Ricota

Ultraje a Rigor recorded Ricota in the midst of a frenetic studio session at Nas Nuvens, where the raw sound of São Paulo rock clashed against the carioca establishment. The track, clocking in at 3:09, was born on the same album that launched them to stardom: Nós Vamos Invadir Sua Praia (1985), their debut that earned them a platinum record and made them the first Brazilian rock band to break sales records. But Ricota was more than just another hit: its lyrics, steeped in the band’s signature irony, captured the exact moment when São Paulo burst onto the national scene with an attitude that producer Pena Schmidt described as a deliberate provocation toward Rio de Janeiro’s bands.

The recording took place at a pivotal time for Brazilian rock: the early 1980s, when bands like Ultraje a Rigor —formed by Roger Moreira on vocals and guitar— were rewriting the rules. The album took shape after the impact of their first singles, Inútil/Mim Quer Tocar and Eu Me Amo/Rebelde Sem Causa, which already made it clear their sound followed no manuals. Ricota, with its playful title, encapsulates that energy: a track that sounds straightforward but, upon closer listening, reveals layers of sarcasm and boldness. By 2008, the album had already been hailed as the "best national rock album" by Revista MTV, yet its essence remains unchanged since 1985: a handful of simple chords played with the urgency of those who know they’re making history without intending to.