly, “Você Partiu Meu Coração” became a live show staple, with Anitta performing it at nearly every concert during her 2017–2018 tours. According to data from setlist.fm, she performed the track over 170 times, further amplifying its cultural resonance. This widespread appeal also inspired countless covers, remixes, TikTok recreations, and live TV renditions—turning a catchy breakup song into a multi-platform phenomenon.
A closer look at the music video’s behind-the-scenes details reveals the caliber of the team involved. The crew included industry veterans like Gu Ortiz as production designer and William Samuray on cinematography, ensuring that the video’s Carnival dreamscape didn’t just feel festive but cinematic. From the choreography to the makeup and styling, every element contributed to a final product that felt polished yet authentic. These behind-the-scenes efforts were essential in turning what could have been a simple promotional clip into a short film experience, helping it stand out amid the flood of weekly releases on platforms like YouTube and Vevo. The integration of comedic acting, narrative structure, and cultural homage created a music video with replay value.
More than just a Brazilian hit, “Você Partiu Meu Coração” symbolized a moment of international curiosity about Brazilian funk and pop fusion. At a time when Latin music was surging globally thanks to hits like “Despacito,” the success of this track showed that Portuguese-language songs could also capture massive attention. Maluma’s adaptation served as proof, and in many ways, it paved the way for other Brazilian artists to pursue Spanish-language collaborations. The visual style of the music video even influenced future productions within Brazil, where artists began investing more in cinematic storytelling and high-concept narratives for their clips.
Anitta’s performance in “Você Partiu Meu Coração” is a cultural bookmark for Brazilian pop history. The video captures the essence of Rio de Janeiro’s Carnival vibe, infuses it with modern pop irony, and wraps it all in an infectious, chart-topping package. As far as SEO-optimized topics go, few Brazilian music videos are as richly layered or widely influential as this one. Whether you’re a fan of Latin music, an Anitta enthusiast, or just exploring iconic Brazilian hits, this music video remains a must-watch and a must-know.
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