"Alegria, Alegria" (English: Joy, joy or happiness, happiness) is a song written and performed by Caetano Veloso. Often referred to as "the Brazilian anthem of 1967", it later appeared in his influential eponymous 1968 album.
At first booed at the 1967 Rede Record festival for its use of electric guitars, Caetano's interpretation and attitude eventually won the audience over.[1] "Alegria, Alegria" placed fourth at the festival.[1]
Although "alegria" means "joy" or "happiness" in Portuguese, the theme of the song is freedom[1].
"Alegria, Alegria" was the soundtrack of the title sequence of 1992 miniseries Anos Rebeldes.
"Alegria, Alegria" is, alongside Daniela Mercury's "O Canto da Cidade", remembered by the population for the 1992 Fernando Collor de Mello impeachment. The miniseries mentioned above was a hit, and "Alegria, alegria" was sung during public manifestations in favor of the impeach. Ironically, Mercury recorded the song in an album celebrating the thirty years of the Tropicália movement.