7 music videos shot in Brazil

Why do artists come to film in Brazil?

In 2022 the music industry generated $26 billion USD, and flashy videos were a huge factor. These short films contribute to the instant success of a song — and sometimes they become popular, in great part because of the music video.

Producing a music video can be extremely expensive, depending on the purpose and magnitude of the final product — it requires a great deal of planning.

To shoot and produce in Brazil, not only are the prices cheaper than in the United States, Canada and western Europe — the conversion rate being currently favourable.

Over the past few decades, Brazil has been a famous location for filming. It’s well known for its beaches, monuments, festive culture, warm weather and natural tropical beauty. Many artists, locally and globally, have decided to shoot their music videos in Brazil — the results are stunning.

We’ve compiled a list of international artists who immortalised Brazil in a special music video!

Maluma and Nego do Borel - Corazón

The Colombian singer Maluma is well known for his reggaeton songs and featuring famous artists, such as Ricky Martin and The Weekend. He decided to record a Spanish version of the Brazilian song Você Partiu Meu Coração, which he titled simply Corazón. The Spanish version includes the funk artist Nego do Borel, who sings the original version.

The music video was shot in 2017 in São Paulo, utilising popular tourist spot locations, such as Edificio Copan, one of the oldest and tallest buildings in the downtown area. Maluma and Nego do Borel appear on the building's heliport, using drone footage and still cameras to capture the scene.

Another local highlight featured in the video is Beco do Batman: an alley with walls covered with colourful graffiti murals. Maluma walks through the area and plays football with the Brazilian legend Ronaldinho Gaúcho.

Ricky Martin - Vida

The music video for Vida, a song composed by Latino pop singer Ricky Martin for the 2014 World Cup, was filmed in Rio de Janeiro.

Filmed mainly on the beach, it portrays kids and adults dancing and singing under the sun and having fun. It also highlights Brazil's lively culture and features capoeira, an Afro-Brazilian martial art disguised as dance.

Snoop Dogg and Pharell Williams - Beautiful 

Snoop Dogg, renowned American rapper, partnered up with Pharell Williams, an influential music producer, to record the song Beautiful; Rio was home to its music video.

The short film takes the viewer on a stroll through famous sights of the city, starting with Escadaria Selaron, Praia do Leme beach and Parque Leme public park. It used as its main location The Maze, the residence of filmmaker Bob Nadkarni in the Tavares Bastos Community.

Each location is vibrantly portrayed, with a tropical environment and a samba drum performance.

U2 - Walk On

In the year of 2000, the Irish rock band U2 released the music video for Walk On. It shows the group staying at one of Rio’s most traditional hotels, Copacabana Palace, which dates back to 1923.

They can also be seen doing some sightseeing in places like Praia da Reserva beach and Mirante Dona Marta; Christ the Redeemer is shown from a helicopter shot.

Black Eyed Peas

Black Eyed Peas, one of the most famous American hip-hop groups in the 2000s, is probably the international band with the most videos featuring Brazil — three music videos were filmed for the group, and one for will.i.am, one of its members.

Although Black Eyed Peas themselves didn’t visit Brazil to shoot Don't Lie, the background of the music video features iconic places in Rio, such as the green forest of Parque Lage and the favela alleys of Morro Dois Irmãos.

In 2006, a remixed version of the well known Jorge Ben Jor song Mas que Nada was filmed. It contains footage of Brazilians dancing and Black Eyed Peas with musician Sergio Mendes.

The music video for Don't Start the Party was released in 2011. It mainly features the inside of a nightclub but also includes some aerial footage of Rio’s beaches and a Carnaval celebration.

And in 2013, will.i.am came to film Great Times in both São Paulo and Rio. The music video contains aerial footage of São Paulo’s Paulista avenue and Octavio Frias de Oliveira bridge, and general shots of beaches, favelas and nightclubs in Rio.

Beyoncé - Blue

In 2013, the greatest artist of the 21st century, Beyoncé, shot the music video for Blue in Rio de Janeiro and the city of Trancoso, in Bahia. It portrays the local culture and lifestyle through mostly still shots.

Beyoncé is shown enjoying the beach, dancing samba with people, and playing football wearing a Brazilian football shirt.

Michael Jackson - They Don’t Care About Us

In 1996, the King of Pop shot the iconic They Don’t Care About Us in Brazil. Directed by Spike Lee, the music video took place in Pelourinho, Salvador, and in Rio’s Favela Santa Marta.

In Salvador, over 200 musicians from the renowned group Olodum made the scene, and Michael Jackson is shown surrounded by locals, singing and dancing. It’s the second most-watched video on the artist’s YouTube channel, more than the revolutionary Thriller.

Filming in Brazil provides unique cinematic opportunities, with vistas of beaches, tropical nature and a lively culture — and these are only a few examples of what the country can offer. The largest nation in Latin America can also supply a diverse cast — Brazil is home to varied ethnicities, from Japanese descent to Indigenous people and Afro-Brazilians.



The variety of landscapes found in Brazil, from beaches to mountains, from grassfields to deserts, offers countless location possibilities — there is no need to focus solely on the traditional or most popular places.

Story Productions is experienced in producing music videos, on a large or small budget, and can help you to achieve the best possible results. Contact us today so we can provide a quote that includes English-speaking skillful professionals, top-of-the-line equipment and incredible locations.