Sampa is Caetano Veloso’s 1978 ballad and a lyrical love-hate ode to São Paulo, the city nicknamed Sampa. The song, from Veloso’s self-titled 1978 album, traces his first arrival in the city as he discovers its concrete poetry, the subtle charm of its people, and the complex immigrant experience from the northeast. It is rich with cultural allusions—from Rita Lee and Os Mutantes to Pan-Americas, Africa utopias, the quilombo of Zumbi, and the Novos Baianos—making it a multilayered portrait rather than a simple pop tune. Musically, Sampa is noted for its complexity, with three cadences and tunes that shift between sections in an unpredictable way. The track remains one of Veloso’s most beloved ballads and is often sung with the audience joining in, reflecting its enduring resonance.
